Use Yard Clippings to Keep Weeds AwayIf you are growing pumpkins, gourds, or squash I'm sure you understand the struggle of having weeds growing up in the vines and not being able to remove them without damaging your plant. Use grass clippings as mulch to keep weeds down without pesticides.
Getting Free Mulch and FertilizerI ask my neighbors to give me their grass clippings after they have mowed their lawn. They leave me bags of clippings that I use as mulch around my flowers and vegetable plants. As the grass decomposes it fertilizes the plants and it keeps weeds from growing.
Mulch Leaves With Your LawnmowerSave your back, save time, and make leaf and debris cleanup much easier! Simply sharpen your lawnmower blades and then start mowing over the leaves. Don't use the bagger. You won't need it.
Finding Cheap MulchI broke away from using bagged mulch this year. I have three new sources for wood chip mulch: the local park service, the power company tree trimmers, and landscapers who cut down trees.
Ashes for GardenIf you have a fireplace or wood stove, take your ashes and put them around your plants. Your plants will grow better, and less or no weeds will grow there.
Grass Clippings as Garden MulchWhen you mow your lawn, take the grass clippings and use as mulch on your flower and vegetable beds.
Use Old Catalogs As MulchEveryone complains about catalogs and how they clutter up their mail boxes. I say bring them on! I use them as mulch under my trees and bushes. In a dry country such as Australia, water conservation is priority.
Make Your Own MulchChange grass clippings and vegetable peeling "trash" into gardening "treasure" by staring a compost pile. The ThriftyFun community shares their experience. Post your own tips here.
Finding Mulch for Your GardenMulch can do so much to make a garden look fine, but it's so expensive! I've found that a request on your local FreeCycle group (www.freecycle.org), will work wonders. There is almost always someone in your area who has had a tree cut down and chipped and wants to get rid of the chippings.
Soaker Hoses and NewspaperI've been gardening, seems like forever. My best 'creation' was laying a soaker hose along the growing rows, then cover the garden with newspapers.
Newspaper MulchFall and winter is the perfect time to prepare a space for a garden next spring. Put down a few layers of newspaper over the spot you want to use. This will keep the weeds down and rot any sod underneath. The newspaper will work as a weed barrier and will decompose to make soil.
