Mulching

[Claire72]

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place, couldn't work out which board to post this one!!!
I have been hand weeding my strawberry plot today, there are a lot of buttercups and other weeds in with my strawberries, although the strawbs are doing well. I know I am supposed to mulch with straw, but don't have any handy, and would rather use what I have, rather than drive around the local farms hunting for a straw bale.
I have loads of comfrey plants (huge) could I use those for mulching around my strawbs? is it just a lay the leaves around job, or is there more to it than that?
If not comfrey, how do I use lawn clippings? I have seen this mentioned in the magazine, but it says not fresh, so how unfresh is unfresh? I have a couple of sacks of two week old grass clippiings, is that unfresh enough?

Would love a bit of advice here please!!!

[Waffler]

Well I've just put fresh grass clippings around my cabbages as I'm getting depressed at the sight of weeds on my patch. I think so long as the grass isn't laid too thickly it's ok; if it's too thick (2" plus?) it heats up (as it does on the compost heap) and can scorch the plants. Either that or it can be laid around plants so long as it doesn't touch them. I reckon your comfrey can just be laid around the plants - I was considering doing the same with stingers to be honest as they'll put lots of nitrogen into the ground.

[Claire72]

Thanks, will give the comfrey a go

[rustylady]

The point of mulching strawberries with straw is to stop the fruit getting splashed with mud if we have heavy rain, and also to discourage slugs and snails from munching your fruit. The mudsplashing I can agree with, but I find that mulching with anything just encourages the slugs and snails (and woodlice who are particularly partial to a nice ripe strawberry).

[Two_Sheds]

I've never mulched my strawberries - I've just never bothered. I always get far more than I can eat, even after the slugs and blackbirds have had their share.

[Claire72]

The point of mulching strawberries with straw is to stop the fruit getting splashed with mud if we have heavy rain, and also to discourage slugs and snails from munching your fruit. The mudsplashing I can agree with, but I find that mulching with anything just encourages the slugs and snails (and woodlice who are particularly partial to a nice ripe strawberry).

Hmm, maybe I won't then

[Paulottie]

Shredded paper might be an alternative.