I'm happy to be wrong, Chris, if adding seaweed as a mulch on clay soil without using bags fulls of the stuff will improve it beyond adding anything else then tells us where we need to look it up for the advise
I think it's possible for me to get some seaweed. Do you need to rinse it off before using as a mulch...just wondering whether the salt could be detrimental?
Does anyone else feel delighted when checking their bag/pile of last autumn's leaves and finding such lovely leaf mould and enjoy putting it on the beds/borders? Non-gardening friends find me very strange but I'm sure I'm not alone.
Yes, Caroline. I always feel chuffed to see my lovely compost and leafmould and still think it's a wondrous thing to come from a pile of unwanted vegetation. :- )
Me too. Once the autumn leaves have fallen on the lawn, I rake them into a pile and go over the pile with a motor mower, storing the damp leaves in black bin liners. So in a few weeks I will tip out last years leaf mould and mulch some of the borders. I've been doing this for years and can never understand why many people burn theirs or tip the leaves into wheelie bins. Such waste!
Sorry Chris, misread your post but agree seaweed is an excellent soil improver.
I can't get enough to cover the garden but sufficient to use it as a mulch in pots, it dries out and rots down very quickly and doesn't smell when used raw.
I made liquid feed from seaweed this year and found it only smells when used in liquid form, in the bin, when the lid was lifted, the smell was enough to make your eyes water but toms and spuds love it and bottled up it keeps for several weeks.
I rinse the seaweed in water first because of salt content but read somewhere there is so little salt on seaweed it doesn't really matter whether it's rinsed or not.
It's also good as a spray to deter some pests like slugs and snails but you need to start spraying early - March time. It's wildlife friendly to, the birds don't seem to mind the smell neither does the cat, which only lasts for a few hours after spraying .. if you have ever lived by the sea it's not unpleasant but land locked gardeners might not like it.
Posts
I'm happy to be wrong, Chris, if adding seaweed as a mulch on clay soil without using bags fulls of the stuff will improve it beyond adding anything else then tells us where we need to look it up for the advise
Yes, Caroline. I always feel chuffed to see my lovely compost and leafmould and still think it's a wondrous thing to come from a pile of unwanted vegetation. :- )
Me too. Once the autumn leaves have fallen on the lawn, I rake them into a pile and go over the pile with a motor mower, storing the damp leaves in black bin liners. So in a few weeks I will tip out last years leaf mould and mulch some of the borders. I've been doing this for years and can never understand why many people burn theirs or tip the leaves into wheelie bins. Such waste!
Sorry Chris, misread your post
but agree seaweed is an excellent soil improver.
I can't get enough to cover the garden but sufficient to use it as a mulch in pots, it dries out and rots down very quickly and doesn't smell when used raw.
I made liquid feed from seaweed this year and found it only smells when used in liquid form, in the bin, when the lid was lifted, the smell was enough to make your eyes water but toms and spuds love it and bottled up it keeps for several weeks.
I rinse the seaweed in water first because of salt content but read somewhere there is so little salt on seaweed it doesn't really matter whether it's rinsed or not.
It's also good as a spray to deter some pests like slugs and snails but you need to start spraying early - March time. It's wildlife friendly to, the birds don't seem to mind the smell neither does the cat, which only lasts for a few hours after spraying .. if you have ever lived by the sea it's not unpleasant but land locked gardeners might not like it.
Hi, franco6832,
It would be nice to hear what you think about the advise given and whether it has been helpful.
Happy gardening