This year I would like to try grass clippings as a mulch in my vegetable garden. I've been told it is a very good way to keep weeds down and moisture in. However, I have questions. Does it even work?? How deep should it be spread? Should it be kept away from the vegetable stalks? Are there any vegetables that it may harm? Anything else I should know? Thanks in advance.
Grass clippings in my yard are never pure. There are always tons of seeds from whatever else is growing in the yard next to the grass. In my yard that's clover, grass, dandelions, a bunch of other stuff. If the Cardinals are selling the grass clippings from Bush Stadium, that stuff might be pure.
Beware of clippings from unknown sources. They can contain broadleaf weed killers that would make short work of your vegetables. The clipping from your yard may be fine and are unlikely to introduce problem weeds. Allow them to heat up in a pile for a week or two if you have large quantities turning occasionally to aerate the pile. Apply sparingly against any stems but thickly between rows.
Thank you for your advice ... Now I need to know the purpose of heating up the clippings first? I've always put egg shells around the base of my plants once they were in the ground. Will I be defeating this purpose by putting the clippings over them and will I be attracting rodents to my garden? Thankx.
Just so that they compost in a pile and not next to a plant where they might rob nitrogen from the soil. Should make them easier to handle and a bit less likely to turn into a slimy mat. Unless your local rodents like hay it shouldn't be a problem, voles and such I don't ever see here in Texas so YMMV.