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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2007 21:06:57 GMT
I have loads of grass cuttings and I have 3 compost pounds and one bin for making more compost but I still have tons of grass cuttings sitting in a pile..If I leave them in a heap they just go mucky.I would love any ideas .What else could I do .Its not possible to cut the grass more often as I have a fare bit to cut.HELP.because I am snowed under in grass  |
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Post by jean on May 12, 2007 21:29:38 GMT
Grass cutting by themselves always go slimy. Perhaps you need to rethink the grassed areas Robin, I know you have a huge area. wild flower "meadows" could be an idea, you just leave them and cut them back when all the flowers have seeded. Or could you leave part of it to its own natural devices for a season.
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Post by jean on May 12, 2007 21:31:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 11:28:21 GMT
Thanks for going to all that trouble to answer my plight.Leaving it wont be an option as I have hay fever suffers and when it flowers we would put Kleenex out of business ha. I have an area already left as a wild area but I still have a huge amount to compost.I suppose I better start reading plenty of newspapers and mix it all up. Thanks again for the advice. |
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Post by Plocket on May 13, 2007 13:26:15 GMT
I'm not sure what to suggest Robin, but I ADORE your avatar!!!  |
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Post by Babyswan on May 13, 2007 14:54:33 GMT
Robin,
west of Ireland. Couldn't you go out the road a bit and look for a field of cows horses or sheep and throw it in there?
I'm in Dublin, a friend nearby doesn't collect his grass in his front garden because it increases his waste,(bin tax and all that).He just lets it lie on the ground and mulch back naturally.
Me, I have a long back garden and bring it to waste ground nearby and mulch the ground. Mostly it's cotoneaster horizontalis and ivy and vinca. With the long dry spell recently it's rock hard. I try to give a bit back to the ground to improve it. Reduces my waste too!!!
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Post by MamIDdau on May 13, 2007 19:25:49 GMT
I think I've successfully talked OH into getting a compost bin now after telling him we could do it with just grass cuttings and the mass of cardboard we have in the garage YAY!!
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 21:40:02 GMT
I mulch my strawbs with the grass otherwise i'd have too much grass. It works ok and also it seems to help divert slug attention too.
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Post by Chuckles on May 13, 2007 22:02:35 GMT
Robin, west of Ireland. Couldn't you go out the road a bit and look for a field of cows horses or sheep and throw it in there? As we know grass cuttings placed in a heap will heat up and ferment. This is exactly what happens if you feed them to animals and it can bring on colic. Quote from the BHS (British Horse Society web site) The British Horse Society is appealing to gardeners not to dispose of cuttings where equines can eat them. A pile of grass clippings is very attractive to horses, ponies and donkeys but once eaten can prove fatal. Eating grass clippings can cause colic, and if the grass begins to ferment it can cause a lethal build up of gasses within the gut. This causes the animal severe pain and damage to the digestive system, resulting in a horrible death.
All garden waste should be disposed of in a responsible manner, and not dumped where grazing animals may find it. |
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Post by Babyswan on May 14, 2007 15:19:38 GMT
Ah, I see. Inner city boy, me.
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Post by dirtyboots on May 14, 2007 15:28:28 GMT
Well said Chuckles! I have to be careful with the donkeys and their eating habits. They make short work of the brambles in the hedge which is handy!
Just found out this year that they don't like buttercups, their field is full of them this year!
DB
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2007 18:59:38 GMT
I mulch my strawbs with the grass otherwise i'd have too much grass. It works ok and also it seems to help divert slug attention too. I would want to be growing a commercial quantity of strawberries to make any kind of a dint in my grass cuttings. I reckon the paper and grass method is my only option. |
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Post by MamIDdau on May 14, 2007 20:33:10 GMT
www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=17381&cat=4449Been lookin for ages on the internet to see if conwy council did subsidised bins and just as I was whinging to boyf I found the above site. As I don't have a printer I've written them a letter requesting a bin and sending them a cheque for the £14. I'm chuffed now cos I'd talked boyf into buying one and was looking at around £30
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Post by jean on May 14, 2007 20:40:54 GMT
Reckon that Robin would need a few rows of those Aprilaydee  . It will be interesting to see how long grass cuttings and paper (think that cardboard could also be included) takes to compost, we might all be begging grass cuttings from our neighbours in the future ;D I suppose extra added worms would speed up the process too. |
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Post by MamIDdau on May 15, 2007 17:59:03 GMT
it reckoned about 3-6 months JL and I've only got a smallish garden and any extra can just go in the fortnightly kerbside collection.
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 20:50:29 GMT
The link said it made good "clean" compost, I will be interested to see how it works out and how it differs from ordinary compost (everything chucked in together) - might be worth having a seperate bin in the future.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2007 20:59:00 GMT
The link said it made good "clean" compost, I will be interested to see how it works out and how it differs from ordinary compost (everything chucked in together) - might be worth having a separate bin in the future. Well I have started my quest for clean compost have gathered all the newspapers I can and added the grass so off we go. Let see what I have in 6-12 months time. Should I turn it over I just let it rot away as is? |
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 21:06:13 GMT
I'd let it rot down to about half the size and then turn it all out into another heap and let it cook some more.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2007 21:11:24 GMT
Hi jlottie.
So if I have to let that lot half in size then by next week I will have to start another pound .Or would it be OK to add fresh stuff to the half rotted pound and mix it all up. I'm confused so I hope you can understand what I am on about.
robin.
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 21:16:50 GMT
If you have the space Robin you will need at least 3 pounds. The first one you add too till its full to capacity over the next few weeks and leave to rot down to half size. In the meantime start on the 2nd pound. Its just a case of moving the 1st and 2nd pounds over until the 3rd is full which will ultimately be your compost.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2007 21:20:36 GMT
So I had better get more pallet's. Should I keep the dry or let them open? At the moment I have a sheet of plastic loosely covering one pound.
robin
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 21:27:04 GMT
Its a good idea to keep them covered as it keeps the heat in which should help speed up the process and stops them from getting soaked. Old carpet or polythene is fine. I take a bag of shredded paper home from work every now and again and add it in layers to my compost bin at home - works wonders. Steer clear from glossy mags though as there are chemicals that I don't think are good for the soil.
I use the 3 bin process at home and the 3rd "heap" is the largest. Its brilliant stuff for mulching shrubs or digging in as a soil improver.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2007 21:33:33 GMT
jolltie
Your a star.
Thanks.
robin
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 21:47:57 GMT
Glad to help Robin, been fascinated by compost for ages, just wish I had as many grass cuttings as you ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2007 21:54:23 GMT
oh now you wouldn't because in order to get the grass cuttings you first have to cut the grass.At least I have a self pulling lawn mower. I refuse to get a ride on. I know it would be faster and less of a strain but it somehow does not fit in with my idea of gardening..........My OH says I'm mad.
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Post by jean on May 15, 2007 22:04:59 GMT
Our previous garden was on quite a slope and it used to take 1 1/2 hours with a petrol mower - who needs a gym, got hardly any grassed areas now and will probably be digging into those soon too ;D
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Post by Chuckles on May 15, 2007 22:55:45 GMT
Used to have a sit on mower when I lived at my Nans, it was fab to use and it is still gardening Robin honest. I promise you would definately not regret getting one |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2007 12:08:32 GMT
It takes me 3 hours to cut the front and 2.5 hours to cut the back and if I'm lucky 2 hours in another area...but the problem is by the time i have that done I usually have to start again.Looking at it another way I am saving myself a fortune in Gym fees,not that I would join on.ha |
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. It will be interesting to see how long grass cuttings and paper (think that cardboard could also be included) takes to compost, we might all be begging grass cuttings from our neighbours in the future ;D I suppose extra added worms would speed up the process too.