sift mulch or use as is?

frankbenjones · April 18, 2015

I just got a load of free mulch from the city. I know the smaller particles will decay sooner and I don't have any problem going to get more when it decays. Should I sift the mulch or just use it as is? Sifted with a 1/4 mesh screen. I can also sift with a 1/2" screen. I saved the sifted material to place into my tumbling composter that I fill with kitchen scraps that is often too "wet".

Unsifted and sifted mulch with pennies for comparison:

Redbaron · April 19, 2015

It works either way. I personally use as is myself. I have sifted partially composted wood chip mulch before, but mainly I sift after almost composting fully just to clean out the bigger wood chips. Then I use the smaller sifted material and continue composting the bigger chips after mixing with grass clippings.

habitat_gardener · April 19, 2015

I'd use it as is. However: I've been getting a lot of a bright yellow slime mold all over the sheet-mulched yard in the past couple weeks! I didn't even think about sifting the mulch, and probably wouldn't to separate out the fines, but I'm wondering if all the leafy stuff in this batch of mulch contributed to the slime-mold party.

I do pick out the larger pieces (thicker than my arm or wider than my hand) to use in hugelkultur beds.

guruofgardens · April 19, 2015

Ditto. We only pick out the small branch pieces and larger 2-3" pieces. I'm been saving a bucket for hugelkultur and now am again inspired to try one. Thanks, habitat.
Now to clean out a place. Spring is the best time!!

frankbenjones · April 20, 2015

Thanks! I will use as is with the exception of sifting some out to use the smaller stuff in my tumbling composter as needed to dry it out a bit.

April 19, 2015	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	It works either way. I personally use as is myself. I have sifted partially composted wood chip mulch before, but mainly I sift after almost composting fully just to clean out the bigger wood chips. Then I use the smaller sifted material and continue composting the bigger chips after mixing with grass clippings. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; April 19, 2015 at 03:06 AM.

April 19, 2015	#3
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I'd use it as is. However: I've been getting a lot of a bright yellow slime mold all over the sheet-mulched yard in the past couple weeks! I didn't even think about sifting the mulch, and probably wouldn't to separate out the fines, but I'm wondering if all the leafy stuff in this batch of mulch contributed to the slime-mold party. I do pick out the larger pieces (thicker than my arm or wider than my hand) to use in hugelkultur beds.

April 19, 2015	#4
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Ditto. We only pick out the small branch pieces and larger 2-3" pieces. I'm been saving a bucket for hugelkultur and now am again inspired to try one. Thanks, habitat. Now to clean out a place. Spring is the best time!!

April 20, 2015	#5
frankbenjones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 51	Thanks! I will use as is with the exception of sifting some out to use the smaller stuff in my tumbling composter as needed to dry it out a bit.