Chop and Drop Mulch

By flaflwrgrl
October 21, 2013

When I go around pruning plants, I make my own mulch by cutting the prunings into smaller pieces with a few quick snips and I drop them wherever I need mulch. Plants of the pine family, junipers, evergreens... just about anything. This saves me time by not having to haul the prunings somewhere else, plus it mulches. If it's a bit unsightly, that's okay because when I get my bagged mulch, it will go on top and all will be pretty again, but I will need less bagged mulch to do the job. It saves time, work, and money. It's a triple-win situation!

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Oct 20, 2013 6:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
It is good for the garden and good for people like me that want to do less work. Great idea.
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Oct 20, 2013 6:28 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Thanks Rita! Those are my feelings exactly. Thumbs up
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 20, 2013 6:34 PM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Great tip, Ann.I got a funny look when I told the grass cutters in FL to just blow the oak leaves from the patio into the daylily bed and I spread them around. The grass cutters are simply that -- they aren't allowed to do anything else. We don't bag anything for the yard waste and all of our branches and limbs get stacked by our mulch pile and DH chips them up when we get a small pile. The only yard waste that we put out is weeds. We have a couple of large pine trees and I rake up piles for DH to run over with the lawn mower with the grass catcher, and then we spread them in the beds.
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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Oct 20, 2013 6:44 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Go Jean!!!!
I can imagine the look on the grass cutters faces.... they have no clue.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 20, 2013 7:25 PM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
He's a good guy and I do feel sorry for him as he has a lot of medical problems. He started doing this after he could no longer do his manual labor job. He will probably have to keep working until he keels over which to me is sad. We have an understanding, however, that nothing gets cut or trimmed unless I say so. He shows up regularly and if he is unable to be there, his grown son or daughter are there in his place.
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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Oct 20, 2013 7:29 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
That's sad, very sad. And a conscientious guy having his kids show when he can't. There are some really sad things going on especially these days. Today we saw a couple, around late 20's early 30's, with a kid in a stroller & one walking.... they were all walking, the mom with a backpack on her back & a sign on it that said, "PLEASE HELP". Sad
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 20, 2013 7:40 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Crying
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Oct 20, 2013 7:46 PM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
So sad. A lot of good people are hurting through no fault of their own.
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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Oct 20, 2013 7:54 PM CST
Name: Lyn
Weaverville, California (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Level 1
flaflwrgrl ........

Do you know that with this tip you have reinvented the wheel ? Big Grin

That's exactly the advice Ruth Stout wrote in her book How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back, first published in 1955. It was good advice then and it's good advice now. Smiling

Smiles,
Lyn
I'd rather weed than dust ... the weeds stay gone longer.
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Oct 20, 2013 8:38 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Well Lyn, Ruth had the right of it the year before I was born. A wise woman that!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 20, 2013 8:53 PM CST
Name: Lyn
Weaverville, California (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Level 1
Her books are very well worth collecting. She's a good writer and was green up to her eyebrows Hilarious!

Smiles,
Lyn
I'd rather weed than dust ... the weeds stay gone longer.
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Oct 20, 2013 9:10 PM CST
Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Region: United States of America Rabbit Keeper Hummingbirder Salvias Charter ATP Member Birds
Echinacea Butterflies Tender Perennials Bee Lover Container Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Newyorkrita said:It is good for the garden and good for people like me that want to do less work. Great idea.


I agree Thumbs up
Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!


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Oct 21, 2013 8:36 AM CST
Name: Lyn
Weaverville, California (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Level 1
@flaflwrgrl ............

Thank you for the "Thumbs". Your tip has certainly passed the test of time !

Smiles,
Lyn
I'd rather weed than dust ... the weeds stay gone longer.
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Oct 21, 2013 8:59 AM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
*Blush* Smiling
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Oct 26, 2013 10:16 AM CST
Name: Carol Noel
Hawaii (near Hilo) (Zone 10b)
Leap. The net will appear.
Charter ATP Member Cat Lover Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Level 2 Permaculture
Orchids Garden Art Farmer Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
The plant takes up the fertilizer and nutrients and makes growth...which we cut off...which is like throwing away part of the nutrition we give them. Think of the trees/plants in the forest...their own leaf litter is their nutrients. Letting the clippings rot under their 'host' is like giving them more fertilizer. I never haul stuff off unless it is too huge.... Yes...and I'm lazy too!!!!!
It's all about choices.
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Oct 26, 2013 10:49 AM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Thumbs up I agree
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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May 30, 2014 5:07 PM CST
Name: Melissa
(Zone 9a)
Is it just me, or has any one else ever said to them selves "how could i have been so dumb for so long"?? This is obviously a no brainer, and I obviously have no brain!! LOL *Blush*
Thanks for the tip! Thank You!
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May 30, 2014 8:06 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
No, it's not just you. I did the same thing. Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! I think this comes under the heading of not being able to see the forest for the trees.

And Welcome to ATP melissa!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Jul 16, 2014 4:16 PM CST
Name: Jean
Hot Springs Vlg, AR, DeLand, F
Daylilies Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Welcome! Melissa
@flaflwrgrl Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing
Any day you wake up on the sunny side of the grass is a good day.

"The moving hand writes and having writ moves on. Neither all thy piety nor all thy wit can lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam
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