What can I do with grass cuttings?

[tamsin]

I've got some potatoes in grow sacks, current half full of soil - does that mean I can 'earth up' with grass clippings instead of more compost or will that just turn into a sludgy mess?

[Two_Sheds]

does that mean I can 'earth up' with grass clippings ...?

Yes, but only an inch or two at a time

[Scottishnewbie]

how fab! that will save loads of compost - thanks TS

[elsie-scot]

I've got some potatoes in grow sacks, current half full of soil - does that mean I can 'earth up' with grass clippings instead of more compost or will that just turn into a sludgy mess?

I learned that from the Edible Garden the other week so at least show wasn't a waste of my licence fee!

[tamsin]

That's great, I'm going through bags of compost a bit quick at the moment

[Bigmallly]

Just a quicky before I actually do it.........With regards to earthing up tatties, grass clippings have been mentioned. Could I use the shredded leaves I currently have stored in black bags.

[Madasafish]

Our turkeys love grass cuttings.

[Two_Sheds]

Could I use the shredded leaves I currently have stored in black bags.

Not really, they take too long to rot down, and being light will blow away. Leafmold is a great (free) potting compost, so save them up for that.

[tamsin]

If grass cuttings are okay, how about used hay? I've got a lot of that lying around from my bunnies

[Bigmallly]

Not really, they take too long to rot down, and being light will blow away. Leafmold is a great (free) potting compost, so save them up for that.

Thanks TS.

[Two_Sheds]

If grass cuttings are okay, how about used hay? I've got a lot of that lying around from my bunnies

Hay is just dried grass, so that should be ideal too. Water before you mulch, and water the mulch to help it bind together.

btw, please don't think me snotty, but hay is for eating. Straw makes for much cheaper bedding, shredded newspaper even cheaper

[Mac]

Hi, re. the "earthing" up of spuds in bags with grass....can you use old cuttings? I've got 3 piles of the stuff at various parts of the garden from the last couple of years. Should I just use the freshest driest stuff at the top, or can I use the more sludgey stuff underneath too?

[Flummery]

If grass cuttings are okay, how about used hay? I've got a lot of that lying around from my bunnies

I would think the problem with hay is seeds. Grsss is cut before it flowers and seed (usually - unless you avoid cutting your grass too much!) but hay will have grass and weed seeds with it. You could be regretting it next spring!

[tamsin]

btw, please don't think me snotty, but hay is for eating. Straw makes for much cheaper bedding, shredded newspaper even cheaper

Not at all, it is for them to eat, but they usually kick some around too so there is always a bit left over that hasn't been converted to fertiliser

My potatoes are in bags I'm not too worried about spreading grass seed everywhere but I'll remember not to use it all over the garden - thanks for the warning.