Soaker Hose and Mulch

[TheBrumstead]

I am planning on laying a soaker hose for my vegetable garden this year. I need to mulch and was thinking of using newspaper (need to keep costs down) and either dried grass or compost from my bin. Problem with that is it's mostly shavings from a chicken coop clean out (had one die for unknown reasons, cleaned everything out before it could really break down). Do I put the hose down first, then newspaper on top with mulch? If I do the newspaper, would the compost be a problem with it being mostly wood shavings?

 

[Dave2000]

I never have luck trying to mulch with those types of materials. Maybe did it wrong but I always end up with mildew and mold because they compact too much and don't let any air in. Wood shavings from unprocessed trees would be good but not treated lumber.

Depending on the soaker hose design I'd be concerned that it might partially clog up if buried under anything that compacts, especially newspaper, though you'd have less water loss that way and I would put it under wood chip type mulch.

 

[catjac1975]

I would use the grass clippings with the soaker hose on top. Maybe use the shavings on corn or a crop like that.

I am planning on laying a soaker hose for my vegetable garden this year. I need to mulch and was thinking of using newspaper (need to keep costs down) and either dried grass or compost from my bin. Problem with that is it's mostly shavings from a chicken coop clean out (had one die for unknown reasons, cleaned everything out before it could really break down). Do I put the hose down first, then newspaper on top with mulch? If I do the newspaper, would the compost be a problem with it being mostly wood shavings?

 

[TheBrumstead]

Depending on the soaker hose design I'd be concerned that it might partially clog up if buried under anything that compacts, especially newspaper, though you'd have less water loss that way and I would put it under wood chip type mulch.

It's a lay-flat type, haven't unrolled it yet. I thought you weren't supposed to use wood chip mulch? Like the decorative mulch?

 

[TheBrumstead]

I would use the grass clippings with the soaker hose on top. Maybe use the shavings on corn or a crop like that

I wanted a barrier between the grass clippings and the dirt since our grass has a lot of weeds...

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Based on what you are saying...I think that you may find great interest in the documentary/movie "Back To Eden" if you haven't already seen it. I watched it on my computer for "FREE" backtoeden.com several times. And then finally I actually purchased this movie to share. I think it will give you a lot of insight into what you are trying to do. If nothing else, you get to see some beautiful shots of anothers garden and appreciate all of the time that has been invested into the land that this man has.

Best wishes!

 

[tball]

i used soaker hose last year, 11 rows of 100 foot. I was never more disapointed, the started to break down and deteriate. Spent more money with repairs. This year went with a product called t-tape or flat tape, it was comprable in price to the soaker hose.

 

[catjac1975]

I have had mine for many years.

i used soaker hose last year, 11 rows of 100 foot. I was never more disapointed, the started to break down and deteriate. Spent more money with repairs. This year went with a product called t-tape or flat tape, it was comprable in price to the soaker hose.

 

[TheBrumstead]

I ended up not doing the newspaper and just laying some of the mulch over the hoses.