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canal winchester ohio

This coming season I'm going to try to mulch my pumpkins after the plant is established. I've been tossing around ideas of what to use & alfalfa keeps popping up. Has anyone ever used alfalfa as a mulch & if so what pros & cons can you tell me about it.
Thanks............Paul

1/3/2006 8:06:08 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It looks good on paper as long as it isn't too thick or too green. I have no firsthand experience with this though.

1/3/2006 8:52:30 PM

canal winchester ohio

That was my thought Steve, I would use hay that's had a little while to dry & lay it about 1/2" thick.

1/3/2006 9:08:19 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If the person cutting the hay gets it at the right point before seed heeds are formed it would be good. If you think manure brings the weeds, weedy hay can become a nightmare.

1/3/2006 10:26:54 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

The ISU extension Master Gardener on a Cedar Rapids radio station raves about alfalfa mulch for just about any garden plant, as well as alfalfa meal. I put on alfalfa meal last fall and plan to try to find some alfalfa hay for mulch this summer.

1/4/2006 9:30:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

The neat thing about mulching is that when weeds appear you have two choices. One hook them out easily or two toss on some more mulch. Alfalfa is a great mulch, in any condition.
If your are comitting, to mulch, hang in there and be ready, to add more when weeds break through. About three inches fluffed a bit is about right, for openers.

I use old and spoiled hay of any source for my permanent mulching areas and compost pile. I mix grass clippings, straw, leaves and hay at my wish as whatever is available.
I never used much paper. Nothing wrong with paper...I just do not like to work the crossword puzzles after they get wet.

1/4/2006 7:12:17 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

There is a farmer about 30 miles away that went into business making alfalfa mulch. I tested it several years for him in my flower gardens and it was fantastic. The first year it was cubed which went on very heavy, the second year it was shredded and went on very light. I now look for good alfalfa hay and spread it on my patch and till it in when getting the patch ready. To use alfalfa as mulch I would suggest you shred it and put it on several inches thick.

1/4/2006 10:43:05 PM

Montoursville, PA

There is one fact about mulch that never changes. As long as you can live with the appearance and work needed to place it a mulch remains a mulch until it is rotted and becomes compost. Your soil does not care what it looks like.

Therefore anything that will rot is fair game. The finer in its individual parts it is applied the faster it will rot. Some may add....and the better it looks.

1/5/2006 11:49:52 AM