I have very large beds on which I need to lay a weed barrier. Compost is much cheaper by the yard than bark mulch. Has anyone ever done this? Won't this encourage the weeds to grow more robustly than ever?! Thanks!
I have been incorporating my compost into my garden for years that very way - using it as the mulch. As Captain said, you may place layers of paper under it for those really bad areas, but I usually just put it down and pile it thicker as needed, then turn it under when that row gets harvested.
Dave
Posts: 986 | Location: Zone 6b Woodbury, NJ | Registered: December 10, 2003
I've heard of people putting down grass clippings but could I put down my veggie and fruit scraps too mixed with lets say, hay or straw? I know alone the scraps would really stink. I think though that they would still smell strongly even mixed.
In your situation, I would (and I do) just use the straw for mulch, but when I had a collection (pail full) of the veggie/fruit scraps, I'd remove a spot of straw and dig a hole to bury the scraps in, thus composting them under ground where odor control would be better, and of course replacing the original straw. Give that some consideration.
I was actually wondering about this, not for my veggie garden (which I already use compost for), but for the beds that I planted trees, bushes and ground cover (to replace grass!). Anyone ever do that instead of the good old bark mulch? I use 40 yards!!! (yeah, way too big of a yard, but I am trying to plant as many trees as I can!) thanks!
I like newspaper for weed control and straw for moisture retention. You have to wait to apply straw until the soil warms up or you may keep it too cool for your warm season crops. That is why I like newspaper. It may not look as pretty, but like the others said, you can top it with compost. I add some blood meal - you can use any organic nitrogen fertilizer - before laying papers since they can rob some N from your soil. And it also does help retain soil moisture - just not as well as straw.
I haven't found anything that controls weeds better - especially since cost is a factor. 6 sheets thick is about right and anchor them with rocks, stakes, soil, or compost. Go to your local recycling center or ask your friends and neighbors to keep them for you.
Around where I live I get as much free straw as I want at halloween, when it is thrown out from decorating. In fact, I just discovered 2 bales of it totally composted behind a shed I tore down, which I guess I forgot about since I got so much a couple of years ago!
Dave
Posts: 986 | Location: Zone 6b Woodbury, NJ | Registered: December 10, 2003
Compost can be used as a mulch, but what it dries out the bacteria in that compost will go on strike over the poor working conditions. What other material is readily available to use as mulch other than buying something?
