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- Q.Is Black Chipped Wood Mulch Safe For My Vegetable Garden? - I use black colored mulch to landscape around my trees and shrubs in my yard. Is it safe to ...
- Q.Does Sprinkiling The Remains Of Cut Grass Off Into Your Flower Or Vegetable Garden Help It Grow Right? - I don't have an example.
- Q.Cardboard As A Mulch When Digging A New Area - I have been told to use cardboard during the double digging process and was wondering if you have any information.....so ...
- Q.Does Mulching With Wood Chips Deplete Soil Of Nitrogen? - I have heard that while the wood chips decompose, they use nitrogen. So, does mulching with wood chips deplete ...
- Q.What To Do With All The Fall Leaves? - This summer I moved into a home covered in mature hardwood trees. Looks like I’ll be raking/ blowing well ...
- Q.Winter Mulches - I live in zone 6 in Oregon, but often we'll get a unusual hard freeze. I don't have leaves to ...
- Q.Cocoa Husks As Garden Mulch? - Is cocoa husk good as garden mulch? Does it attract Rats? mice? I see rats and squirrels running in the neighbor's yard. I ...
Asked by
statchel on
June 28, 2019
29710Q.Is black chipped wood mulch safe for my vegetable garden?
I use black colored mulch to landscape around my trees and shrubs in my yard. Is it safe to use that same kind of mulch in my vegetable garden to smother weeds and maintain soil moisture
Answered by
BushDoctor on
June 29, 2019
Certified ExpertA.I wouldn't mulch a veggie garden. It will usually invite unwanted pests, and infections and may make the ground a little more inviting to voles, moles, or other tunneling creatures.
Still some people prefer this way, choosing one set of problems over the other. Should you choose to go this route, this article will give you more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/mulch-for-vegetable-plants.htm
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- Asked by
lawanna88 on
July 6, 2019
Posen, Illinois 60469Q.Does sprinkiling the remains of cut grass off into your flower or vegetable garden help it grow right?
I don't have an example.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
July 6, 2019
Certified ExpertA.You can use it as a mulch in your garden, plus it will add nitrogen to the soil.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/mulching-with-grass-clippings.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/what-to-do-with-grass-clippings.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 5, 2019Q.cardboard as a mulch when digging a new area
I have been told to use cardboard during the double digging process and was wondering if you have any information.....so digging a new, untouched previous area covered in general grass....remove grass first then put sods to one side then dig to a spade depth and put soil to one side....a trench has been created so then fork over the bottom of the trench....THEN put sods back into the trench but overturned so that the grass is facing down....then put cardboard down on top of sods.....finally cover with both soil and soil conditioner taken from a second area that has been dug over previously......can you tell me how correct is this method, have a missed something, or is it totally incorrect....hope you can help
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
August 5, 2019
Certified ExpertA.Usually the cardboard is used to smother the grass without digging the grass out first. If you remove the grass manually, you don't need the cardboard. Or you can kill the grass with an herbicide. Once the grass is removed you can "double dig" by making 10 inch trenches, removing the dirt and filling the previous dug trench. Do that all across the bed, filling the last trench with the soil from the first trench. Here is more information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/starting/how-to-build-a-flower-bed-starting-a-flower-bed-from-scratch.htmhttps://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/double-digging-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
kath55344 on
August 21, 2019
93021Q.Does mulching with wood chips deplete soil of nitrogen?
I have heard that while the wood chips decompose, they use nitrogen. So, does mulching with wood chips deplete the soil of nitrogen? Should I be adding nitrogen fertilizer to my roses and other plants. Our soil is extremely sandy and I need mulch to hold moisture. Thanks for your answer/advice. Kathlean
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
August 21, 2019
Certified ExpertA.You will want to mulch with composted, or aged wood chips. Mulching with fresh wood chips will leach nitrogen to do carbon content. This includes added nitrogen.
This link will offer more information: https://macon.ces.ncsu.edu/2017/02/fresh-wood-chips-as-mulch/
Was this answer useful?00 - Answered by
MichiganDot on
August 22, 2019A.This is a somewhat controversial issue with other soil researchers conducting studies that show only the top inch of soil nitrogen may be affected by fresh wood chips. In the long run, the chips nourish the soil. More information here: http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS160E/FS160E.pdf
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Mikeandjanine on
September 5, 2019
Woodstock Ga. 30188Q.What to do with all the fall leaves?
This summer I moved into a home covered in mature hardwood trees. Looks like I’ll be raking/ blowing well into December. What are some good things to do with all these leaves? Can’t burn them and bagging is impractical. Help in Woodstock Ga.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
September 5, 2019
Certified ExpertA.If you have a mulching mower just mow them and leave them on the lawn. They mulch so small you don't even notice them and they are good for the soil. You can also use them for mulch in your gardens.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/mulching-with-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-to-do-with-fall-leaves.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
October 1, 2019Q.winter mulches
I live in zone 6 in Oregon, but often we'll get a unusual hard freeze. I don't have leaves to use as cover mulch, but I do have both bark dust and wood saw dust is available. Does anyone know if the volatiles from the chipped bark or sawdust can harm the plants they cover? Some of the saw dust is very fragrant with a pitch smell and the bark also has an aroma that wood gives off. I suspect the rain will dampen the wood aromas but I still wonder.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
October 2, 2019
Certified ExpertA.It is safe to use sawdust but you may need to add nitrogen to the soil at the same time. Here is why:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/using-sawdust-as-mulch.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Iga on
October 4, 2019Q.Cocoa husks as garden mulch?
Is cocoa husk good as garden mulch? Does it attract Rats? mice? I see rats and squirrels running in the neighbor's yard. I don't have pets. I have fig trees and hydrangea trees in my garden and back yard. I do not have compost.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
October 7, 2019
Certified ExpertA.It does make a pretty good mulch. It attracts wildlife just about as much as other mulch will, but it may not be as bad with bugs as a standard mulch will be.
Just make sure that you wash the husk well to remove any salt residue before you use it.
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/using-coconut-coir-mulch.htm
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