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Subject:  Grass Clippings

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Big T Hoff

Hadley Ny

At one of the Ranch Resorts I have access to all their grass clippings besides all the aged manure I want. They are setting it aside for me. My question would be should I use it as mulch all summer and till it in at the end of the year, stock pile or till in right away? I'll probably end up with a pickup load every couple weeks...would like to cut down on weeding and am looking towards mulching plants. Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

5/11/2018 5:13:40 PM

Wolf3080

Dillonvale, Ohio

Do they treat it with any chemicals? If so, do your research on what they use. It can stay with the clippings for quite some time. Things like 2,4D will kill your plant. If it's straight grass, use it mulch all season and till in in the fall

5/11/2018 6:01:31 PM

Big T Hoff

Hadley Ny

I will ask if they use chemicals....it was also one of my thoughts...doubt if they use them...new owners but they are spreading manure for bare spots. Went to school with lawn guys mom..I used to work there over 40 years ago..but I was the Lifeguard then. More input is always welcome!

5/11/2018 6:36:45 PM

cjb

Plymouth, MN

I've also been warned off of using fresh clippings and told to compost for a year out of concern for 2,4D and other residual herbicides.

5/11/2018 9:15:55 PM

Orangeneck (Team HAMMER)

Eastern Pennsylvania

If there are no dandelions at the resort then beware of herbicide for sure.

5/11/2018 9:20:38 PM

Iowegian

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If there is no chemical issue, you can compost them or use as mulch. For mulch, don't spread them to thick, as they can get very hot. Just deep enough to shade out weed seedlings until the leaf canopy shades them. And don't let a whole load sit in your truck too long, either. They break down fast as mulch, so you may have to re-apply a couple times during the year. And if you compost them, mix them with some brown, high carbon material like fall leaves or straw. They can get matted down and then slow to break down if you just pile straight clippings.

5/11/2018 9:57:31 PM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Aged manure should be ok. Grass clippings... you can make “tea” after they heat up ... strain the water through an old t shirt this will remove any weed seeds and make it applicable as a foliar. Not sure if further brewing would be helpful as a foliar... but a period of oxygenation or adding H2O2 might help prior to being applied to the root area to prevent anaerobic conditions in the soil.

5/11/2018 11:07:44 PM

Gadberrys

Deer Park WA

We do NOT use weed killer on our lawns and collect all clippins and spread them over the gardens to suppress weeds and feed the soil. Worms LOVE them!

5/12/2018 1:25:12 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Gads, in my limited experience there is —possibly—a problem of also feeding some of the bugs that eat plant roots and garden seedlings. Worms are worth feeding... Just know if you can deal with a population explosion of the bugs that like green vegetable matter for breakfast and roots for lunch. These “other bugs” are really great for weed-seedling control but they’ll kill some crops like spinach, beets, etc. quickly.

5/12/2018 3:23:58 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Just trying to help... that’s the only reason against raw grass clippings that I know of.

5/12/2018 3:28:20 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Big T—my vote would be do all three. If your soil needs potassium till some in. Potassium equals pumpkins. But check the weeds growing near the manure you are getting... if they are unhealthy then it’s not balanced or the salts are too high. If the weeds are growing great at the edge of the manure pile... you can’t go too wrong with it!

5/12/2018 3:40:01 AM

holy Pumpkin!

Israel

I would add , make sure you don't have any grass roots by mistaked churned up inside. Good luck !

5/12/2018 10:48:30 AM

Big T Hoff

Hadley Ny

I will check on the herbicides. Manure is well aged and very familiar with that. Snow finally melted and frost gone about a week ago. 4 piles of manure and they were just starting to green up from growth. Probably 50 yards to a pile. It's been there long enough that the barn manager didn't know how long it's been there. New owners 2 years ago. Just starting on spring cleanup and might shred all the leaves and branches and mix with grass clippings if they don't use herbicides. Thanks for the responses. T

5/12/2018 11:22:49 AM

Big T Hoff

Hadley Ny

Another question...if they used herbicides can I still use them next year if I compost with leaves??

5/12/2018 1:07:45 PM

pumpkin carver

Griffith, In

Be careful,,,putting down things like grass and leaves over the soil during the growing season can be setting up the chance for disease to organize below it. Also, if you put down grass over the soil and it is breaking down,,it means your biologicals are working on your grass clippings instead of helping stuff in your soil that will help your plant.

5/12/2018 3:28:41 PM

North Shore Boyz

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Agreed pumpkin carver, I’d compost it separately with leaves and use it the next year. I’ve not seen or heard of a lot of AG growers that mulch as they grow. I can see all sorts of issues with it, mind you I don’t mulch anywhere with anything but compost mixed with ProMix and other pumpkin goodies that I use to cover or top my vines with when I see roots.

5/12/2018 4:02:44 PM

Iowegian

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I use grass clippings all the time to mulch my tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, sunflowers and long gourds without any disease problems. Just don't go to thick and reapply as needed. Last year I mulched our field pumpkins; spread straw on the grass, mowed it with the bagging lawnmower to get a mix. It held down the weeds without any disease. It has been several years since I mulched Atlantic Giants. But I have seen more disease trouble without mulching, little to none with mulching. Biggest problem is that if I mow grass that has gone to seed, I end up with bluegrass growing in the patch.

5/12/2018 11:25:08 PM

Engel's Great Pumpkins and Carvings

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Depends on what chemical they use. We had Duquat in composted grass clippings. Wreck several hundred feet of pumpkins. The organic lawn service was not so organic.

5/13/2018 7:24:31 AM

Smallmouth

Upa Creek, Mo

Pumpkin Carver hit the nail on the head with what I was thinking. I wouldn't think about using grass on my soil here while growing (due to disease), but every area is unique and dependent on local climates.

5/13/2018 9:58:47 AM

Gadberrys

Deer Park WA

Hi Glenomkins, I saw you dairy of your squash kin and it looks like you have the soil covered with grass / straw? Good job, it will supress weeds, retain moisture, and feed the soil. We had no desease pressure the last few years.

5/13/2018 12:15:55 PM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Thanks. I probably have some insect pressure on the roots but I guess we’re both lucky we’re getting by without major problems— I’ve not used any insecticides. Most growers would not gamble with creating an environment that might favor pests or disease. I do consider grass clippings to be a gamble... But I’m using them. I’m keeping them away from the base of the plants.

5/14/2018 4:12:28 AM

Total Posts: 21 Current Server Time: 3/29/2024 11:53:00 AM
 
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