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From: ajs@hpfcla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: fertilizer
Message-ID: <15800005@hpfcla.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-May-84 14:34:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfcla.15800005
Posted: Thu May 10 14:34:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jun-84 11:39:26 EDT
References: <318@nbires.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Systems Division - Fort Collins, CO
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Nf-ID: #R:nbires:-31800:hpfcla:15800005:000:1038
Nf-From: hpfcla!ajs    May 29 10:34:00 1984

> While this is a good one and organic, remember that many people use lots
> of weed-killers on their lawns, so you might be getting some of those
> chemicals along with the hay. 

I  suggested  it, and I do use lots of  clippings  myself.  I used to be
concerned about it, but then I realized that most weed killers in common
(lawn) use are  hormones  which kill things like  dandelions  by growing
them to death.  The chemicals  themselves are probably  harmless in weak
concentrations,  especially if you don't use any  clippings  for, say, a
week after  applying  them.  I'm not an expert on this, so I'm not sure.
If anyone knows better, please correct me!

I've had no strange side-effects from using clippings, however.

From the green fingers, purple ears, and striped tongue of
Alan Silverstein

PS:  You definitely  should NOT use fireplace ash, however.  Not only is
the soil here already too pH in that  direction  (alkaline?),  but often
there are nasty  chemicals  concentrated  in it, like heavy  metals from
colored inks.