Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Leads or other lists to ask about phragmites for mulch and compost?

permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: permaculture

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Leads or other lists to ask about phragmites for mulch and compost?
  • Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 12:06:02 -0400

rafter t. sass wrote:

OK, so nobody out there has anything to say about using phragmites (shredded dry stems) for mulch and for compost (shredded green shoots). I accept that. Does anyone have leads in terms of other sources to consult, or other lists to submit questions to?

Google says:
Phragmites australis, or common reed, is a wetland plant species found in
every U.S. state.
It can grow up to 6 meters high in dense stands and is long-lived. Phragmites is capable of reproduction by seeds, but primarily does so asexually by means of rhizomes. Recent research has now shown that native and introduced genotypes of this species currently exist in North America.

Phragmites is used extensively in artificial wetlands bioremediation systems
to treat residential grey and black water.

Of course you can use it for compost. Check to see if it hyperaccumulates any toxic metals if the source for it is from a waste treatment system.

Make sure there are no seeds in the harvested plants or you may gain a big
weed problem.

Phragmites, duckweed, water lilly, water hyacinth, cattails and some interesting unnamed roundstemmed grasses growing at or near water's edge are all useful for purifying, clarifying and using up excess nutrients in bodies of fresh water.

--
Lawrence F. London, Jr.
Venaura Farm
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://market-farming.com/venaurafarm
http://venaurafarm.blogspot.com/
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page