Just read through the threads probably missed a few though.
James seaweed feed is easy to make and the salt on it doesn't need to be washed off as there is so little on it. I've been making it for a few years now, toms and spuds love it. You can also use it as a spray, diluted down, to keep slugs and snails of flowering plants but you need to spray before slugs and snails start to appear in the spring.
I make it in an old plastic bin with the lid on and put the seaweed in pastic bags with holes punched in them, submerged in water, it's then bottled up in milk cartons and saved before diluting down in a watering can, when needed.
It smells in the bin but isn't to bad when used, just smells like the seaside after a high tide for a couple of hours. Dried, it doesn't smell at all and is a good mulch round potted plants.
I'm happy to be wrong but in most area's you can't pick seaweed fresh but can take seaweed which has been washed up on the beach, after a high tide is best. You'd need to check any by-laws and restrictions for the beach before collecting.
Zoomer, thanks for the info on seaweed, we're not far from beach so will give it a try. Am besieged by slugs n snails and had never heard that it was good against them. Anything is worth a try.
I would imagine that same rules applt as to picking/digging up live wild flowers/plants, and that it should not be done.
gj, it's not a fool proof way of keeping slugs and snails at bay and doesn't kill them but after watching a programme a few years ago where a guy was growing, if I recall, hosta's and started spraying in March and had the most amazing plants with not a nibble taken out of them, I spray early.
If you decide to make seaweed feed, it's usually good to bottle up after about 6 wks and the stuff in the bags can be spread on you beds. I put it on the bed in the GH and had a really good crop of toms this year. I dilute down to half a litre milk carton measure to a full watering can but using a full milk carton occasionally doesn't seem to do any harm if you miss a feed. I feed weekly.
I used to dive near St Abbs in my youth, not sure if that's near you but the kelp grows to several feet high and seals use it to hide in. Don't want to preach but don't pick fresh seaweed the stuff washed up is just as good for the garden.
gj, it's not a fool proof way of keeping slugs and snails at bay and doesn't kill them but after watching a programme a few years ago where a guy was growing, if I recall, hosta's and started spraying in March and had the most amazing plants with not a nibble taken out of the leaves, I spray early.
If you decide to make seaweed feed, it's usually good to bottle up after about 6 wks and the stuff in the bags can be spread on you beds. I put it on the bed in the GH and had a really good crop of toms this year. I dilute down to half a litre milk carton measure to a full watering can but using a full milk carton occasionally doesn't seem to do any harm if you miss a feed. I feed weekly.
I used to dive near St Abbs in my youth, not sure if that's near you but kelp grows to several feet high and seals use it to hide in. Don't want to preach but don't pick fresh seaweed the stuff washed up is good enough for the garden.
Fertilizer can be had in the form of compost, which is basically all your waste fruit and vegetable scraps, eggs shells, and some paper. Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, can even be done in a bin inside your house--tucked under your kitchen sink, for example.
You will reduce the amount of garbage that goes into landfills. You will get free fertilizer. You will give life to worms (if you vermicompost). And you won't be forced to use chemical-filled soil mixes and fertilizers that are sold in garden and home centers, which may have a detrimental effect on our environment (not to mention your wallet).
Thanks for that info, Zoomer. We wouldn't be picking fresh, here, our beach is Ayr, and too cold! Will try it on my Hostas in front garden next yr, as besieged by snails (but no Slugs). Back garden hostas ok, although we have lots of slugs there but only few snails. However, any sligs or snails get thrown onto next door neighbour's garage roof while I call the birds, so they don't last long! The birds seem to have got used to me throwing tasty insects etc while I garden, and a couple follow me around, particularly a male blackbird and a robin. Great to watch, and great helpers and company!
Seaweed is among the best gifts nature makes available for the gardener. Seaweed will benefit your garden any time of year, but it is especially useful as a mulch to protect plants during hot, dry weather. In our garden, we’ve come to rely on seaweed as a valuable, yet free, source of fertilizer, mulch and organic pest control all in one natural material.
Benefits of seaweed for gardening
Gathering seaweed for the garden has always been a favorite outing for our family. We usually take a small skiff to a nearby beach and load up with as many sacks as we can safely transport home. It’s fun for children, as they can participate as well as an adult, or they can simply enjoy the beach while we gather the seaweed. As we fill up our sacks, our thoughts drift to the many benefits this will bring our garden.
Saves water, keeps soil moist at ground level
The purpose of any mulch is to keep garden soil from drying out at the surface. And by preventing moisture from evaporating, mulch reduces the need for watering. The practice of mulching is essential in areas where conditions are hot and dry.
Eliminates the need to weed Mulch covers the soil and blocks new weeds from sprouting. Because the soil beneath the mulch remains moist, any weeds which do manage to sprout through the mulch are easy to pick.
Repels slugs and other pests
Slugs are immediately repelled by two things – salt and sharp-edged materials. Seaweed has a natural salt content which repels slugs, and within a few days of application it dries and becomes quite crispy. Slugs do not like “crispy” surfaces, as the sharp salty edges cut into the soft body tissue. While some mulches may provide hiding spots for slugs, earwigs and other pests, seaweed mulch does not have this disadvantage.
Enriches the soil Seaweed is a broad spectrum fertilizer that is rich in beneficial trace minerals and hormones that stimulate plant growth. Seaweed is high in carbohydrates which are essential building blocks in growing plants, and low in cellulose so it breaks down readily. Seaweed shares no diseases with land plants.
Boosts lethargic plants Seaweed fertilizer contains an abundance of fully chelated (ready to use) micro-nutrients which can be readily absorbed by plants without any further chemical decomposition needed.
Helps lighten the soil Compacted soil can benefit as seaweed mulch breaks down. As the material becomes incorporated into the soil, aeration is improved and the soil becomes more crumbly and moist.
Does not contain weed seeds, unlike bark mulch Two years ago we used commercial bark mulch to cover our garden pathways for the purpose of blocking weeds. Today, these pathways are sprouting horsetail, an invasive weed which can be difficult to eradicate. Seaweed does not bring any foreign weed seeds into your garden.
It’s free!
But what about salt? Is this a problem? We have been using seaweed as mulch for many years and have not seen any adverse effect, such as a salt overload in the soil. In our region we have plentiful rain. If you are concerned about salt, seaweed can be spread out over the driveway and rinsed with a hose. Of course this is not an issue if you are using freshwater lake weed.
Gathering seaweed for use in the garden
Gather ‘mid-beach’ Seaweed is often found scattered on the beach from the water’s edge to th
Posts
just started a new thread for jokes as recomended
A new thread, Diddy, What's wrong with the existing one? Apart from all the bad ones, that is
. Off to see it now!
Just read through the threads probably missed a few though.
James seaweed feed is easy to make and the salt on it doesn't need to be washed off as there is so little on it. I've been making it for a few years now, toms and spuds love it. You can also use it as a spray, diluted down, to keep slugs and snails of flowering plants but you need to spray before slugs and snails start to appear in the spring.
I make it in an old plastic bin with the lid on and put the seaweed in pastic bags with holes punched in them, submerged in water, it's then bottled up in milk cartons and saved before diluting down in a watering can, when needed.
It smells in the bin but isn't to bad when used, just smells like the seaside after a high tide for a couple of hours. Dried, it doesn't smell at all and is a good mulch round potted plants.
I'm happy to be wrong but in most area's you can't pick seaweed fresh but can take seaweed which has been washed up on the beach, after a high tide is best. You'd need to check any by-laws and restrictions for the beach before collecting.
Sorry, Diddy, just saw this again when looking for something esle on the thread.
Personally, I think mizuna tastes better!
Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll get me 'at!
Zoomer, thanks for the info on seaweed, we're not far from beach so will give it a try. Am besieged by slugs n snails and had never heard that it was good against them. Anything is worth a try.
I would imagine that same rules applt as to picking/digging up live wild flowers/plants, and that it should not be done.
gj, it's not a fool proof way of keeping slugs and snails at bay and doesn't kill them but after watching a programme a few years ago where a guy was growing, if I recall, hosta's and started spraying in March and had the most amazing plants with not a nibble taken out of them, I spray early.
If you decide to make seaweed feed, it's usually good to bottle up after about 6 wks and the stuff in the bags can be spread on you beds. I put it on the bed in the GH and had a really good crop of toms this year. I dilute down to half a litre milk carton measure to a full watering can but using a full milk carton occasionally doesn't seem to do any harm if you miss a feed. I feed weekly.
I used to dive near St Abbs in my youth, not sure if that's near you but the kelp grows to several feet high and seals use it to hide in. Don't want to preach but don't pick fresh seaweed the stuff washed up is just as good for the garden.
gj, it's not a fool proof way of keeping slugs and snails at bay and doesn't kill them but after watching a programme a few years ago where a guy was growing, if I recall, hosta's and started spraying in March and had the most amazing plants with not a nibble taken out of the leaves, I spray early.
If you decide to make seaweed feed, it's usually good to bottle up after about 6 wks and the stuff in the bags can be spread on you beds. I put it on the bed in the GH and had a really good crop of toms this year. I dilute down to half a litre milk carton measure to a full watering can but using a full milk carton occasionally doesn't seem to do any harm if you miss a feed. I feed weekly.
I used to dive near St Abbs in my youth, not sure if that's near you but kelp grows to several feet high and seals use it to hide in. Don't want to preach but don't pick fresh seaweed the stuff washed up is good enough for the garden.
Fertilizer can be had in the form of compost, which is basically all your waste fruit and vegetable scraps, eggs shells, and some paper. Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, can even be done in a bin inside your house--tucked under your kitchen sink, for example.
You will reduce the amount of garbage that goes into landfills. You will get free fertilizer. You will give life to worms (if you vermicompost). And you won't be forced to use chemical-filled soil mixes and fertilizers that are sold in garden and home centers, which may have a detrimental effect on our environment (not to mention your wallet).
Thanks for that info, Zoomer. We wouldn't be picking fresh, here, our beach is Ayr, and too cold! Will try it on my Hostas in front garden next yr, as besieged by snails (but no Slugs
). Back garden hostas ok, although we have lots of slugs there but only few snails. However, any sligs or snails get thrown onto next door neighbour's garage roof while I call the birds, so they don't last long! The birds seem to have got used to me throwing tasty insects etc while I garden, and a couple follow me around, particularly a male blackbird and a robin. Great to watch, and great helpers and company!
Seaweed is among the best gifts nature makes available for the gardener. Seaweed will benefit your garden any time of year, but it is especially useful as a mulch to protect plants during hot, dry weather. In our garden, we’ve come to rely on seaweed as a valuable, yet free, source of fertilizer, mulch and organic pest control all in one natural material.
Benefits of seaweed for gardeningGathering seaweed for the garden has always been a favorite outing for our family. We usually take a small skiff to a nearby beach and load up with as many sacks as we can safely transport home. It’s fun for children, as they can participate as well as an adult, or they can simply enjoy the beach while we gather the seaweed. As we fill up our sacks, our thoughts drift to the many benefits this will bring our garden.
The purpose of any mulch is to keep garden soil from drying out at the surface. And by preventing moisture from evaporating, mulch reduces the need for watering. The practice of mulching is essential in areas where conditions are hot and dry.
Mulch covers the soil and blocks new weeds from sprouting. Because the soil beneath the mulch remains moist, any weeds which do manage to sprout through the mulch are easy to pick.
Slugs are immediately repelled by two things – salt and sharp-edged materials. Seaweed has a natural salt content which repels slugs, and within a few days of application it dries and becomes quite crispy. Slugs do not like “crispy” surfaces, as the sharp salty edges cut into the soft body tissue. While some mulches may provide hiding spots for slugs, earwigs and other pests, seaweed mulch does not have this disadvantage.
Seaweed is a broad spectrum fertilizer that is rich in beneficial trace minerals and hormones that stimulate plant growth. Seaweed is high in carbohydrates which are essential building blocks in growing plants, and low in cellulose so it breaks down readily. Seaweed shares no diseases with land plants.
Seaweed fertilizer contains an abundance of fully chelated (ready to use) micro-nutrients which can be readily absorbed by plants without any further chemical decomposition needed.
Compacted soil can benefit as seaweed mulch breaks down. As the material becomes incorporated into the soil, aeration is improved and the soil becomes more crumbly and moist.
Two years ago we used commercial bark mulch to cover our garden pathways for the purpose of blocking weeds. Today, these pathways are sprouting horsetail, an invasive weed which can be difficult to eradicate. Seaweed does not bring any foreign weed seeds into your garden.
But what about salt? Is this a problem?
We have been using seaweed as mulch for many years and have not seen any adverse effect, such as a salt overload in the soil. In our region we have plentiful rain. If you are concerned about salt, seaweed can be spread out over the driveway and rinsed with a hose. Of course this is not an issue if you are using freshwater lake weed.
Gathering seaweed for use in the garden
Seaweed is often found scattered on the beach from the water’s edge to th