A really bad idea!

Discussion in 'Soils, Fertilizers and Composting' started by jeanneaxler, Aug 4, 2008.

  1. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    I have a lot of seed hulls from my bird feeders and I thought why not use it as mulch?
    I put it in one of my tomatoes beds. One plant died last week and I removed it to see if there was damage to the roots. Nothing evident. 2 others also died and a fourth one, a Roma, is still looking good. Basil in same bed is doing fine.
    What am I missing?
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Best composted first, as it may be full of bird droppings which could provide excessive nitrogen levels.

    You might also get extra weeds resulting from uneaten seeds; I know someone who ended up with some Cannabis plants from discarded bird food.
     
  3. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    I would gladly trade a couple of tomatoes for cannabis! Alas no such luck. Just got a lot of sunflowers.
    I tried to do something clever with the mulch thing: cheap, available, a recycle dream. Not so much!
    I didn't know excess nitrogen would kill tomatoes.
    Thanks. I will take your advice and compost it first.
     
  4. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Sunflower seed hulls do inhibit plant growth....could also explain the tomatoes dying.
     
  5. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    I had no idea. Thanks.
    Any other creative mulching ideas I should stay away from?
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Pelleted rubber from old wheels. Toxic.
     
  7. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    You are kidding wright?
     
  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Nope - the stuff is sold as "mulch". Here's an example: http://www.rubberecycle.com/

    Might be OK for play areas, but not good for plants.
     
  9. RPBnimrod

    RPBnimrod Active Member

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    I'm probably wrong, but if the seeds from your bird feeder were salted (which they probably weren't) then they would probably kill off quite a few plants.
     
  10. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    If they were, they'd also kill off quite a few birds as well! Most birds can't cope with a high salt intake in the way that people can.
     
  11. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    I assure you there is no salt in the seeds("premium" quality, "triple washed"). But there is a lot of poop!

    MichaelF, I looked up the "mulch" you were serious!
    I seems actually a good idea for a playground, a soft cushion for falls .
    But it doesn't even look good. Why would anyone put it in a garden? (this is a rhetorical question)
     
  12. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    It defeats me!!!

    The other problem with it - rubber burns easily. Imagine older kids setting it on fire . . . all that foul black smoke!
     
  13. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    I guess we are left with " someone found a way to make money". Greed is always such a good motive for everything unpalatable!
     
  14. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    That's too often the right answer! :-((
     
  15. jeanneaxler

    jeanneaxler Active Member

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    Very depressing.
     
  16. soccerdad

    soccerdad Active Member 10 Years

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    Now they try to tell our children that greed - re-labeled "free enterprise" or "the profit motive" - is the source of all progress and the reason why the US beat Russia by some standard or the other. Luckily some of my children were taught by Mr R, whose views to the contrary - and sales of free trade coffee, and charitable drives for the people of Cuba and so on - a least made them aware of the possibility fo a different view.

    Enough of that or Daniel will quite properly cut me off.
     

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