I have been thinking about trying alfalfa hay for mulch. Normal price seems to be ~$4 for a square bale.

Anybody ever used alfalfa hay for mulch?

I wonder if the deer eat it? Normal use is horse fodder (or cow).

in my effort to stay as organic as possible, I try to make as much of my own mulch as possible. I get 200-300 bags of maple and oak leaves each year from a tree-lined neighborhood in Spokane. To support this effort, this year I bought a Worx 13 amp leaf shredder. I just tried it out and it is great. The bags of mulch I do not put down immediately, I keep in bags and let it decompose over the winter and spring so that in the spring, voila, I have 30-40 bags of "leaf mould" as it is called.

Trying some alfalfa hay for mulch. Got 20 bales at $5 ea.

Score

Looks like good food going to waste here (goats)

Frank
In your middle photo there is a tall aster (purple bloom). Do you happen to know what the name is ?
I have the same plant and have been wondering what it is ?

Cinda

Cinda,

"Aster tataricus 'Jindai', 2014, Tartarian Aster, tuh-TAR-ih-kus, 3x2 ft Perennial, Z4, blue purple, PT1

A slightly shorter version of Tatarian Aster. Flower stalks feature 2"" blue purple flowers, w/ yellow centers, in the fall. Flowers have curled petals. Spreading rhizome. Selected as an AHS '75 Great American Garden Plants'. Only 25 perennials were selected (plus 25 trees, 25 shrubs). Planted 2010. Will probably need to cut back root system next year."

I have just plain aster tataricus as well. I cannot tell the difference.

Thanks ,
That's it
I have been trying to identify my aster a couple years now . I dug it from my Mothers garden,early spring thinking I was getting horseradish , imagine my surprise

kqcrna said:I've been using pine straw mulch for the past few years, and I like it a lot. It's sold in bales, is much lighter to haul around, and works well. Also, it doesn't attract termites.

http://www.cedarrunlandscapes....


Karen

I live in the Greater Cincinnati area and was wondering where you get it. How much for a bale? Is it offered year round or certain times of the year?

Marilyn, I usually buy it at local nurseries. I'm literally right across the river from you in Delhi Township. I always buy it in spring, and most places do sell out of it fast. I generally make several trips because I have a small car, and often I buy it from several different nurseries near me. I've bought it from Robben Florist, Allison Landscaping, Firehouse Nursery... This year I found some at Rempke-Biggs, where they sell plants and mulch outside the store in spring.

You best best would be to call places near your home first and ask whether they carry it. But don't procrastinate because they sell out early in spring.

Karen