I have a question about rye grass to throw at you guys/gals. I get beautiful wheelbarrows full of wonderful green clippings all winter long. I've been taking those clippings and dumping them around my roses in the desert landscaping area as a mulch. My thinking behind this is, the grass will cover what little desert rock is still out there and help keep the rose roots nice and cool, and also hold in the water. I'm not worried about the clippings rooting, because they would surely die in our summer heat anyway. The clippings are very, very fine, as I mow with my power reel mower. They deteriorate somewhat quickly. Also, the roses don't seem to mind. Many are throwing 1-1/2 inch thick basal shoots! Is this a good practice or no?
Chat with you later,
Alan
--
Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13
http://www.GardenersCorner.com
-----
Alan Zelhart
gizmoaz@cox.net
-----
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
It wasn't sunny - we've only had two days that would qualify
as "sunny" in the past month - but at least it wasn't
raining. So, I decided to get some garden/yard chores done.
The rye grass I planted last fall as a compost source had
grown tremendously during the week we were gone, some of it
was almost to my knees! It took two passes with the lawn
mower, but I finally got it manageable, and used the
clippings to start a new compost pile, along with leaves
saved from last fall. Planted two plum trees and one pear,
and finally pruned that fig bush that I never pruned last
year! I spent at least an hour cutting back dead wood and
branches that hung too low to the ground, and cutting out a
vine that had grown up in it. But it looks much better now.
My neighbor had a huge shrub, I think a golden privet, that
had spilled over the 6' fence along the side of my yard and
had even pushed the fence over at one place, so I attacked
it next. I wanted to transplant a Buckeye, but it had
leafed out when we returned from our trip, and I'm afraid to
move it now. Maybe next year.
I also discovered how sharp my new Sandvik pruners are.
While I was pruning the fig, I laid the Sandviks aside while
I was sawing a large branch. Drew my hand back to free the
saw, and hit the tip of the pruners (they were in the open
position), and the tip sunk right in to my hand. A nice
flow of blood by the time I got up to the house!!
My tulips are blooming, the Bradford pear is in full bloom,
and I saw the first flag iris bloom this morning. Spring
may not have sprung yet, but it's springing!!
Harry
Green stuff lying on top might rob the earth of a little nitrogen while
it rots but I do much the same thing and it all evens out in the end.
George
Zelhart Alan-rpcs30 wrote:
I think usually most people compost fresh grass clippings first before
using them. But I don't at home. It goes straight from the lawnmower
bag to around my plants because I always need more mulch. I don't think
you're hurting anything as long as the grass doesn't touch the stems of
the roses. The grass (depending on how thick) will just heat up and
compost in place. That tends to tie up some nitrogen in the soil, so you
might want to give them a little more fertilizer? At least that's what I
usually do.
Karen (Pittsburgh, PA zone 5b/6) now on Sanibel Island, zone 10
On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 12:33:37 -0700 Zelhart Alan-rpcs30
I've used lawn grass clippings, although not rye grass, quite happily in
the garden. Never under roses because of appearance, but I would think
they would make great mulch. I say thumbs up.
Esther
Zelhart Alan-rpcs30
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 2:34 PM
To: GARDENS@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Rye Grass Clippings...
I have a question about rye grass to throw at you guys/gals. I get
beautiful wheelbarrows full of wonderful green clippings all winter
long. I've been taking those clippings and dumping them around my roses
in the desert landscaping area as a mulch. My thinking behind this is,
the grass will cover what little desert rock is still out there and help
keep the rose roots nice and cool, and also hold in the water. I'm not
worried about the clippings rooting, because they would surely die in
our summer heat anyway. The clippings are very, very fine, as I mow
with my power reel mower. They deteriorate somewhat quickly. Also, the
roses don't seem to mind. Many are throwing 1-1/2 inch thick basal
shoots! Is this a good practice or no?
Chat with you later,
Alan
--
Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13
http://www.GardenersCorner.com
-----
Alan Zelhart
gizmoaz@cox.net
-----
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with
them.
It wasn't sunny - we've only had two days that would qualify
as "sunny" in the past month - but at least it wasn't
raining. So, I decided to get some garden/yard chores done.
The rye grass I planted last fall as a compost source had
grown tremendously during the week we were gone, some of it
was almost to my knees! It took two passes with the lawn
mower, but I finally got it manageable, and used the
clippings to start a new compost pile, along with leaves
saved from last fall. Planted two plum trees and one pear,
and finally pruned that fig bush that I never pruned last
year! I spent at least an hour cutting back dead wood and
branches that hung too low to the ground, and cutting out a
vine that had grown up in it. But it looks much better now.
My neighbor had a huge shrub, I think a golden privet, that
had spilled over the 6' fence along the side of my yard and
had even pushed the fence over at one place, so I attacked
it next. I wanted to transplant a Buckeye, but it had
leafed out when we returned from our trip, and I'm afraid to
move it now. Maybe next year.
I also discovered how sharp my new Sandvik pruners are.
While I was pruning the fig, I laid the Sandviks aside while
I was sawing a large branch. Drew my hand back to free the
saw, and hit the tip of the pruners (they were in the open
position), and the tip sunk right in to my hand. A nice
flow of blood by the time I got up to the house!!
My tulips are blooming, the Bradford pear is in full bloom,
and I saw the first flag iris bloom this morning. Spring
may not have sprung yet, but it's springing!!
Harry
