Controlling Weeds and What's in that Mulch

The gardening posts have certainly been inspiring and have almost convinced me I should plant some vegetables.
It would have to be container gardening since chemicals have certainly been used to ward off weeds. Two questions for the experienced gardeners here:

1. Any suggestions on non-chemical ways to keep the weeds under control - other than pulling or digging them out?

2. I've been covering all the beds with a thick layer of mulch to protect the plants and control the weeds. This year the newly laid mulch appears to be triggering allergy and sinus problems. I assumed mulch was just wood, but now I'm beginning to wonder if other things, perhaps chemicals, are being added. Any thoughts?
,
Thanks for your help.

Jyoti

jygach wrote:The gardening posts have certainly been inspiring and have almost convinced me I should plant some vegetables.
It would have to be container gardening since chemicals have certainly been used to ward off weeds. Two questions for the experienced gardeners here:

1. Any suggestions on non-chemical ways to keep the weeds under control - other than pulling or digging them out?

2. I've been covering all the beds with a thick layer of mulch to protect the plants and control the weeds. This year the newly laid mulch appears to be triggering allergy and sinus problems. I assumed mulch was just wood, but now I'm beginning to wonder if other things, perhaps chemicals, are being added. Any thoughts?
,
Thanks for your help.

Jyoti

Mulch is the best tool. There are many different kinds. If you are using one that doesn't agree with you, try another kind that you may like better. Last year, we switched over to cocoa shell mulch, which not only controlled the weeds, but made our flower garden smell like chocolate for a week or two until the flowers took hold. It was a win-win.

In my square foot garden, weed control is very easy, Since you know exactly where you planted everyting, any other plant that sprouts up gets pulled immediately. I found 30 minutes once or twice a week is all it takes to police my single 4 X 4 square.

It's not the most attractive, but I swear by used newspapers (I do cover them with a light layer of cypress mulch for cosmetics and weight, but you could probably use gravel) The inks are vegetable-based, and add a trace amount of nitrogen to the soil. It doesn't take a heavy layer to squelch weeds completely, it's easy enough to cut and plant through, it breaks down and amends the soil - and it's free if you don't mind raiding your office's recycling. You can do whole sections, or you can shred them and use it that way. This year, I'm trying something new along with it - I ran a soaker hose underneath the newspapers so that when I water, it goes directly into the soil (thus, hopefully reducing the fungal diseases that have plagued my tomatoes for years)

I can't speak to the chemical content of your mulch, but I know that I'm particularly sensitive to mold - and mulch, being that it's purpose is to keep the ground wet and dark, is probably going to increase the molds in your garden a bit. I learned about my mold allergy by watching the allergy reports on the weather - I always have a bad day when the mold count is high.

I've just finished papering-in my large rented plot; as soon as I have plants tall enough to photograph, I'll post. (Steve - I'm jealous of your cocoa mulch: I love the stuff, but it's not in the budget...a garden of chocolate...sigh)

this may or may not be of interest, but Preen now makes an organic garden weed preventer. i don't know how well it works, but preen itself works wonders ... this is a corn byproduct

http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpreenveg/index.jsp

Thank you all for your advice. I am off this Friday to sniff test all the mulch options.
The Preen organic product sounds very promising as well.
Will keep you informed on my progress.

Jyoti

Any update to this?

We have a 20'x20' garden that is absolutely over run with weeds, is this a bad thing if you dont mind the look?

I put down some straw this weekend, we will see what that does.

Anyone tried the preen organic stuff?

Thanks!

Update - Just read the newspaper links and I think I will try this now. Is it ok to try this mid-summer, once things are growing steadily?

I know what you mean, the weeds are out of control in my yard too-Half the problem with putting a barrier of any kind down is that you have to make sure that what you use doesn't adversely affect what you do want to grow. I have used straw also but I put newspaper sections down first (don't open the section just lay down length-wise), it eventually breaks down but I have found that it helps. Because it is biodegradeable you will have to reapply at some point.

I would think that weeds compete for the nutrients and water in the soil? Plus, in my garden at least, they had completely covered the poor little pepper plants! I had to remove the weeds so they would get some sun!

stevez wrote:Mulch is the best tool. There are many different kinds. If you are using one that doesn't agree with you, try another kind that you may like better. Last year, we switched over to cocoa shell mulch, which not only controlled the weeds, but made our flower garden smell like chocolate for a week or two until the flowers took hold. It was a win-win.

You're most likely already aware of this but I'll just throw this out there in case. Cocoa mulch can be quite hazardous to pet/animal health. I would be really careful with it, particularly if you or your neighbors have dogs and/or outdoor cats.

From The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website:

"Eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death."

couple links:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home ... ogs_ov.htm

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pa ... tionscocoa

Purely by accident, I've hit upon a great mulch for outdoor potted plants - orchid "soil," which is a coarse mix of bark and composted "forest products," as the Miracle-Gro people call it, with a small amount of polymer moisture retainer and a very mild A/P fertilizer added. Looks great, particularly on the more purely decorative plants (coleus, scented geraniums, ornametal sweet potatoes, and such)) but more importantly, keeps the soil evenly moist. I've used a couple of different brands this season; I prefer Miracle-Gro so far. The difference in the performance of my tomatoes is astounding. Not a hint of blossom end rot anywhere.

Also, this stuff is making the first effort at real urban gardening by the ol' Customary Dining Companion a roaring success. After a good start with a Genovese basil last year that survived until this spring (!), he now has another giant plant of the same strain, along with a French thyme, a rosemary, a bay laurel, and four tomato plants (three Roma, one Red Pear) that are approaching hedge-like proportions, acquired for the princely sum of 25 cents each at the Evanston farmers market. The lessened maintenance made possible by the orchid mix has been a big part of his thriving brood, and he's jazzed to know that the bay laurel could become a full-fledged member of the family with virtually no effort on his part.

It's admittedly a bit expensive to use on a really large scale, but I do plan to use some of the leftovers on my peonies and iris in the front garden next week, after the upcoming manure/bone meal/dried blood top-dressing. Also, while I realize dogs will eat pretty much anything, I doubt that a mouthful of bark shards will hold much allure.

im not getting weeds anymore..mine is now overrun with crabgrass..any ideas?

I am really interested to hear that shredded office papers can be used as mulch.......I generate lots of it. I know that newspaper ink is vegetable based, but is inkjet ink biodegradable as well? I've been wading thru the MSDS's for HP56 (black) and HP57 (color), and the black cartridges use 2-pyrrolidone, while the color cartridges use a rainbow of chemical thingys, mostly defined as "contact may cause irritation." Or are all these chemicals in such miniscule quantities as to be harmless when they leach into garden soils?

Thanks for any illumination.......!

pammyt wrote:I know what you mean, the weeds are out of control in my yard too-Half the problem with putting a barrier of any kind down is that you have to make sure that what you use doesn't adversely affect what you do want to grow. I have used straw also but I put newspaper sections down first (don't open the section just lay down length-wise), it eventually breaks down but I have found that it helps. Because it is biodegradeable you will have to reapply at some point.

Any good sources for straw?

I love the chocolate mulch and would just like to add the tip that if you get it from the Blommer's outlet on Kinzie, it is substantially cheaper then getting it at a garden store. Plus you can buy chocolate at the same time.

Jen

David Hammond wrote:Any good sources for straw?

Answered my own question:

Feed Store
5408 S Harlem Ave
Summit Argo, IL 60501 (708) 458-1327

They have straw all year round. $7/bale.

I've had really good luck using newspaper and mushroom compost between my vegetable rows. I use 3 layers of newspaper and about 1.5-2" of the compost. At the end of the season I just turn it under and let it compost into the soil.

Hi,

Will you mulch me?

"This Saturday, July 28, at 3:00 P.M. I will wed my mulchmate Kate McDermott, who I met on the GardenWeb.com soil, compost, and mulch forum," wrote Jon Rowley, a fifty-seven-year-old seafood expert in Seattle who, in the past several years, has turned his attention from surf to turf and become obsessed with gardening.

"The altar will be at one of the compost stations at the Interbay P-Patch Community Garden, where I am currently the Site Coordinator," he wrote. "Making a Wedding Compost will be a symbolic part of our vows. Guests will participate in this miracle of renewal by contributing 'brown,' 'green,' or 'brown and green' ingredients for the compost."

Rowley explained that the contributions would become humus for a commemorative planting of a Wedding Rose. "I would be honored to receive your leftover lobster shells, vacuum-cleaner bags, coffee grounds, poached-salmon carcass, pet llama's manure, banana peels, dryer lint, moldy vegetables from your fridge."

Jon Rowley is quite an expert on oysters. He was the very first member of Culinary Historians of Chicago.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:"I would be honored to receive your leftover lobster shells, vacuum-cleaner bags, coffee grounds, poached-salmon carcass, pet llama's manure, banana peels, dryer lint, moldy vegetables from your fridge."

I hope this is not the menu for the wedding reception!

I hope this is not the menu for the wedding reception!

"Was" - the article was dated August 13, 2001. And if they did throw dryer lint into that marital compost pile, it's probably still there!