My brothers recently bought and got a cedar shingle mill up and running. They are using every last bit of the wood into products. I just bought a truckload of cedar shavings {shredded down} for my blueberries. Have it piled in the corner of my small orchard. I have 88 blueberry bushes at the moment,with plans for at least a 100 bush orchard-and am in my 3rd year of selling my produce. We live in Maine on one acre. I started about 9 yrs ago, and also at that time I planted a separate "Comfrey Bed", I think 15 plants-with room for more. The Comfrey pulls up high amounts of precious nutrients from its long tap roots. I cut the leaves only and spread around whatever plants I want. I can get at least 3 crop cuttings in one season. I also fill a food grade barrel with just the leaves,add a little water-then let the rain fill it over time,and make Comfrey compost tea. Last week, I went and raked up 10 bags of pine needles from my moms for the blues, I use organic fertilizer,no spray. I asked hubby to get me a big load of cardboard,he went and got some yesterday. I dont mind mowing the rows of grass,but want to do a heavy mulch around the bushes, killing as much grass as I can. I will use the cardboard, fabric on top of that,shavings and pine needles. I dont recommend using grass clippings at all,since any seeds of anything will simply sprout on top,and thats defeating your efforts. The cedar will help to deter some pests. I have plans to plant my own line of pine trees on one side of the orchard in the spring, throwing the shade away from the orchard of course. My 10 variaties of blues are in full sun all day. My major problem is the Jap Beetle. I now handpick each season, twice a day into soapy water, and that does seem to keep them at bay, and over the winter will get a better collection system in place for next year. I got one of my brothers interested in Blues,and they now have 8? bushes growing. Anyways,thats what I use for mulching on my small homestead.
