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Seaweed mulch/cat deterent...
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Message 1.Â
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Hi, just discovered after googling seaweed used as a mulch, it isn't just good for your veg and flowers, fresh seaweed also deters cats and put on your compost heap helps to activate it.
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Message 2
Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Hi zoomer, does it smell?
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Message 3
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Summerchild. You'd expect it to smell.
I don't know yet as it hasn't started to rot down, it certainly didn't smell when it was collected fresh from the beach this morning, I've handling it all day and my hands didn't smell. I've mixed it with soil in the GH on the toms bed and used it as a mulch around the rasberries. Apparently it's 90% water and rots down very quickly.
Some has gone on the compost, whats left is going to used in a trench for my runner beans and spread on a raised bed which the cats goes in
so I'll be able to see how much of a deterent it after it's been spread.
If it's mixed with water and left to rot to use as a liquid fertiliser it smells terribly I'm told but amazing for toms, potatoes and onions. I'll get that pleasure on Monday when I collect some but you can bottle a smell and I'll be keeping the tops on those bottled until it's ready for use. -
Message 4
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
3 min rule drums fingers....
On a good note my garden could smell like the sea next week but on the down side it could smell like a fishing port just after the boats come in -
Message 5
Posted by caz (U14162853) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Hi, i have been told that it is also good at keeping the slugs and snails away. Will be collecting some on my next vist to the beech.
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Message 6
Posted by mummyduckegg (U8437139) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Hmm would love some, but we are slap bang in the middle of the country - 2 hours drive to the coast
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Message 7
Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Sunday, 6th June 2010
Not much seaweed round here either. Samphire on the marshes, though.
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Message 8
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 7th June 2010
Just for the record, I've been out tonight and the seaweed isn't smelling, it's gone almost black though and the bag of seaweed in the GH just smells salty and fresh.
Sorry you guys don't live by the sea
I haven't collected the liquid seaweed fertilizer yet though and that will be yukie smelling. -
Message 9
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 7th June 2010
Caz. Slugs and snails probably don't like it because of the salt content.
I'm told worms don't like it either and they are the good guys so if you do get some seaweed go easy on it if only for the sake of the worms.. -
Message 10
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Monday, 7th June 2010
I got some seaweed plant food on Saturday, do you think it would have the same effect, I mean for keeping cats away from the garden, I do use it in the back garden but the cat doesn't get in the back garden because of the dog.
Rain -
Message 11
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 7th June 2010
Rain. I'm not sure a comercial seaweed plant food would have the same effect for cats. If it was then you can bet those who make it would be advertising the fact.
The smell of fresh/rotting seaweed may be what deters cats, we might not be able to smell it but cats possible can.
I haven't tried it yet it may not work. -
Message 12
Posted by Rob (U14386013) on Tuesday, 8th June 2010
By chance, I'm working on the coast this coming weekend and have been thinking about taking a sack or two to fill with seaweed...... Decision made, I'll be on the rocks sunday evening before coming home. Thanks for all the comments
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Message 13
Posted by BigG up North (U1914634) on Tuesday, 8th June 2010
Hi - looked into seaweed fertilser earlier this year as was on holiday, staying at the coast.
A couple of things, although not essential it is recommended that you wash, rinse the salt off first with either fresh water or leave in the rain.
You can then decide to make a liquid fertliser, in the same way as with nettles, dig in instead of farm manure or put in your compost bin.
If it smells on the beach, leave it, as it is better fresh.
One thing is that taking from a beach is illegal unless you have the land-owners permission:
Extract from rhs website:
Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conseravtion. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first.
If you do have acces to fresh seaweed, it is a useful substitute for farmyard manure, and does not need to be rotted down before use. It is best dug in fresh before it has had time to dry. Although seaweed is salty, the salt is not usually present in sufficient amounts to damage crops or soil, and the salt will in any case leach out readily with rainfall as it is highly soluble.
Fortunately, where we were staying was owned by those who we renting the cottage from and they were perfectly happy for us to take a few bags home, which has been put to good use!!!
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