Ideas for cheap tomato mulch...???

jenn_sc · March 12, 2006

Can anyone suggest cheap (and not unsightly) mulch for approx. 15 tomato plants? They are to be grown along my back fences, where the neighbors can easily see them. I tried buying pine straw bales last year, but it took lots of them and they quickly matted down and started to shrink. I've considered newspaper covered with something, maybe even pine straw again if you all think it's a good idea.

What do you use?

Jennifer

bully · March 12, 2006

I wonder if you could get all those millions of 'swinging chads' from the 2000 election.

or go with grass clippings...when they dry they look like straw.

**Lee** · March 12, 2006

How about leaf mulch, either shredded or whole...

Lee

Suze · March 12, 2006

Wheat straw mulch is a favorite of mine in terms of both function and appearance.

JimM_SC · March 12, 2006

I use shredded leaves as a mulch in the rows and unshredded leaves as a ground cover between rows. If you don't have a shredder you can use wheat straw, but be sure to put lots of newspaper down first or you'll have a huge crop of weeds from the straw. If you could find someone replacing their carpet, that would make a terrific mulch and easy to cover up if you need to make it look more natural.
Jim

soeur · March 13, 2006

I use wheat straw over cardboard. I get the corrugated free at the grocery store where they throw out all the boxes in which stuff gets shipped. Just tear off all plastic tape, undo the seam and flatten out the boxes. I put about 3 inches of wheat straw on top and it lasts me all year. By this time of year (late winter/early spring) it's about 3/4 rotted into the soil. Gives great weed control, keeps the moisture even and improves the soil over time. And it looks nice, too.

clay199 · March 13, 2006

wheat straw usually does not have weeds in it, expecially if it is from a commercial source. You can also use oat or barley straw as well. Ensure that the straw is not mulch hay as that does have weeds in it.

Grass clippings from the city are sometimes a good source. Some towns are quite happy for people to come and grab them. Ask if yours has any available.

Landscaping contractors are always happy to get rid of leaves and grass clippings. They usually have to pay to dump them, and if you are serious about taking them when they want to dump them off they will usually do so if they are in the area. You can make compost from the left over stuff as well which is a big bonus.

Tomstrees · March 13, 2006

Grass-clippings if no chemicals ~
and seaweed from your lake
or beach ~ I really like using it as
mulch / compost
~ Tom

shelleybean · March 13, 2006

I also use wheat straw. Pine straw can make your soil too acid.

JimM_SC · March 13, 2006

I can assure you that the wheat straw available here in the SC Midlands contains lots of seeds. Been there, done that.
Jim

Little_Rhody · March 13, 2006

I like grass clippings over newspaper the best. I usually don't have enough grass so I use straw or hay on top as well. Salt marsh hay is really good too, if you can get it. Keep a hose handy and spray the newspaper as you spread it out, so it does not blow away before you cover it with the mulch. I lay soaker hoses down before I put the newspaper down.

jenn_sc · March 14, 2006

Some good suggestions...

I have easy access to lots of free cardboard...I work at Pier 1 and we get loads of boxes. We also get shredded newspaper in bags used as cushioning for small pottery and such.

I'm thinking cardboard and newspaper covered with wheat straw. I could add grass clippings too.

Someone last year told me that too many grass clippings will "burn" your plants...could anyone clarify for me? I know grass clippings are great in compost (and I do have a compost bin) but is it ok to put fresh clippings around my toms?

Thanks

Jennifer

giardiniere · March 14, 2006

Green grass clippings can heat up, if you don't spread them out in order for them to dry. I will usually spread them in my row until they do dry, and then push them closer to the plants. In the summer sun, it doesn't take too long to get crispy.... the grass clippings that is... it takes me a little longer.

TomatoDon · March 14, 2006

On the whole, you can't beat layered newspaper (wet it), grass clipppings or clean wheat straw. Great stuff, and cheap or free.

Don

March 12, 2006	#1
jenn_sc SPLATT™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 502	Ideas for cheap tomato mulch...??? Can anyone suggest cheap (and not unsightly) mulch for approx. 15 tomato plants? They are to be grown along my back fences, where the neighbors can easily see them. I tried buying pine straw bales last year, but it took lots of them and they quickly matted down and started to shrink. I've considered newspaper covered with something, maybe even pine straw again if you all think it's a good idea. What do you use? Jennifer

March 13, 2006	#6
soeur Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: middle Tennessee z6b Posts: 11	I use wheat straw over cardboard. I get the corrugated free at the grocery store where they throw out all the boxes in which stuff gets shipped. Just tear off all plastic tape, undo the seam and flatten out the boxes. I put about 3 inches of wheat straw on top and it lasts me all year. By this time of year (late winter/early spring) it's about 3/4 rotted into the soil. Gives great weed control, keeps the moisture even and improves the soil over time. And it looks nice, too. __________________ Marty

March 13, 2006	#8
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Grass-clippings if no chemicals ~ and seaweed from your lake or beach ~ I really like using it as mulch / compost ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 13, 2006	#9
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I also use wheat straw. Pine straw can make your soil too acid. __________________ Michele

March 13, 2006	#11
Little_Rhody Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: RI Posts: 106	I like grass clippings over newspaper the best. I usually don't have enough grass so I use straw or hay on top as well. Salt marsh hay is really good too, if you can get it. Keep a hose handy and spray the newspaper as you spread it out, so it does not blow away before you cover it with the mulch. I lay soaker hoses down before I put the newspaper down. __________________ carolyn

March 12, 2006	#2
bully Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 794	I wonder if you could get all those millions of 'swinging chads' from the 2000 election. or go with grass clippings...when they dry they look like straw.

March 12, 2006	#3
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	How about leaf mulch, either shredded or whole... Lee

March 12, 2006	#4
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	Wheat straw mulch is a favorite of mine in terms of both function and appearance.

March 12, 2006	#5
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	I use shredded leaves as a mulch in the rows and unshredded leaves as a ground cover between rows. If you don't have a shredder you can use wheat straw, but be sure to put lots of newspaper down first or you'll have a huge crop of weeds from the straw. If you could find someone replacing their carpet, that would make a terrific mulch and easy to cover up if you need to make it look more natural. Jim

March 13, 2006	#7
clay199 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Beyond Hope, British Columbia Posts: 201	wheat straw usually does not have weeds in it, expecially if it is from a commercial source. You can also use oat or barley straw as well. Ensure that the straw is not mulch hay as that does have weeds in it. Grass clippings from the city are sometimes a good source. Some towns are quite happy for people to come and grab them. Ask if yours has any available. Landscaping contractors are always happy to get rid of leaves and grass clippings. They usually have to pay to dump them, and if you are serious about taking them when they want to dump them off they will usually do so if they are in the area. You can make compost from the left over stuff as well which is a big bonus.

March 14, 2006	#12
jenn_sc SPLATT™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 502	Some good suggestions... I have easy access to lots of free cardboard...I work at Pier 1 and we get loads of boxes. We also get shredded newspaper in bags used as cushioning for small pottery and such. I'm thinking cardboard and newspaper covered with wheat straw. I could add grass clippings too. Someone last year told me that too many grass clippings will "burn" your plants...could anyone clarify for me? I know grass clippings are great in compost (and I do have a compost bin) but is it ok to put fresh clippings around my toms? Thanks Jennifer

March 14, 2006	#13
giardiniere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 6, Southeast Kansas Posts: 364	Green grass clippings can heat up, if you don't spread them out in order for them to dry. I will usually spread them in my row until they do dry, and then push them closer to the plants. In the summer sun, it doesn't take too long to get crispy.... the grass clippings that is... it takes me a little longer. __________________ Dave

March 14, 2006	#14
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	On the whole, you can't beat layered newspaper (wet it), grass clipppings or clean wheat straw. Great stuff, and cheap or free. Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS