Grass as mulch

[Newishgardener]

Can using just freshly cut grass as a mulch burn seedlings ? I don't think I will but someone has told me that it can ? I am planning on putting it on all I my beds if this is ok :-)


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[Glutton4...]

Newly cut grass heats up. This is why a grass mowings pile will catch fire. I would suggest spreading it out until it has browned off, then use it. Grass makes a good mulch.

[Newishgardener]

Newly cut grass heats up. This is why a grass mowings pile will catch fire. I would suggest spreading it out until it has browned off, then use it. Grass makes a good mulch.

So would spreading it over the surface of the soil before it's gone brown not be advisable ?? I was planning on spreading it out an not leaving it as a pile.


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[Bill HH]

I dont think it will heat up if its spread out well, in a pile it will get very hot, as Glutton said it can catch fire (ask any farmer who has baled his hay a bit to soon). I would be more concerned with all the grass seeds germinating but as I havent got a lawn i wouldnt know. It certainly helps the compost heap to get warm.

[darcyvuqua]

Is it not because of the high nitrogen in grass and possibility of burning the roots?

[rustylady]

I wouldn't use it as a mulch on seedlings. Bigger plants it would be Ok, as long as not too thick a layer.

[Bill HH]

Is it not because of the high nitrogen in grass and possibility of burning the roots?

Yes I think the burning here is more a chemical one, but I cant see grass being that high in nitrogen surely.

[Philthy]

Whatever doesn't fit in the compost bin / dalek, gets spread under rhododendrons, and the hedge, to about 2" thick. It supresses weeds brilliantly (as long as it is regularly topped up), and helps prevent the ground drying out to much in summer. And of course its a free and simple way of getting rid of cuttings.
I've never noticed the mulch being especially warm in the way a heap of grass is.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Also ensure it has not been treated with weed killer, this could well transfer to your crops.

Potty

[alldigging]

Add it thinly round established plants.
Thick mulch on potatoes .. Couple of inches but not near the stems too close.

Use as soil cover where you can.

[Bigmallly]

When I had the lottie, I used grass clippings as a mulch on the onion bed and had good results.

http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=236

[Two_Sheds]

Can using just freshly cut grass as a mulch burn seedlings ?

No, not if you restrict it to 2" deep at a time. Big piles of grass cuttings get very hot in the middle, and can catch fire.

I use grass clipping mulches on lots of things, esp. onions & spuds, and as an accelerator in the compost heap.

beware of grass & weed seed in the cuttings though: I was gifted a sack of bowling green mowings once, and I'm still digging out the resulting lawn from my beds

[chilli_grower]

I actually managed to mow my lawn today, as the grass is reasonably dry.

I threw all the 'clippings' onto my empty raised bed.

I have no idea if this was a good thing to do, I just did it!