Dump Mulch - How to use???

[Tolleys]

We picked up a load of mulch form the Hilo dump today. Question: Can we mix this with cinders and immeaditly plant it? Or how do you use this dump mulch?

mahalo in advance


Susan

[Noel M2]

Susan - We use this material to mulch around existing plants (apply a layer around 1-2 inches around the base but try to keep it from touching the actual plant).

The mulch is general not completely composted so it will not be good as a planting medium. In fact, it can be bad. The piles we get heat up quite a bit. You can wait a while (can be a few months) for it to compost and use it as such.

Since you cannot be certain of the content of the mulch, assume that there may be pesticide/herbicide residue in some of the material. We avoid using on plants that are food sources.

The last point is that it can harbor seeds. We occasionally find tomatoes growing around our palms courtesy of the mulch.


Noel

[pslamont]

We just put it in a big pile, cover it with a tarp and let it cook. We check it once a month or so and when you find earthworms.. it is READY.

By covering and letting it "cook" a couple months, we find any seeds are killed off.... no stray plants here.

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[janeadams]

When we used a bunch of it to mulch the Vireya beds at the zoo, there were lots of bugs in it as well, so be careful with it! I think the cover and cook idea is the best if you want to use this stuff.

Jane

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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We just put it in a big pile, cover it with a tarp and let it cook. We check it once a month or so and when you find earthworms.. it is READY.

By covering and letting it "cook" a couple months, we find any seeds are killed off.... no stray plants here.

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

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Thanks Pam! We got a big load from Vince and we didnt know what to do but knew we needed it! So about early spring time it should be ready!

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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...9 out of 10 people I know who garden in Hilo use poison, poison, poison ...

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and "still yet, until today" (that is pidgeon for for you malihini) the fire ants are in the mulch!

-Cat

[Tolleys]

Thanks for all the advice. We are "cooking" it.

Susan

[missydog1]

Cat, are there fire ants in the mulch?
Then I for sure don't want.

not surprised the poison doesn't kill them.
Systemic herbicide is the thing I saw used the most by my neighbors.

Wouldn't bother even the regular ants.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Cat, are there fire ants in the mulch?
Then I for sure don't want.

not surprised the poison doesn't kill them.
Systemic herbicide is the thing I saw used the most by my neighbors.

Wouldn't bother even the regular ants.

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I dont know if they came from our yard to the pile - (Most probably as we were already infested) - or it came from the dump that way.

I was hopign they would go there and the heat pitching off would kill them ! Darn!

[missydog1]

I guess critters from hell can stand the heat. ;-)

*I'm so sick of getting ant bites right now*