Best blackberry mulch

Just curious what everyone is using to mulch their blackberries? I used pine bark mulch last year and really liked it. Well, no big box stores around me are carrying it this year, so I have to figure out something else to try. Thanks

Pine straw is free and it works pretty well. Used it on mine. After it gets compacted a little by rain it forms a pretty nice anti weed mat. A lot of farm stores also carry pine straw bales. I’m a fan of pine bark too. It doesn’t break down as quick as the other options and looks better.

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I looked it up and that stuff looks good too. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure nobody around me carries it either. Not very many pine trees in Kansas and we just don’t have access to that. People must not use very much of it here or it is too expensive to ship it in because I just have a hell of a time finding pine bark for sale around me. I’m not sure how it would work, but about the only thing around here for sale is Cedar mulch, cypress mulch and hardwood mulch. I have several bales of wheat straw I could use but I have been trying not to use it because that stuff has a lot of weed seeds (bindweed, pigweed) in it.

If it’s not too windy or if you can keep it moist, Ive been using aspen shavings from the pet store. Plus side is I use it for my guinea pigs so it’s “used” shavings with some fertilizer

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I got my bulk mulch from a tree cutting company. They were cutting trees around the power lines and I got them to dump several truck loads of wood chips on my property. Been using it for a couple years now. Most of them have to pay to dump it, so if you see one just ask if they will dump at your house. Most of them will be more than happy to.

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I thought about doing that, I am hesitant though with everybody that sprays herbicides (Remedy, tordon, escort, pastureguard) on all the invasive trees around me. I figured I would get lucky and get some of that crap in my load, usually the way my luck runs.

I wouldn’t worry too much about herb and pesticides. They are mostly shredding large trees that would never be sprayed with anything. What I did have problems with were seeds from those chipped trees. The seed aspect will go away as the mulch ages though.

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TSC sells horse bedding pellets that are made from pine needles. put some around your plants and water them. the puff right up and fill in under the bushes. a large bag goes for $6 and covers a lot of area.

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I mulch my blackberries with whatever I have available to chip/shred - leaves, fallen tree branches, shrub trimmings, etc. Believe me, it all works. Blackberry plants are beasts.

I have 10 plants in their third season and am overwhelmed with blackberries right now. Many pounds went into my belly and many more into the freezer - and they don’t stop producing!

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Thanks all, I will be using whatever I can in the future but I don’t have anything easy right now. With temps up around 100 and one small chance of rain in the next 10 days, I need something quick and easy for now. I will contact the guys that mulch the power line easement and have them dump me a load next time they cut close to me. In the meantime, I will buy some of those horse bedding pellets and give them a try, those are available by me. I am very anxious to see how they work and how far I can stretch a 40 lb bag. I have around 240 feet of blackberries, at $6 a bag, I think I will start off with 15 bags and see how far that gets me.

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If you are really desperate you can use lawn clippings. They work well, but you risk grass growing there. I have also used cardboard held down by rocks. Another that I am using that is really working well is used carpet.

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I know that I’m late to the party here but if you live in the Midwest USA, Menards has pine bark mini nuggets mulch. Only local store I have been able to find it at the past few years. Larger pine bark mulch is much easier to find.

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I started these Illini Hardy in 2002… and i normally mulch them good with pine bark mulch.
Lowes has regular pine bark mulch which is fairly large chips of pine bark… and they also have mini pine bark mulch.

I like the mini for things like strawberry beds.

This spring my Illini will be getting some wood chip… since i recently got a big pile of it.

In the past have used old hay and it worked well.

If you buy hay in the fall… and leave it outside exposed to the elements… all winter… and use it for mulch in the spring, summer… no trouble with weed seeds germinating.

I protect my fig with hay bales each winter… and then use those hay bales for mulch in my garden… works great for mulch on tomatoes or anything.

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Thanks for sharing, @TNHunter. For whatever reason pine bark mini nuggets are not available at any of my local Lowes stores.