a seed that will outcompete grass and then die

Paul Wheaton · #21 05/30/07, 11:45 AM

My current solution for mulching fruit trees is to put old hay under the tree and then toss seed on top of the hay. Sometimes I'll dig up a bucket or two of dirt some where and then toss bits of dirt here and there on the hay and mix some seed into the dirt.

This smothers the grass every time and leaves behind something that is pretty good at competing with future grass. The tree loves it.

But getting the hay can be a challenge and a fair amount of work. (Especially getting hay that is free/cheap and free of pesticides)

And I have somebody that has about 70 fruit trees and they are asking what they should do.

With 70 trees ..... hmmmm ..... a ton of moldy hay might mulch five trees and cost about $40 to be delivered. So that's 14 tons of hay, $560 .... and that's a lot of work!

But with seed .... if it's a dollar per tree for the seed, that's a total of $70 and it should take about a minute per tree ....

......... okay, new scenario ....

Somebody has three fruit trees and they live in town. A half ton of hay would be helpful - but really hard to find. Plus, they just mow and mow, and their fruit sucks ... and it just makes a mess all over the lawn .... and they are thinking about replacing the tree with something that doesn't make a mess. In the meantime they buy apples at the store ..... I seem to meet these sorts of people all the time. I would like to hand them a packet of seeds and say "just sprinkle these seeds in september and these seeds in may." Then their tree has great fruit, they mow less, they attract humming birds and butterflies .... the eyesore becomes a source of pleasure.

chamoisee · #22 05/30/07, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Wheaton

My current solution for mulching fruit trees is to put old hay under the tree and then toss seed on top of the hay. Sometimes I'll dig up a bucket or two of dirt some where and then toss bits of dirt here and there on the hay and mix some seed into the dirt.

This smothers the grass every time and leaves behind something that is pretty good at competing with future grass. The tree loves it.

But getting the hay can be a challenge and a fair amount of work. (Especially getting hay that is free/cheap and free of pesticides)

And I have somebody that has about 70 fruit trees and they are asking what they should do.

With 70 trees ..... hmmmm ..... a ton of moldy hay might mulch five trees and cost about $40 to be delivered. So that's 14 tons of hay, $560 .... and that's a lot of work!

But with seed .... if it's a dollar per tree for the seed, that's a total of $70 and it should take about a minute per tree ....

......... okay, new scenario ....

Somebody has three fruit trees and they live in town. A half ton of hay would be helpful - but really hard to find. Plus, they just mow and mow, and their fruit sucks ... and it just makes a mess all over the lawn .... and they are thinking about replacing the tree with something that doesn't make a mess. In the meantime they buy apples at the store ..... I seem to meet these sorts of people all the time. I would like to hand them a packet of seeds and say "just sprinkle these seeds in september and these seeds in may." Then their tree has great fruit, they mow less, they attract humming birds and butterflies .... the eyesore becomes a source of pleasure.

If you will give me the phone number of these people, I will go and clean up all the fruit for them in the fall! No mess!

Anyway...the thing is, seed doesn't usually germinate very well when it's just sprinkled on the ground. The only reason it works in nature is that hundreds and hundreds of seeds get sown for every one that grows and thrives.

beaglady · #23 05/31/07, 10:29 AM

There is a book on organic apple orchard management, by Michael Phillips, that recommends a combination of mulch and comfrey. I don't have enough comfrey yet,but have mulched mine heavily this year, and so far, have more fruit than previous years.

http://www.herbsandapples.com/orchard/

primal1 · #24 05/31/07, 10:36 AM

I've always thought sheep would be the best thing for an orchard, but i want to follow this thread

lynpea · #25 05/31/07, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaglady

There is a book on organic apple orchard management, by Michael Phillips, that recommends a combination of mulch and comfrey. I don't have enough comfrey yet,but have mulched mine heavily this year, and so far, have more fruit than previous years.

http://www.herbsandapples.com/orchard/

Oh my Beaglady... with that link you sent me on a treasure hunt! WOW!!! TONS of info. thanks for the link......lynpea