Mulch Advice: They're All So Expensive!

[Newt]

Hi Guys

So as I've mentioned on some other threads, I'm experimenting with the no-dig method for my allotment. I've heard a lot of good things about it, and am eager to give it a go.

What this'll involve this year, is laying down layers over my plot as follows:

1 layer newspaper (a few sheets thick)
1 layer mulch
1 layer compost/manure over beds only
1 final layer mulch on beds once manure has had time to settle in

The idea is that by the time I'm ready for Spring planting, the paper will have rotted down, any remaining grass/weeds under it will have composted, and the manure/compost layer will have made a good start rotting down, too. The mulch layers should keep weeds and grass a lot more manageable. To plant, I just pull away the mulch and manure layers and make a hole in the soil underneath to plant into, then spread the mulch etc back over as the plant comes up.

Problem is the cost. My allotment space is 17ft by... about 40ft that'll need covering. Bark mulch is recommended as the best option for this, but unless I'm wildly overestimating how many litres of the stuff I'd need it's looking like it'll cost about £800 just to lay that down! I don't have easy access to fallen leaves which would be a good free option (some alleys and paths near my house are heavy with them but they are also heavy with dog-walkers who don't clean up after their pets!).

I think the cheapest option available to me is straw bales, as one bale goes quite far, but if anyone knows of any other affordable options, ways I can cut down on my mulch volumes or can help me figure out if I'm wildly overestimating my mulch volume needs, I'd be really grateful.

[Jay-ell]

Depending on how weed free your plot is you're going to need more newspaper. Having it a couple of sheets thick might not keep all the weeds down. I lay a full newspaper unopened and overlap them - nice thick weed prevention layer that'll rot down by the end of next year.

For the next layer you don't have to put down a layer of mulch just yet. Manure or compost should be the second layer of you could start a layer of green and brown plant materials to build a lasagne bed.

Next would be a layer of compost for growing in.

The final mulch layer doesn't have to be bought in bark or wood chips. I'm using grass cuttings which keep the wees down, hold the moisture in and break down to feed the soil. Anything that isn't going to take hold can be used - grass cutting, old straw, weeds (minus seeds and no problem roots), rhubarb leaves, the leftover leaves from radish, carrots etc anything to cover the soil and keep the moisture in. In the spring some of your neighbors may start cutting their lawns so see if you can nab their cuttings as well as any other garden waste. Gives you plenty of organic matter and saves them paying for a green waste bin from the council.

[Stan79]

No idea about the volume required but you could ring around your local tree surgeons or the council... the allotment near me gets a load of chippings dumped by a local tree surgeon for free. Some of the ones round here have figured out that there is a demand for them and so have started charging.... others are just pleased to get rid of it instead of paying to dump it at a tip!

[veggiechicken]

In the real world, you work with what you have and can afford and build up your soil over the years.
Have a read of https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/ who has tried various methods to build up his beds.

[bario1]

Do you really need to do it all in one go? Why not buy a couple of rolls of good weed membrane to cover two thirds of the plot and experiment with no-dig on the remaining third to see how you get on with it? Even if you can find a cheap/free alternative to bought in mulch, the volumes needed are enormous, never mind the time and energy spent carting it all around.
Leaves are the best alternative in my opinion, but then we're lucky enough to have some dumped at our site every year. I rarely find the time to barrow them to my plot these days, but it has worked well for me in the past, and i'm still seeing the benefits a few years down the line. I just did one or two areas/beds each season, even when i had more time.

[Mr Bones]

Agree with what has already been said, use whatever you can get hold of. To get us started I used wood chips from a tree surgeon (included leaves and twigs), it took a full barrow load per square metre and could maybe have been a bit thicker.
Good luck with it, whatever you choose it's worth the effort.

[Newt]

Thank you guys all so much! This is all really great advice. I'm going to look into council or local wood surgeon woodchip, and yeah maybe it would be cheaper to do the plot bit by bit.

I have plans for how I want to rearrange the beds, andin my head I managed to combine the desire to alter the bed arrangement with a desire to get the beds all PERFECT NOW. Hahahaaaa oops. Bit over eager perhaps.

[4Shoes]

2 years past, we took down a line of leylandii. Think in all about 8 trees. the small wood and leaves were chipped and trunks logged etc. think might have had 2 cubic m bags worth. I expect that is the volume of chips you'll need to move.

I have noticed that some councils are chipping scrub at the side of the country roads. Perhaps local saw mills or try your local stables or chicken fancier.

[veggiechicken]

I prefer to use cardboard to newspaper. Its easier to lay. Ask for big plain boxes at whitegoods shops and bike shops.

[Dynamo]

Do you have any friends or neighbours who have cats that use litter trays? Ask them if you can have their empty cat litter bags.

[nickdub]

Make friends with your local farmers or stable owners. A trailer load or two of old straw which has been used for animal bedding will go a long way to getting your mulching issue solved.

[ESBkevin]

As said above use what you have. Some offices have shredded paper (make sure theres no plastic at all). Brown corrugated cardboard boxes are brilliant because they mulch but remove any packing tape from the outside, they block light to the weeds and then break down. At this time of year autumn leaves are abundent everywhere but I recommend shredding (with a rotary lawn mower or strimmer) and then putting under the cardboard so they don't blow about. Tree surgeons might give you or allow you to collect free wood chips. Have you got a canteen at uni that would keep thier uncooked veggie waste separate, you'd be surprised at how fast that mounts up in quantity. Stables has been mentioned for free manure (play the studen/experiment card if they try to charge much).

[Newt]

As said above use what you have. Some offices have shredded paper (make sure theres no plastic at all). Brown corrugated cardboard boxes are brilliant because they mulch but remove any packing tape from the outside, they block light to the weeds and then break down. At this time of year autumn leaves are abundent everywhere but I recommend shredding (with a rotary lawn mower or strimmer) and then putting under the cardboard so they don't blow about. Tree surgeons might give you or allow you to collect free wood chips. Have you got a canteen at uni that would keep thier uncooked veggie waste separate, you'd be surprised at how fast that mounts up in quantity. Stables has been mentioned for free manure (play the studen/experiment card if they try to charge much).

Useful info, thank you! We do get free manure at the allotment already at least - 2 small bags per allotment each fortnight, but I can build it up over time if I make sure to get there early for each delivery.

I'm more than a few years out of uni though so no chance of using that excuse!

[Nicos]

I'm with bario on thís...leaves...