Biodegradable mulch

[caroline7758]

Has anyone used this stuff?

http://www.biobags.co.uk/products/mulch.htm

[caroline7758]

[Deb P]

It looks interesting, but it's not cheap is it! :-\  At 1.5m wide it would only just cover my raised beds, no room for tucking in! What were you thinking of growing on it Caroline?

[caroline7758]

Hadn't really thought, but as an alternative to non-biodegradable black plastic it looks like a good idea. Pricewise, I thought the price for 9 rolls at $38.50 wasn't too bad- cheaper than similar stuff elsewhere.

[SMP1704]

But you would need to buy it every year and did I read this right - that after 40 days it starts to break down?

Not sure how robust it would be at holding back the baddies like bindweed and horsetail.

Give it a go - you won't know till you try...........

[Plot69]

Has anyone used this stuff?

The very first line of instructions state:

DIRECTIONS: Weed the vegetable garden thoroughly.

Having done that, there would be no need to use it  ???

[Squashmad]

I haven't used the product you mentioned - but I'm thinking of trying Strulch this year - it rots down too but takes longer and looks nice in the meantime.

You can get it from Wiggly Wrigglers....

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/foundoption.lasso?-session=shopper:504AF77A056c019913Kou15CD494

[Belinda]

I've wondered several times about this stuff - thought it would be good to plant onions etc. through.

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_184&products_id=2493

[RosieMcPosie]

we've bought some bags of strulch, it was half price in tescos...
the thing caroline showed looks good though... 9 rolls at $38.50 is reasonable i think! hmmmmmmmm hmmm

[caroline7758]

Sorry- that $ should be £. I've got an Australian keyboard!

[pg]

A do-it-yourself version seen on a blog (sorry a while ago and can't remember where) used wetted newspapers mixed with wallpaper glue (without fungicide) and/or flour-water paste. This was turned into matting that set hard over the soil, so less likely to blow away than newspapers just spread on ground. I recall some members plant through cardboard for the same affect.

A similar biodegradeable plastic is starting to turn up as the packaging for frozen veg and on some bin liners.

[Georgie]

A word of warning about Strulch; be very careful where and how you store it.  I bought a bag last year which I have been using in my homemade compost as a leaf mould substitute.  When I went out in the garden today I found that something (rodents I suspect) had nibbled a hole in the bag and started pulling the stuff out.  :( Needless to say I have thrown it away as I have no way of knowing if the little b*ggers have been inside the bag and done their business.  >:(

And no Caroline, I haven't tried the product you asked about.  I use cocoa shells on my border.

G x

[Robert_Brenchley]

I wouldn't worry if they had myself; its just a bit of extra nitrogen. I don't think you can get very far from rodent excreta on an allotment.