Seaweed, Is there any difference

[rary]

I have collected some bags of seaweed and was wondering if there are any difference in nutrient and mineral content of the different types of seaweed?

[Jungle Jane]

Red & brown looks to have more nutrients than green,it’s probably good to have a mix of all three for balance? There’s a table in this link -
Seaweed.ie :: Chemical composition

[Python15]

A quick question regarding seaweed. What kind of process or routine do you have to put the seaweed through before adding it to your garden or compost bin. Does it require washing etc? Is there a link somewhere to using it as a soil additive?

[bario1]

I just throw mine on, no washing, shredding etc. Having said that, i only use it as a Winter mulch on my asparagus bed, so I don't need a workable surface.

[cheops]

I use locally collected [washed up seaweed, no longer growing] both as a mulch and to make a liquid feed. I’ve never worried about possible salt content and have never had a problem so I would say salt is not a problem. But if you would prefer to wash the seaweed do so with a hose on the seaweed spread out on a drive etc. It’s a fantastic mulch and doesn’t contain loads of weed seeds.

[4Shoes]

I use locally collected [washed up seaweed, no longer growing] both as a mulch and to make a liquid feed. I’ve never worried about possible salt content and have never had a problem so I would say salt is not a problem. But if you would prefer to wash the seaweed do so with a hose on the seaweed spread out on a drive etc. It’s a fantastic mulch and doesn’t contain loads of weed seeds.

Reading advice above and my experience in Hopeman (Moray), if you feel it needs washing, I'd leave well alone.

[rary]

The stuff I collected yesterday will go on as a mulch, I was cutting the grass this morning so spread out three of the bags and shredded it with the lawnmower, basically because it takes up less room when shredded

[4Shoes]

The stuff I collected yesterday will go on as a mulch, I was cutting the grass this morning so spread out three of the bags and shredded it with the lawnmower, basically because it takes up less room when shredded

Perhaps we should have a "Things you do with Lawn Mower" thread.


suspect most of them will end up with "and put on compost heap"

[It never rains..it pours]

A quick question regarding seaweed. What kind of process or routine do you have to put the seaweed through before adding it to your garden or compost bin. Does it require washing etc? Is there a link somewhere to using it as a soil additive?

Here wash it in a tub , wheel barrow or with a hose for everything bar the asparagus which has it straight on top. Also chop it a bit with shears as easier to mix, dig in. Have put it in the soil for toms, peas, spuds, sweet corn and they seem to love it

[SarrissUK]

I'm reading with interest as I've just planted potatoes that I will cover with seaweed as an experiment to see if it makes a difference to their flavour

[veggiechicken]

The stuff I collected yesterday will go on as a mulch, I was cutting the grass this morning so spread out three of the bags and shredded it with the lawnmower, basically because it takes up less room when shredded

Is it the seaweed that you can "pop" like bubblewrap ? (bladderwrack)
I'm imagining the noise your mower would make if it is.

[cheops]

Bladderwrack is suitable but is tougher and therefore needs more time to breakdown. Not a problem if for example you use it as an autumn mulch around blackcurrant bushes. It has all winter into spring to breakdown and offer up its goodness and nutrients. The thinner large leaf like seaweeds which range from reds to lime greens are much better to collect if you want a quicker release of nutrients whether you are applying it as a mulch or steeping it in water to make foliar feeds or steeping it longer to make a liquid feed. [if steeped for only a few days the liquid siphoned off and strained and then sprayed on the leaves of a plant is a great deterrent to pests such as greenfly’.

[It never rains..it pours]

I'm reading with interest as I've just planted potatoes that I will cover with seaweed as an experiment to see if it makes a difference to their flavour

Would leave a control ie some without seaweed and let us know the results. Here have only lifted one row of spuds, would say on the seaweed chopped and dug in pre planting that the skins are better, yield better but couldnt taste any difference

[muck lover]

I use it as mulch.
Next year I’m going to grow some potatoes and use it for them.
I like it because it’s free.

[Birdie Wife]

I've heard it said that the best way to treat your soil with seaweed is not to spread it like a direct mulch, but leave it in piles for a time, as it rots better that way, then spread it once it's breaking down.

My allotment neighbour spreads it straight away and her veg is a marvel regardless