Mulching what are you all using ?

Westwood · 07-29-2006, 06:25 PM

Ok our winters are not that bad maybe down to 40's
but what do i mulch with last yr all my Naners where doing fine but the artic Blast made me cut them to the Rhizome ( i think i cut too much)
But what should i use for mulch here in florence Oregon ?Tammy

Frankallen · 07-30-2006, 11:49 AM

Tammy,

Most people here use Pine Bark Mulch! You can get it at Home Depot or Lowes!

Frank

Westwood · 07-30-2006, 04:38 PM

I have alot of mahogany Chips from making stuff . is that ok to use or will it kill off my plants .
I know Cedar is bad to use grins .

Tammy

momoese · 07-30-2006, 05:32 PM

I take all the old leaves or broken leaves and chop them up into small pieces then place them around the bananas and throw some manure on top. Water in real good and watch it decompose right before your eyes! The redworms really like it too and they leave worm casting in the process, a win win!

Some of that redwood mulch will tend to acidify the soil which hasn't hurt my plants any. When we bought this house all the gardens had a thick layer of redwood nuggets on them. Over time it has been turned into the soil and decomposed. I have since tested the soil ph several times and it's pretty neutral. I have a really hard time keeping my clay soil loose around here. Maybe someday it will relax and make my life a little easier.

JoeReal · 07-30-2006, 07:17 PM

The cheapest one is composted horse manure that I haul away from a friend's horse ranch.

Next would be the free compost given away by the city. After having that horse ranch owner as a friend, I no longer fall in line very early for free compost.

The third one, still cheap, is the composted steer manure from Walmart. They sell from $0.86 to $0.99 per cubic ft. Home Depot sells them too, from $0.97 to $1.49 per cubic ft.

These are all superb for bananas if you have drainage.

Carolina · 07-30-2006, 09:53 PM

Can you use the fresh manure or does it have to be composted? Cuz I also have horse friends and got to thinking.................

mikevan · 07-30-2006, 10:33 PM

Unless it's goat or rabbit droppings, you'll want to compost the manure - it can be very rich and burn even nanners. Mix it in with lotsa other stuffs in a new bed and let it cook over the winter and it should be pretty happy in the Spring. Or just dump it in a compost pile - mix in leaves and whatnot to diversify the mulch.

Have fun,
Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolina

Can you use the fresh manure or does it have to be composted? Cuz I also have horse friends and got to thinking.................

shopgirl2 · 12-12-2007, 08:25 AM

the best of all, free. wet newspapers about 1 inch or 2 thick. pour chopped leaves/grass on that. My banana trees by the deck were over 15 feet. leaves are bown now, but the stem is still green. the compost is about 6 inches thick on them. I think they like those corms/roots toastie warm!

Westwood · 12-12-2007, 09:40 AM

Right on ill get some papers and some Goat manure maybe that will help.
Hi all hope life is well im working Grave Yard shifts and hardly have time with anything except the Fam Damily. Grins Happy holidays. Tammy

frankthetank · 12-12-2007, 01:07 PM

My city has all three for free (leaves/compost/woodchips). I use the woodchips the most and some of the compost. I like the way woodchips conserve water and probably add nutrients.

cactus6103 · 12-12-2007, 03:34 PM

Here in NC I use pine straw to insulate. In the spring, I will just spread it around as I use pine straw as my landscape material of choice. Red

modenacart · 12-12-2007, 06:39 PM

I use pine staw too, because that is what all the pine trees in my yard drop everywhere. I also get horse poop for free from a guy down the road.

bencelest · 12-13-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankthetank

My city has all three for free (leaves/compost/woodchips). I use the woodchips the most and some of the compost. I like the way woodchips conserve water and probably add nutrients.

Who do you call for free compost or woodchips in the city?
And how do you chop leaves to small pieces?
I am all ears!!!!

mskitty38583 · 12-13-2007, 12:41 AM

you can call the street department or the sanitation department. if that doesnt work call city hall.

modenacart · 12-13-2007, 04:09 PM

I don't know how it is where you are, but here the free mulch has a lot of trash in it.

bencelest · 12-13-2007, 04:13 PM

Any other suggestion?

mskitty38583 · 12-13-2007, 10:24 PM

in the "mulch" the city gives away here, you get...of course free of charge..leaves, small twigs, grass clipping, the occasional snake, maybe cat poop, and doggie poop( the poop part depends on how many animals run free at the lot they have) and all kind of "organic matter". i went to look at it cause i was gonna get some..i figured hey it will compost. till i started walking through it. that stuff was NOT going on my plants! not even my outside plants. one suggestion: go around to your neighbors yards and tell them if they will bag the leaves and grassclippings youll take them. you can eve tell them youll bag it and they will be more then happy to let you.

bencelest · 12-13-2007, 11:34 PM

that's yuke! i guess not me.

Ethan · 12-14-2007, 01:59 PM

the free compost here is full of nutgrass seeds and nuts, not good.

this past year, I used cardboard to cover the nutgrass (from free compost), and topped it with compost, coffee grounds, and lawn clippings. When spring rolls back around, I'll add some chicken poo and fish emulsion. I probably have about an 8" layer of mulch down, will add more this weekend when I mow.

so far so good,
-Ethan

dpren3275 · 12-14-2007, 04:03 PM

I use a bit of shredded paper (getting rid of old bills) mixed in with sea weed, lots of seaweed from the winter storms.

07-29-2006, 06:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Westwood Green Thumb Westwood's Photo Gallery Location: Oregon Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tammy But Nick is Westwood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 346 BananaBucks : 87,636 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 209 Times Was Thanked 128 Times in 75 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Mulching what are you all using ? Ok our winters are not that bad maybe down to 40's but what do i mulch with last yr all my Naners where doing fine but the artic Blast made me cut them to the Rhizome ( i think i cut too much) But what should i use for mulch here in florence Oregon ?Tammy

07-30-2006, 11:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Frankallen Member Frankallen's Photo Gallery Location: Alabama Zone 7-b Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 142 BananaBucks : 67,378 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 23 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? Tammy, Most people here use Pine Bark Mulch! You can get it at Home Depot or Lowes! Frank

07-30-2006, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Westwood Green Thumb Westwood's Photo Gallery Location: Oregon Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tammy But Nick is Westwood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 346 BananaBucks : 87,636 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 209 Times Was Thanked 128 Times in 75 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? I have alot of mahogany Chips from making stuff . is that ok to use or will it kill off my plants . I know Cedar is bad to use grins . Tammy

07-30-2006, 05:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,038 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? I take all the old leaves or broken leaves and chop them up into small pieces then place them around the bananas and throw some manure on top. Water in real good and watch it decompose right before your eyes! The redworms really like it too and they leave worm casting in the process, a win win! Some of that redwood mulch will tend to acidify the soil which hasn't hurt my plants any. When we bought this house all the gardens had a thick layer of redwood nuggets on them. Over time it has been turned into the soil and decomposed. I have since tested the soil ph several times and it's pretty neutral. I have a really hard time keeping my clay soil loose around here. Maybe someday it will relax and make my life a little easier.

07-30-2006, 07:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 413,805 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? The cheapest one is composted horse manure that I haul away from a friend's horse ranch. Next would be the free compost given away by the city. After having that horse ranch owner as a friend, I no longer fall in line very early for free compost. The third one, still cheap, is the composted steer manure from Walmart. They sell from $0.86 to $0.99 per cubic ft. Home Depot sells them too, from $0.97 to $1.49 per cubic ft. These are all superb for bananas if you have drainage.

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07-30-2006, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Carolina Carolina's Photo Gallery Location: Northeast North Carolina Find me on the map! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 199 BananaBucks : 38,977 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? Can you use the fresh manure or does it have to be composted? Cuz I also have horse friends and got to thinking.................

12-12-2007, 08:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
shopgirl2 shopgirl2's Photo Gallery Location: Camp Lejeune, N.C. area Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Carmensol Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 212 BananaBucks : 146,608 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 61 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? the best of all, free. wet newspapers about 1 inch or 2 thick. pour chopped leaves/grass on that. My banana trees by the deck were over 15 feet. leaves are bown now, but the stem is still green. the compost is about 6 inches thick on them. I think they like those corms/roots toastie warm! __________________ Orinoco by the sunlight.

12-12-2007, 09:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Westwood Green Thumb Westwood's Photo Gallery Location: Oregon Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tammy But Nick is Westwood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 346 BananaBucks : 87,636 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 209 Times Was Thanked 128 Times in 75 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? Right on ill get some papers and some Goat manure maybe that will help. Hi all hope life is well im working Grave Yard shifts and hardly have time with anything except the Fam Damily. Grins Happy holidays. Tammy

12-12-2007, 01:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
frankthetank Member Location: La Crosse, WI Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 144 BananaBucks : 43,006 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 119 Times in 41 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? My city has all three for free (leaves/compost/woodchips). I use the woodchips the most and some of the compost. I like the way woodchips conserve water and probably add nutrients.

12-12-2007, 03:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
cactus6103 NASCAR Banana Racer cactus6103's Photo Gallery Location: Denver NC. Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Red Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 180 BananaBucks : 21,344 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 57 Times in 31 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? Here in NC I use pine straw to insulate. In the spring, I will just spread it around as I use pine straw as my landscape material of choice. Red __________________ Family, Friends and Bananas

12-12-2007, 06:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
modenacart Senior Member modenacart's Photo Gallery Location: NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 475 BananaBucks : 76,809 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 26 Times Was Thanked 77 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? I use pine staw too, because that is what all the pine trees in my yard drop everywhere. I also get horse poop for free from a guy down the road.

12-13-2007, 12:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 193,182 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? you can call the street department or the sanitation department. if that doesnt work call city hall. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

12-13-2007, 04:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
modenacart Senior Member modenacart's Photo Gallery Location: NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 475 BananaBucks : 76,809 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 26 Times Was Thanked 77 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? I don't know how it is where you are, but here the free mulch has a lot of trash in it.

12-13-2007, 04:13 PM	#16 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,006 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? Any other suggestion? __________________ Banana Nut

12-13-2007, 10:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 193,182 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? in the "mulch" the city gives away here, you get...of course free of charge..leaves, small twigs, grass clipping, the occasional snake, maybe cat poop, and doggie poop( the poop part depends on how many animals run free at the lot they have) and all kind of "organic matter". i went to look at it cause i was gonna get some..i figured hey it will compost. till i started walking through it. that stuff was NOT going on my plants! not even my outside plants. one suggestion: go around to your neighbors yards and tell them if they will bag the leaves and grassclippings youll take them. you can eve tell them youll bag it and they will be more then happy to let you. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

12-13-2007, 11:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,006 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? that's yuke! i guess not me. __________________ Banana Nut

12-14-2007, 01:59 PM	#19 (permalink)
Ethan Junior Coot Ethan's Photo Gallery Location: Bakersfield, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 82 BananaBucks : 16,552 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? the free compost here is full of nutgrass seeds and nuts, not good. this past year, I used cardboard to cover the nutgrass (from free compost), and topped it with compost, coffee grounds, and lawn clippings. When spring rolls back around, I'll add some chicken poo and fish emulsion. I probably have about an 8" layer of mulch down, will add more this weekend when I mow. so far so good, -Ethan

12-14-2007, 04:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
dpren3275 Junior Member dpren3275's Photo Gallery Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Ca Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 7,324 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mulching what are you all using ? I use a bit of shredded paper (getting rid of old bills) mixed in with sea weed, lots of seaweed from the winter storms.

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