Mulching 101 for Vegetable Gardeners || Black Gumbo

[@paulsr.dicrispino642]

I put my grass clippings on a tarp to dry by the sun. It makes great mulch.

[@randyketcham3840]

Scott, mixing the grass clippings with leaves is a good suggestion, it not only helps with the percolation of the water, but also is like having a compost pile right in the garden. I have used grass clippings during the heat of summer in between all of my rows as a mulch to hold moisture in between the rows with moisture and to suppress the weeds. Also, great point about the Hoss Tools mulching versus the average garden. You make a point that people should always keep in mind that not all gardens are the same and you have to pick and choose for any given garden versus another one. Thanks for all of the videos and variety of content you produce.

[@lynetteledoux2845]

Thanks so much for opening up about what’s in your compost heap. It was so FREEING for me to see that there’s someone else NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES!!! OMGarden was joy. Just about everything goes into my compost heaps, along the same lines as you. Shredded mail, pizza boxes, paper plates (styrofoam plates aren’t purchased any longer), milk, vinegar, old beets, cheeses & yogurts, meats, leftovers no one wants. So fabulous. I too believe the coyotes, rabbits, armadillos, opossums, cats, bobcat ... etc will be freely frolicking in those heaps moving things around, helping it to break down. I say, Go for it, but be gone when i come walking by. Another recent push for me to recycle as much as i can through the compost heaps was/is Erin Baumgartner’s TedXNatick Talk - how much waste we create with unused food through shipments. I felt better knowing that what I waste will be reused in my garden and perennial beds. Link here: www.ted.com/speakers/erin_baumgartner

[@ScottHead]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.Lots of waste out there. By composting we can be part of the solution.

[@kinsjsmggoiktaylor5659]

Very Useful Scott,Great Videos,Juno From England.👏👏👏♥️

[@LowcountryGardener]

Good stuff Scott. A mix of oak leaves and grass is my go to mulch also because I have so much for free in my yard.

[@garynorcal4269]

Nice video. Good ideas. As always..beautiful content for us suburban small area gardens.

[@hopeking3588]

This was very helpful I knew nothing about mulch

[@tinadelewis4183]

Great teachings, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge...I have introduced your videos to an avid gardener...she loves them....blessings to you sir.

[@dianeirvine1384]

Agree with what you have said. Last year I did put hay over a lot of garden as mulch and found hay seed did start to germinate. If unchecked grass starts to grow.

[@jksatte]

That doesn't happen so much with straw mulch. I just can't get it easily in NE FL. At least not that I can find.

[@sandrinefresne6575]

Thanks. I found that very interesting. It s impressive to see how much you’ve included

[@beckysteinmiller338]

Great information!!

[@reaganl.5113]

Maybe I have grown lazy, but the older I get the more I try to replicate nature in my garden. I don't pull mulch off, I continually add layers. Wood chips, about 6 inches deep, were put on my garden 3 years ago. About a month after planting, around June 1st, I add my Winter compost pile to the garden beds...yes on top of those wood chips. In the Fall, about October 1st, I add the Summer compost pile. All Summer long I alternate grass clippings to the compost pile and then the garden bed as a mulch. Last month I realized the wood chip mulch is just about gone. The soil needs a cover year round, now I have to decide if I just use what I have or call the local electric utility company for another free load of wood chips. I didn't have a problem with anything growing out of them last time. that 5ft high 9ft x 9ft mound of chips cooked like a compost pile before I could get it all put on my garden three years ago. It is about 100ft from where they drop those wood chips to where I need them and it about broke me last time getting them on the garden over several weekends.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Same here. I'm getting too old for this stuff. I asked the guys who were trimming branches down our block if they could leave the chips for me and they kinda laughed and there were no chips left. I get enough leaves and greens and chicken poop to add to the garden. And my compost tea. Doesn't everyone know David the Good?

[@NapoleonGARDENINGTV]

Thanks for the very detailed explanations about a lot of mulch sir! Happy gardening to all of us!

[@marilyncameron6711]

Needed this training, thanks

[@valeriegordon7477]

I was able to source rice hulls at my local feed store.

[@laurie2553]

Wow, this is a ton of great information. Thank you so much for sharing all this, it's so helpful!

[@GreenLove1]

Best mulch video ever made, I am not exaggerating. This video will be shared in all my circles. Thank you, Scott! PS: Whenever there is a Sam sighting or Phoebe Sharona sighting in your videos it really makes me smile. Sigh, the plight of the short one!!!

[@ScottHead]

Thank you, and I really appreciate you mentioning Sam and the Feebster.

[@petecilione4166]

You rock ~ Tammy😊

[@angelinaphebus1525]

Thank you for this great content and for your insight about things you may want to avoid in mulch! Love learning from you!

[@jewelerjef]

great looking cabbage !

[@scrappyquilter102]

A really excellent summary of this important topic. Thank you!

[@kinsjsmggoiktaylor5659]

Very Useful

[@LiliansGardens]

Mulching for water retention. Summer mulching is very good. thanks. Yes, i've head of termites in wood mulch

[@amandavhb1630]

Great video and super informative!

[@sharonwhite1629]

After living on our property for 40+ years I decided during COVID stay at home to try gardening. We have a small pecan orchard (36 trees) and decided to buy a wood chipper since we have to prune plus always have limbs break off in the wind or when the trees are shaken for harvest. The chipper makes quite small chips. I put some in my first ever compost pile to experiment. Obviously I have a great source of leaves too. I really like your videos. Living in southern New Mexico is similar in temperature to you except we are must dryer with weeks or months without rain. Any comments are appreciated.

[@ScottHead]

Pecans are in the group of trees that are slightly allelopathic, the wood mulch might need to be very aged, or used in paths. My son has a dozen pecan trees and I tend to avoid using them for garden materials.I have read that pecan shell mulch is excellent. But if it works for you, you may have a great resource. :-)

[@sharonwhite1629]

Thank you so much for the info. That is exactly what I needed to know. Fortunately I put very little pecan chips in the compost. Even with acreage, because of water source, Bermuda grass, and super clay soil, I am using raised beds and containers only. Your videos give relative info to that type gardening plus encouragement. Thank you again.

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

Great video. 🫑🥬👍

[@deborahgrantham7387]

In the northern plains, I mulch in the winter as the wind will remove moisture and the soil. In addition I mulch with old hay, it also decomposes and keeps the soil somewhat insulated in the spring so I can get things started sooner.

[@michaelmarchione3408]

I just found you and subscribed and I really like your videos and how you explain everything. I'm in zone 4A in northern NY, close to Canada and in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Our gardens are done until Memorial Weekend. But, that won't stop me from staying tuned in to you. Take care, stay safe, Happy Thanksgiving.

[@ScottHead]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@barbkenas5663]

Good info, thanks!

[@shpuply]

Thank you for answering my question about grass clippings. Such great content!

[@sudhac1384]

Great video! Thank you for all the information on mulch!!

[@inderwink]

You were thinking of Mike, the Fit Farmer (market gardener who lives in a yurt).

[@ScottHead]

Yes, it is Mike, sometimes I get the various KZbinrs mixed up. I love Mike's Homestead. I think I should Curtis in the video, Curtis is from Renaissance Farm where he grows awesome varieties of tomatoes including dwarfs and micro dwarfs. He has a channel as well.

[@inderwink]

@@ScottHead I was thinking you might have been thinking of Curtis Stone, the urban market gardener.

[@BethOvertonCPMmidwife]

Hello, from Corpus Christi. I really am enjoying your videos. Do you know how well pecan tree leaves or those stringy things they drop would do as a mulch? We have a huge pecan tree.

[@ScottHead]

Yes, I'd mix with grass clippings to help keep it all in place.

[@idahohoosier8989]

Thank you

[@DeadeyeJoe37]

My 2¢: Don't mulch around the stems of your plants, especially if you live in a moist, humid area. When the rain comes, it could cause the stems to rot. Trust me. I've killed my whole garden twice doing this (using woodchips & grass clippings). Leave an inch around the stem of each plant. Edit: some plants like beans and my malabar & longevity spinich aren't really affected by this. However, my chard, perpetual spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes all got that stem rot.

[@russdavies5909]

M

[@maryranch5329]

So interesting and great facts. Thank you for sharing this video ☺️. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving ❤️.

[@caitlyczko6891]

Thank you for your tutorials they are very helpful! Question: is there any concern about rice hulls containing insecticides or fungicides or herbicides?

[@ScottHead]

Not that I know of, I've never come across any info about it, and the hulls seem to work well for me.

[@haarpanoid]

One trick I learned to be able to use leaves for mulching, while at the same time saving weed clearing and land working, is to put a layer of cardboard between the mulch and the soil. All weed will starve and die, and eventually the cardboard will decompose too, after having woked as a natural barrier between mulch and soil, avoiding the mulch to feed on the soil nutrients during its decomposition. What is your opinion? (Jeez, I wrote my comment before finishing up the video, you actually talk about this stuff)

[@ScottHead]

Yes and I do have a video from the last spring where we did just that with cardboard.

[@noramaegomez197]

Hey Scott I was wondering 🤔🤔 Have you ever heard of putting dryer lint In the compost ? What is your advice on it? The other thing is chicken manure when should I put it on my garden? Before during throughout?? As always thank you for your help and gardening wisdom. 🌱🌱🌱🪴

[@ScottHead]

I have heard of it, I don't do it. Too much synthetic materials in our clothes, doesn't add a benefit. If you are all cotton and wool and natural fibers, then sure. As for chicken manure, you need to compost that stuff first, its high in nitrogen and will burn plants unless it has time to mellow and rot down.

[@noramaegomez197]

Thank You again Scott. 🧑‍🌾🌱🌱

[@jackiehorsley9263]

I understand what your saying about mulch and yes shredded hard wood Is one of my favorite mulch's I am also able to get a hold of leaves of course they don't last me the entire summer so I have to go back and forth with leaves and shredded hard wood I am not able to really get a hold of anything else

[@powervoc2]

It looks like your in the Houston area. I collected about 20 bags of oak leaves this year and was wondering if they are good to use by themselves? In other words, without mixing in grass clippings. It looked like the grass fluffed up the leaves in your video.

[@ScottHead]

I prefer them mixed so they don't blow away but anything is better than nothing,

[@paulamapp6969]

Hello! I just recently found you and subscribed. I was so glad to hear about the oak leaves as mulch! I thought those you showed in your video might be live oak leaves. That's what I have in abundance now in my back yard because of 2 live oak trees that are raining leaves since the big freeze. I was thinking of using my mulching blower to mulch some of the leaves to create a fluffier mulch since I have no grass clippings right now. I would appreciate your opinion about that idea. Thank you.

[@ScottHead]

Yes, that would work. The leaves alone though do tend to blow away, chopping them up smaller would help keep them in place.

[@paulamapp6969]

@@ScottHead Thanks!

[@eucalyptusleemcconnell8314]

What about organic sugar cane mulch that's what I use in Queensland Australia for my vegetable gardening and I'm an arborist and then I use all wood chips in my tree and native plant garden mate trees like wood plants like fine organic mulch

[@ScottHead]

Cane mulch sounds perfect!

[@patriciafletcher4294]

I personally know pine needles do add acidity. Before I knew it would, I threw them all around some plants in my yard. It nearly killed them. Luckily those plants are very hard to kill.

[@martinwbender]

I have several pecan trees. Can I use pecan husks in my mulch or would that be like walnuts?

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure about pecans, you'd need more research to be safe.

[@lornaschauseil9074]

I just started gardening in July after 20 years so I consider myself a newbie as I have forgotten so much. I found your videos from David The Good and absolutely love the no-nonsense information you provide. I haven't gone through all of your videos yet but am working on it. I don't comment a lot because I am socially retarded but just wanted to comment on slugs as I have minimized the holes left on leaves. I am not sure which worked, or maybe a combination of all three but thought I would share. I started out with crushed egg shells around the affected plants (basil was where I started) and after a few days I added some coffee grounds as the egg shells did slow them down but not stop them. After the coffee grounds, I sprayed them (both mulch around them and the foliage) with a water and peppermint oil solution (only a few drops in a 16 oz spray bottle). The slugs stopped eating the basil and went on to better things. I would like to give credit to those who gave this information to me - but I do not remember who they were. The peppermint oil is also good at stopping spiders from taking up residence in your house - just spray a little in corners and such where they like to live. Thank you so much for your time and effort making these videos, especially since you are in the same area as I am (Sugar Land, TX) and it helps to learn from someone in the same area. Happy Thanksgiving

[@ScottHead]

Awesome story, thanks so much. I used to work in Sugar Land right near the old sugar mill. Hope your garden thrives! I'll be doing a video on slug and snail beer traps at some point, if I can figure out how to keep my dog from drinking the beer. LOL

[@raleighsistrunk7123]

Hey Scott, how are your leaf cutter bees? Mine have not hatched yet. Should I be concerned?

[@ScottHead]

Coming out in a week or two.

[@frankieorchard3320]

Hi, I live in the uk. Is there ever a time where you can just leave the mulch without removing it? Also would you use seaweed as a mulch and then remove it or just leave it to break down ? Thanks in advance 😊

[@ScottHead]

Yes, you can leave the mulch and just scrape it back to sow the next seeds or plants. It will compost in place. Never mix it in though. And yes, I would ad do use seaweed. Some people wash it to avoid an overabundance of salt added to the garden. If you just rise it with a hose, that should be fine.

[@lisakarkosky6478]

Scott...I put hay down as mulch this fall and after a couple weeks I started to see my soil underneath had turned grey almost like it molded or got some type of fungus.I don’t feel like I watered too often 🤔 so I took the hay off..it was my garlic and potatoes and onions..did I do something wrong? Should I treat the soil now?

[@ScottHead]

If your plants are OK I wouldn’t worry about it. Probably just a fungus which is not a bad thing.

[@ellencarbone9346]

I was wondering if you have any experience with cocoa bean hull mulch. I have used it on my perennial beds for years and like it bur was going to try it on my tomatoes and peppers and various vegetables. Do you think it would be a goid vegetable mulch? (And before anyone says it, yes, I realize they can be poisonous to dogs if they eat the same as chocolate is but I don't have a dog and my yard is fenced).

[@ScottHead]

Never had any of it, so I'm not familiar with its properties. Sounds like a decent idea though.

[@acctsys]

Carbonized rice hull is even better.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Walnut. I'm researching how to kill a huge sweetgum tree. One tree I cut a double ring around the bark and it died slowly. This one I'm thinking of building a box around and I was going to fill it with dirt. What about walmut hulls? Do you think I would kill the tree? Depending on the cost I guess.

[@ScottHead]

Walnut hulls might be allelopathic, meaning they may contain chemicals that suppress other plant growth. I know black walnut is like that, if yours is a different kind I'd research it. Never used it myself so I don't know.

[@robynmccullough8121]

I have heard that the coco mulch is toxic for dogs if they chew or eat it.

[@bebani199]

Did you mention something about cypress mulch? Can you use cypress mulch in the compost pile as carbon materials?

[@ScottHead]

I'd not use it in compost until its really old and dry. Cypress is lightly allelopathic, meaning it has phenolic compounds (tannins) that suppress germination of seeds.

[@bebani199]

@@ScottHead interesting. I learned something new today.

[@daveschreiner413]

Thanks to Amazon, I use shredded cardboard. It holds up well and I think it looks nice.

[@rondam934]

Question: How do you easily shred cardboard?

[@daveschreiner413]

@@rondam934 I use a standard office paper shredder. It's not very powerful so I have to feed it small pieces, 4" x 10" and being careful not to over heat the shredder. It takes a little time but tearing up the boxes improves my hand strength! ;-)

[@rondam934]

@@daveschreiner413 Thanks for the reply. I might give it a try but I also worry that continual use would dull the cutting blades of the shredder.

[@daveschreiner413]

Ronda M I've been doing it for it for several years with no apparent harm to the 20+ year old shredder.

[@dianaromero7611]

I laid down Black sheet to suppress the weeds, but it’s very hard to cut through so that I can plant. Should I pick it up.

[@ScottHead]

If it is weed barrier cloth, I have found a box cutter with a fresh blade is easy to use.

[@iartistdotme]

Another great video! Love the examples with your info. Very complete except why not cypress mulch? Is it due to the smell? I'm glad to learn that I can use pine straw with no major acid soil resulting. We sure have tons of pins straw where I live. One complaint - you moved that chick-weed so quickly, I couldn't get a good look at it to see if I have any. Copy the slugs - move slowly when it comes to weeds! I don't really have a complaint, only a wish to learn more about weeds.

[@ScottHead]

Didn't think of cypress, but its the same kind of situation as cedar. Some folks like it, some don't care for the smell.

[@annecourage8857]

What do you do with the used mulch at the end of the season?

[@ScottHead]

Rake it on to a tarp while I re-plant, then re-use it until it is gone.

[@tabigirl83]

Don't they use herbicides on rice? Won't that affect your tomatoes? We can get them by the truck load around here but I worry about all of the chemicals they use in Riceland.

[@ScottHead]

Not sure, so far no side effects and I've been using rice hull for 2 years.

[@tabigirl83]

Ok that's awesome! Maybe I will go back to using them too!

[@sefayethossain5555]

Thanks

[@donnalutheran6335]

Will black walnut leaves deter poison ivy. Lol, got a problem area and 2 black walnut trees.

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure. They do have allelopathic properties but I've not really studied up on it.

[@Freedom2025-x2b]

Are pine shavings a decent mulch?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, good stuff.

[@phungnho6443]

Hi Scott Love your veggies in the raise beds. How do you keep the rodents out from the veggies? The rat keep eating all my kales.

[@ScottHead]

I just have to trap them occasionally, and have a big enough compost bin that they tend to stay over there by it.

[@phungnho6443]

@@ScottHead we tried so many traps but they are so smart. I think I saw one video you have some green fence up. Can you send me the link up that video? Thx 🙏🏻

[@martindohnal7154]

👍

[@Chris-op7yt]

Weeds are for weeding. Plant up in rows and weeding is fast with a hoe. When you have a heap of mulch not only do you not see the condition of the soil, the dying micro life and the mulch itself tends to dry out the soil and make it hydrophobic in dry hot conditions. If you have humid summers then not so much. But still, mulches tend to host loads of pests and make weeding only possible by hand. Raised beds contribute to moisture problems and accompanying soil compaction due to excessive watering in summer. Too much organic matter in/on soil in winter makes soil soggy and cold.

[@TheObsessiveGardener]

Thanks for the video. Very informative. What about pine shavings? I bought a big bail of pine shavings from tractor supply for mulch, but somebody told me that pine oil could bleed into the soil and is bad. Is that true?

[@ScottHead]

Probably just fine to use, especially if not real fresh.

[@TheObsessiveGardener]

@@ScottHead Thanks for clearing that up for me 😃

[@pattyflorescintron2439]

can I use pecans shells for mulching ?

[@ScottHead]

I would let them rest for a few months. Pecan shells, like the wood of the pecan tree, is allelopathic. It has a compound in it that suppresses plant growth. Great for mulch to suppress weeds, but may also negatively impact what you are growing. Let them rest for a while and the compound loses its potency. I'd also mix them in with something like grass clippings.

[@conniecasale3593]

Omg. I have Termites. And I put new mulch all over my bear spaces.

[@ArkansasWoodcutter]

Well if that does top it all

[@laurenpaolini7073]

Thanks for the info! I know you said you get your rice hulls online, but could you be more specific? I'm having a hard time finding any that isn't a little 1lb bag, or that isn't well over $100.

[@ScottHead]

I got mine here but they seem to be out of stock: www.amleo.com/rice-hull-bales/p/VP-RHB/

[@laurenpaolini7073]

@@ScottHead thanks! I'll keep an eye on the site.

[@rickeycarter1413]

Can you use weeping willow leaves in a garden?or the bark and chips?

[@ScottHead]

I think so. I’m not sure of any reason not to.

[@MickyBellRoberts]

Scott, I am very sick, I think I have it. Please pray for me brother, I need it.

[@ArkansasWoodcutter]

Brother we are praying for you. It breaks my heart to think that you were sick. I hope that you get well soon

[@ScottHead]

Praying for you.

[@evansullivanrichgels5531]

Wow, man. That's a scary feeling. I will definitely have you in my prayers.

[@jksatte]

Hi there, are you better now? I hope so.

[@gregspence4692]

Hey Scott. what are your thoughts of putting pine needles in the compost bin?

[@ScottHead]

Should be just fine. I do like to try to keep a diversity of materials in the compost, and pine needles should be good. I'd research it a bit just to be sure.

[@Okeflora.6480]

What about using straw?

[@ScottHead]

Straw is great.

[@Capitis94]

Is there something magical about leaves and grass clippings together or would exclusively leaves be okay?

[@ScottHead]

The grass helps the leaves not blow away, the leaves help the grass not to form a dense mat. The grass also breaks down faster and feeds the soil. But leaves alone are just fine.

[@hardyakka6200]

You neglect to do something when you make compost . wish you had an email. Sugar cane trash is great mulch.

[@ScottHead]

You can tell me what I am neglecting in the comments so we can all benefit.

[@nordiamcleish3978]

What about saw dust as a mulch?

[@ScottHead]

Too dense and impenetrable to water. Also works into soil a bit easily, binding up resources. Best used little by little in compost in my opinion, or used on pathways.

[@nordiamcleish3978]

@@ScottHead Thanks

[@troyyarbrough]

Fire ants got into my pine bark mulch.

[@ScottHead]

I have heard that orange oil kills the on contact. Never tried it but that's going to be the next weapon I use when I find the anywhere I can't use Amdro.

[@trumplady4933]

Boxes