grass cutting as mulch?

[linlaoboo]

Is it ok to mulch the outdoor grow bed with grass cuttings? Will it have a difference in affecting different types of trees? I'm currently growing out some black pine, scotts pine, red pine, Chinese elms, ficuses, maples and junipers. I figure this gives me a place to get rid of my grass cuttings and hopefully control the weed growth in the area. I'm being kick in my behind with clover weeds and crab grasses everywhere, on the lawn, bonsai pots, around shrubs and in the grow bed. Do you recommend any weed killers that's safe around bonsai plants?

 

[Poink88]

Grass clipping is high in Nitrogen...could be good or bad depending on your situation. It is usually used in compost.

 

[jk_lewis]

MIX it with something else. Grass tends to mat, then becomes impervious to water. Grass is high in N because we stupidly pour fertilizer onto our lawns to keep them emerald green and have to more them more often. Lawn fertilizer is A MAJOR source of water pollution.

 

[Poink88]

Whether we pour fertilizer to it or not, grass (and most leaves) will have high N content. That is their nature. Maybe not as high as the heavily fertilized lawn but still.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

You've got Ficus outdoors in grow beds in NJ

 

[bougie nights]

Keep in mind that your clippings are likely to have weed seeds in them.
As for herbicides, you can use a glyphosate product applied with a wick or brush - don't spray! This will sound weird, but if conditions are dry right now, water your weeds very well a day or two prior to application. The herbicide works better when they are actively growing.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Keep in mind that your clippings are likely to have weed seeds in them.
As for herbicides, you can use a glyphosate product applied with a wick or brush - don't spray! This will sound weird, but if conditions are dry right now, water your weeds very well a day or two prior to application. The herbicide works better when they are actively growing.

Bougie nights is correct. Fresh grass clippings have lots of weed seed (sometimes even grass seed, but especially crab grass, which would be a weed in your growing bed or pot. JKL is also correct that anything you put on your lawn (fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide will be in the clippings as well and may or may not be a problem for your bed stock) and that fresh clippings mat and cause problems. Why not compost the clippings and use the compost as mulch (maybe later this fall or next spring)? In the mean time, try using pine bark or pine straw after you tackle the weeds. Pulling is best, but may take multiple tries. Glysophate (active ingredient in Roundup) will work if applied directly to the weeds, but be careful. I believe above 85F it can evaporate, rise up and be absorbed by leaves above the application site. You may need to apply in the evening as things cool off. Check the label of whatever you decide to use.

Regards,
Martin

 

[linlaoboo]

absolutely. They fatten up quicker compare to pots. They've been out there from end of April and will be out another few weeks before I pull them out and stick them into containers. I'm running out of indoor space for tropicals, will have to cut down on them. For that reason I stopped taking anymore cuttings and just focus on developing older ones.

You've got Ficus outdoors in grow beds in NJ