Grass clippings as Pest Control

AJ Drew · May 11, 2016

I have been using grass clippings as mulch around plants for years. Generally I mulch it one year and then turn it under the next year with aged barn scrapings. The property started with only two inches of top soil before the clay and this practice has really helped. Was googling the practice and I came across the strangest surprise and explanation of why we have so many box turtle and toads in our main garden.

Turns out they love ground that has been mulched with grass clippings because it makes for an excellent feeding ground. The toads eat slugs by night. The turtle eat about anything by day.

Yes, it is raining again so I am reading about gardening.

ErolDude · May 11, 2016

I've heard of people doing this, seems like a legitimate tactic in my opinion. Can't help me as I'm a balcony grower but oh well

robbyjoe01 · May 11, 2016

It's the cycle of life. Mother nature loves and thrives on things rotting whether it's grass clippings or us (ashes to ashes ect ect). It's a lot easier to work with nature then against her. Mulching and composting just accelerates her agenda.

Hybrid Mode 01 · May 11, 2016

Getting turtles, toads, ducks etc. to do your dirty work is a win win win. They remove your pest insects and trade them in for fertilizer. Plus, they're just fun to watch.
I do everything I can to make my garden fit like a puzzle piece in a natural ecosystem. All those other organisms living symbiotically or comencally with my garden plants creates a harder target for pests and disease. A garden that lacks biodiversity doesn't have a buffer between it and other organisms that want to capitalize on it. A garden that is designed around creating habitat invites in a whole team of living things that are just itching to go to work with you.
I would much rather spend my time watching lacewing larvae chow down on aphids than have to spend it constantly trying to keep up on a spray schedule.

solid7 · May 11, 2016

Now if I can just attract panthers or bobcats to start eating squirrels, so those little bastards quit taking one bite out of my mangoes, and then leaving them on the ground to rot...

Hybrid Mode 01 · May 11, 2016

solid7 said:
Now if I can just attract panthers or bobcats to start eating squirrels, so those little bastards quit taking one bite out of my mangoes, and then leaving them on the ground to rot...

I like to use marigolds to attract lacewings and I use catnip and tire swings to attract mountain lions. My garden is free of aphids, rabbits and neighbor kids.
I keep envisioning a garden with nice deep mulch, beneficial flowers and just some random jaguar roaming around, minding it's own business. :rofl:

You're out calmly checking on your plants and the jaguar just pounces on the mailman who keeps bumping into the container plants he tries to step over while taking a shortcut. Now that's an ecosystem! :rofl:

Oh my god. I'm cracking up here!

solid7 · May 11, 2016

and the jaguar just pounces on the mailman who keeps bumping into the container plants

Round these parts, you're more likely to have cougars pouncing on pool boys.

But milkmen are almost non-existent, so whatever curbed that blight may be the trick.

AJ Drew · May 11, 2016

solid7 said:
Now if I can just attract panthers or bobcats to start eating squirrels, so those little bastards quit taking one bite out of my mangoes, and then leaving them on the ground to rot...

So what you are saying is your dog is way too lazy?

solid7 · May 11, 2016

So what you are saying is your dog is way too lazy?

Haven't got one. Not a pet person, myself. I've always believed that if you don't want to take responsibility for kids or animals, and make them your #1 priority, you should respect their life enough to not impose yourself upon it, or bring it into being - whichever the case may be. Therefore, I don't have a dog.

I like my freedom, and that's my problem, not a dog's.

robbyjoe01 · May 11, 2016

Squirrels are easy to get rid of with a little BBQ sauce and some cold beer. At least if ya had to live trap them you know what they want.

AJ Drew · May 11, 2016

solid7 - I can respect that, but here the critters are more of a cooperative thing. Everyone has a job, including the critters. I help them, they help me. Trying to raise the kids the same way.

solid7 · May 11, 2016

ajdrew said:
solid7 - I can respect that, but here the critters are more of a cooperative thing. Everyone has a job, including the critters. I help them, they help me. Trying to raise the kids the same way.

I live in a beachside setting, where human/animal co-op is more likely to be a trophy wife with a lap dog, to help her deal with her life's biggest problems. (still haven't figured out what that is, but the bubble heads can't function without the little critters)

My kids are awesome. Little versions of myself.

And I'd damn sure eat a squirrel in a heartbeat, if the ones in our area weren't tiny little mange rats. Nothing like those Nebraska farm squirrels. I left the country long ago, but I still know the deal.

robbyjoe01 said:
Squirrels are easy to get rid of with a little BBQ sauce and some cold beer. At least if ya had to live trap them you know what they want.

Our squirrels ain't like yours. If sirex is around, he can attest to that. I lived in Wichita for 6 years, working at the Boeing plant. Shout out to you fellas out there.