Comments on: Beware the Chocolate Mulch http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:23:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Katie http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-35988 Katie Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:10:01 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-35988 I just planted some hostas this year and recently put the CBM around them but not close to the stems. Before putting the CBM down, the hostas were getting big and blooming, but after putting the CBM in that area the leaves started to wilt and they are really saggy. Has anyone had this problem before? I am trying to figure out if it's from the CBM. I love it, the smell and the look is wonderful. I haven't had any mold, it's beautiful mulch! I just planted some hostas this year and recently put the CBM around them but not close to the stems. Before putting the CBM down, the hostas were getting big and blooming, but after putting the CBM in that area the leaves started to wilt and they are really saggy. Has anyone had this problem before? I am trying to figure out if it’s from the CBM. I love it, the smell and the look is wonderful. I haven’t had any mold, it’s beautiful mulch!

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-35705 Jeffrey Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:19:51 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-35705 I've used CBM for years and like someone else has mentioned, I now have amazing dirt. Using large chips of some other kind of mulch will take a very long time to break down by comparison. Yeah, it does get mold, usually only for a week or two, but it goes away. It also darkens with age versus the colour dulling with other mulches, which I think is another definite plus of CBM. I have found that it isn't great about keeping the weeds out but since it makes the soil condition so fantastic, any weed is trivially removed without any garden tools. All that said, I have a lot that neighbours a park and I don't use it along that side of the lot - I don't really want to take a chance that someone's dog is going to eat it and then come after me with a lawsuit.. I’ve used CBM for years and like someone else has mentioned, I now have amazing dirt. Using large chips of some other kind of mulch will take a very long time to break down by comparison. Yeah, it does get mold, usually only for a week or two, but it goes away. It also darkens with age versus the colour dulling with other mulches, which I think is another definite plus of CBM. I have found that it isn’t great about keeping the weeds out but since it makes the soil condition so fantastic, any weed is trivially removed without any garden tools. All that said, I have a lot that neighbours a park and I don’t use it along that side of the lot – I don’t really want to take a chance that someone’s dog is going to eat it and then come after me with a lawsuit..

]]> By: Lesley Young http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-34988 Lesley Young Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:33:45 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-34988 I have been using the cocoa bean husk as mulch for about a year now and found it to be a fanatastic soil conditioner. Weeding is much easier to do in a spot where I have put a thick layer of the mulch down after a few months, the soil is very friable as a consequence. It does get mold, but it's not slimey and it's just evidence to me that it's breaking down. The local garden centre gets it in by the truckload from the chocolate factory and it goes out the door immediately. There are waiting lists for it when it comes in. I live in New Zealand and the patrons of the garden centre here are avid gardeners due to the temperate climate and good growing conditions we have here. I'm sure they are only buying it because of the good results from it. I have been using the cocoa bean husk as mulch for about a year now and found it to be a fanatastic soil conditioner. Weeding is much easier to do in a spot where I have put a thick layer of the mulch down after a few months, the soil is very friable as a consequence.

It does get mold, but it’s not slimey and it’s just evidence to me that it’s breaking down.
The local garden centre gets it in by the truckload from the chocolate factory and it goes out the door immediately. There are waiting lists for it when it comes in.

I live in New Zealand and the patrons of the garden centre here are avid gardeners due to the temperate climate and good growing conditions we have here. I’m sure they are only buying it because of the good results from it.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-23449 Jeff Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:04:55 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-23449 You must have something else causing that much mold. I have the cocoa shell mulch and I also have some mold. It goes away when the shells dry out or is exposed to sunlight. It does not smell, at least the mold in my garcen does not. You may want to seek help from your local garden center to identify the mold. You must have something else causing that much mold. I have the cocoa shell mulch and I also have some mold. It goes away when the shells dry out or is exposed to sunlight. It does not smell, at least the mold in my garcen does not. You may want to seek help from your local garden center to identify the mold.

]]> By: Karen http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-23109 Karen Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:40:01 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-23109 I tried CBM for the first time this year. In the first days I enjoyed the light aroma of chocolate and the attractive look of the mulch. Then the mold started and the chocolate smell was gone. Mold was light during the first weeks but by the fourth or fifth week the mold became thick and you couldn't avoid the stench. It started as a thin layer of slimy mold that appeared to come and go. Then expanded to cover the entire area. Old mold dried white and thick. Eventually we had to keep the house windows closed because of the awful stench and how it made us feel. It caused irritation and pain in my nostrils that's been continuous for more than a week with little relief during the full days I'm at work. My spouse has been complaining about throat irritation for several weeks. Our indoor pets started sneezing several days ago. Friends start coughing and grabbing their throats as they approach the door. I spent this weekend removing the mulch. Never again. I tried CBM for the first time this year. In the first days I enjoyed the light aroma of chocolate and the attractive look of the mulch. Then the mold started and the chocolate smell was gone. Mold was light during the first weeks but by the fourth or fifth week the mold became thick and you couldn’t avoid the stench. It started as a thin layer of slimy mold that appeared to come and go. Then expanded to cover the entire area. Old mold dried white and thick. Eventually we had to keep the house windows closed because of the awful stench and how it made us feel. It caused irritation and pain in my nostrils that’s been continuous for more than a week with little relief during the full days I’m at work. My spouse has been complaining about throat irritation for several weeks. Our indoor pets started sneezing several days ago. Friends start coughing and grabbing their throats as they approach the door. I spent this weekend removing the mulch. Never again.

]]> By: David B http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-7546 David B Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:30:29 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-7546 I've been using cocoa shell mulch for around 6 years. My soil is pitch black and loaded with worms. My only complaint is weeds still get a good anchorage. I've heard cedar mulch is a better weed preventer but is slow in breaking down and turns gray. I'm curious would mixing the two be a good idea or not? I’ve been using cocoa shell mulch for around 6 years. My soil is pitch black and loaded with worms. My only complaint is weeds still get a good anchorage. I’ve heard cedar mulch is a better weed preventer but is slow in breaking down and turns gray. I’m curious would mixing the two be a good idea or not?

]]> By: Brett http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-4463 Brett Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:47:44 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-4463 My wife loves chocolate, so I put the CBM in my front yard. The mold came after a few weeks of DRY california weather. I started to throw out the CBM but then heard it was harmless and beneficial. I'm not a fan of the mold but think I'll let it ride in the rest of the garden. Thanks for the info everyone. My wife loves chocolate, so I put the CBM in my front yard. The mold came after a few weeks of DRY california weather. I started to throw out the CBM but then heard it was harmless and beneficial. I’m not a fan of the mold but think I’ll let it ride in the rest of the garden. Thanks for the info everyone.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-4361 Lynn Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:17:10 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-4361 I love my CBM, I put it down under my gardenias and not a weed in sight no snail. Yes at the beginning you will have mold but that goes away along with the smell. That was last year and ready to do it again this year. I love my CBM, I put it down under my gardenias and not a weed in sight no snail. Yes at the beginning you will have mold but that goes away along with the smell. That was last year and ready to do it again this year.

]]> By: Administrator http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-3694 Administrator Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:25:39 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-3694 Brown, but the reason I didn't like the mold, in addition to it being unsightly, was that it compacted & compressed the mulch so that water wasn't getting in and the plants were having a hard time breaking through it. Brown, but the reason I didn’t like the mold, in addition to it being unsightly, was that it compacted & compressed the mulch so that water wasn’t getting in and the plants were having a hard time breaking through it.

]]> By: Patrick Bowling http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 Patrick Bowling Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:51:44 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/05/12/beware-the-chocolate-mulch/#comment-3692 It's interesting that you mention that the mold is turning it into compost. If you get back this far in your blogs, I was curious if these would be considered browns or greens when added directly to a compost heap. With weekly lawn trimmings, there seems to always be plenty of nitrogen, so I was hoping that these may be a good source of carbon. I usually run out of back stocked leave around june. It’s interesting that you mention that the mold is turning it into compost. If you get back this far in your blogs, I was curious if these would be considered browns or greens when added directly to a compost heap. With weekly lawn trimmings, there seems to always be plenty of nitrogen, so I was hoping that these may be a good source of carbon. I usually run out of back stocked leave around june.

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