Weedless Gardening

[boggybranch]

Just got this in my email. Thought it might be of interest.


http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2001-08-01/Weedless-Gardening.aspx

 

[Lavender2]

Excellent article

I have used this method in my vegetable garden and several flower beds for over 15 years.
If you have access to enough organic mulch I highly recommend it!

 

[lesa]

Great article, Boggy. I think you use this method with great success, judging by your garden pics! I usually put grass clippings in my compost pile, I think I will try putting it around the veggies instead...

 

[boggybranch]

Great article, Boggy. I think you use this method with great success, judging by your garden pics! I usually put grass clippings in my compost pile, I think I will try putting it around the veggies instead...

Morning lesa,

Yep...I can promise you (from first hand experience) that year round mulching or mulching, period, "done" right, will cause you to put your hoe in your next gararge sale. LOL

Grass clippings, in quantitiy, tends to "mat" which could restrict air getting to the soil. If possible, mix leaves in with the grass clippings before applying, as mulch.
Thin layers of mulch will not deter weeds. I start with a layer 8-10 inches thick and that, pretty much, dooms weeds and their seeds.

 

[desertgirl]

Anyone use straw as mulch?

 

[desertgirl]

(Sorry-just found the answer to this on page 4...)

 

[boggybranch]

Anyone use straw as mulch?

What kinda straw? I'd use most any kind of organic "material", but would use pine straw for strawberry beds, only, basically. (Think I've read that it tends to be pretty high on the acid side)

 

[ducks4you]

Save the oat straw for the livestock owners! I want my ponies to have it, because it has oat seeds left in it.

Thanks for the article link!! This article justifies my use of stall bedding that I've put on top of my garden this winter!!

 

[HiDelight]

Thank you for posting this ..I really truly need to practice this with my flowers!!!! my raised vegetable beds are pristine ...but my poor poor flower beds are absolutely atrocious with weeds ..I still can not get all the grass out and everything needs deviding moving rearrainging all the time so I am constantly stepping on everything and it is packed AND I mulch nearly enough ..this year for sure they are getting more attention ..because even though I think I have a pretty flower garden ..I want a lovely one!!! full of great big healthy fragrant and cutting flowers ..mainly for me but also the hummingbirds bees and butteflies ...so far I am just flat out doing all the wrong things for so long ..even though I know better

this year will be different !!! my flowers need just as much if not more care than the vegetables now ..the vegetables live like they are supposed to in the raised beds..the top layer is never walked on (except the odd pit bull or 3 year running after a ball )

my mantra will be ...no more touching the top layer and mulch mulch mulch

 

[Greenthumb18]

Anybody use wood chips for mulch?
Not the reddish wood chips that a lot of people seem to put in their garden, the natural forms of wood chips.