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Minnesota([email protected])

I'm thinking of mulching, with dry grass clippings, around my A.G. plants. One reason for this is to keep weeds down, and another is to conserve moisture in the soil.
Will the mulch use up nitrogen in the soil as it decomposes? Or isn't that a concern if it's just laying on top of the soil? Any pros or cons you can think of in regards to mulching would be helpful.

7/14/2011 12:04:06 AM

The bottom of New Jersey

Grass clippings, dry or not, get VERY hot as they break down so be careful with them. I burned the crap out of some tomato plants one year with grass clippings, killing some of them. Definitely keep them a foot or so away from the vines. If you want to mulch, I'd use straw personally.

7/14/2011 6:37:31 AM

Hinckley MN

Doug,
I use newspaper covered with grass clippings as mulch in my home garden. grass works great, just don't put it on too thick. I'm just not going to spend the time to mulch my 3000 sqft pumpkin bed with anything. the ground will soo be covered with pumpkin vines. If buried in the soil, the newspaper and dry grass clippings will tie up nitrogen for the few weeks they take to break down. On the surface they won't break down or tie up nitrogen significantly. if you till in the fall they will re release the nitrogen the following spring.

7/14/2011 8:11:09 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have used grass clippings in the past without any problems. I spread them thin so they don't heat up. All of my tomatoes are mulched with grass clippings this year.

7/14/2011 9:11:59 AM

Connecticut, USA

Mulching can also attract mice.

7/14/2011 12:04:34 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I would use some quality pete moss. It does well to give the plant quality mutrients and as you water it slowly gives a slow feeding.stay away from grass clippings and bagged compost. Clippings will heat up, not something you really want during the summer months. Bagged compost can have pathagens that if not in check will kill any chancees of success.

7/14/2011 2:04:43 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't think of the issue of heating the soil too much. If I do use it as mulch, I'll spead it fairly thin, and only in limited spots around the plant.

7/15/2011 1:01:11 PM