What can I use for cheap mulching? Forget about straw, it's reached stratospheric prices.

Grasshopper96started grow question 1mo ago

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cangrowzanswered grow question 1mo ago

Hey Grasshopper96 👋 I totally get you, the prices of straw are really crazy lately. If you're looking for a super cheap or even free alternative, you can simply use dry leaves or cut grass; just make sure to dry them well first to avoid mold issues, and you'll see they keep the moisture in the substrate really well. Even plain cardboard without colored prints works great; just tear it up a bit and place it around the stem. Otherwise, if you go to a pet store, you can often find hemp or flax bedding, and the large packs are really cheap and do the exact same job as straw. You see what you can easily scrounge up in your area without spending a fortune.

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For2itousanswered grow question 1mo ago

I just use dried leaves and cut grass and my veggies and plants love it. Could use a little cardboard also if you just need a weed barrier or to retain some moisture in places. Goodluck!

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LetsGrowSomeanswered grow question 1mo ago

Forgot to say, that works for indoor. Outdoor it will probably get blown away and make a mess. Would need a shade or heavy mulch to stay in place. I use plastic mulch sheet for outside on my regular garden. Its the stuff you see in feilds that can be black or clear covering the rows. I use black to keep weeds away and hold moisture in.

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LetsGrowSomeanswered grow question 1mo ago

You can use a lot of things. I used chicken bedding in my last grow and it worked well. If you're in the us you can pick it up cheap from tractor supply. 8 cu ft is 6 bucks for me. Just my thoughts, Best of Luck! Happy Growing!

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Organomananswered grow question 1mo ago

A double layer of 90% shade cloth works well and can be cut to any desired shape/size.

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Chucky324answered grow question 1mo ago

Hi Bud You can use... Compost Leaf mulch - Oak and maple are best. Wood chips or tree bark Grass clippings Seaweed or Fresh water aquatic plants Rocks and gravel - They don't add anything to the soil but they work. Cardboard and paper can be used too, but have chemicals in them. Keep the mulch about 2 inches away from the stem to avoid mold and stem rot. Warp some copper tape or wire, low around the stem to discourage slugs and snails from crawling up. 2 to 4 inches deep Good Luck Bud. Chuck.

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farah4weedanswered grow question 1mo ago

Expanded clay (LECA) can also be a good solution. It helps reduce water evaporation from the soil, keeps moisture longer, and is reusable. I consider it a valid alternative. 💚🙏 I also created a genetic crossbreeding project. If you want, I would really appreciate it if you took a look at the results on my page. 👽🌱💚

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