PurpleDragon
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Sheet Mulching question / Poultry Feed BagsYou know the bags that poultry feed comes in - the Spillers layers pellets and Spillers Mixed Grain?
As they are made from paper, I wondered if I could use the bags as the layer between the ground and the compost for raised beds? I reckon I could use these bags, which should eventually rot down and go into the ground, as the weed protection layer underneath the compost that I would be growing on.
Good idea? Or will I regret it in the course of time?
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Sassinak
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As long as you remove the string and tape from the ends I think it would work really well and will certainly rot down
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Diana
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I use mine as mulch (different brand though). They're good because they don't break down quite as quickly as cardboard, but do eventually go. Best to put a thin layer (or thin layers) of grass cuttings on top of them to help them go.
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PurpleDragon
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Brilliant! Thanks ladies 
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Smooth Hound
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its a good idea, corrageted cardboard is good too
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PurpleDragon
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I've been saving cardboard - I've ordered quite a few things lately that have arrived in cardboard boxes.
Virgin Vie are the worst offenders for massive boxes for tiny objects. Considering the size of box that arrived, you'd think I was buying make up for every single female Neep on this board! 
Anyway, yesterday I was clearing out the storage box that I keep my chicken feed in. Usually I just fold up the bags ready to take to the tip, but then yesterday it clicked in my head with a sheet mulching video I had seen (I live the high life, me!) so the last year or so's bags will now be recycled instead of just tipped. Yay!
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JamesB
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cardboard and tapeive started using cardboard boxes and grass cuttings (we have too much to compost easily) around the fruit bushes and it seems to work really well.
I haven't been too picky about removing the tape since I think it should be easy to remove later once its decomposed (im a bit lazy as well!).
Does anyone think I'll regret not removing the tape?
James
P.s I would of thought the string on the bags should decompose ok, no?
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Sassinak
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The string seems to last for years, waiting to tangle round the tines of your fork 
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Diana
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James, the tape is easy to remove once the cardboard has decomposed - as long as you remember to. If you don't dig (i.e. just mulch on mulch) it's very easy to forget - that's why I remove mine before I lay the card (when I'm not in a hurry  )
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