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RE: How (and Why) to Mulch Your Garden with Grass Clippings, A Free Resource
Thank you for the info. Last week I had some grass on the edge that the lawnmower missed, and I ripped it out by hand and threw it over soil nearby where I am growing pumpkins. I had heard that straw is ideal to mulch under pumpkin vines, because it keeps the soil cool and moist, and also lifts the leaves to keep them dry so they do not attract mold. I think the straw grass clipplings I lightly added will probably dry out and add a similar benefit.
Thanks for the tips. Always looking for simple tips like this. Does adding this thick layer of grass cause the soil level to keep rising over time? It might affect the way water drains after a rainstorm.
I am really glad you found this post helpful :) That is awesome! Yeah grass clippings can serve the same purpose as straw with the caveat that straw has a lot of air and fresh grass clippings has less air and can get matted and keep moisture in it... so you might dry the grass first before putting it under a pumpkin and/or not over water the grass when you are irrigating. Or you could make your own hay if your grass gets long enough and cut it with a knife or a hand sickle and let it dry in the sun then use it as hay! You could also use other things as mulch under pumpkins too, like bark, woodchips, branches, even rocks or bricks.. anything to keep it off of moist soil. The grass would probably not cause the soil level to rise too much because it will break down to become very small.. But if you did it year after year and didn't till or step on the soil so that it stays airy, it would probably rise some. Mulch would definitely help prevent some, not all, runoff from storms.
Thanks for the good ideas. How about mulching green clippings, and stacking dried hay on top? That would give multi benefit, right?
Yeah! That would be tasty for the worms and bugs as it breaks down on the soil surface :) I just stacked green grass clippings on top of dry horse poop next to some of my peas that are struggling a little :)