using seaweed in mulch

[spughy]

I'm planning on sheet-mulching my garden this fall and I'd like to use seaweed, since it's plentiful here (or will be, when the winter storms start tossing it up on the beaches). Do I need to rinse the salt water off it before I spread it on the garden? Does anyone know if there are restrictions on harvesting dead seaweed from beaches in BC?

[rubyeta]

hi there! I use seaweed for mulchand in my compost pile. I have never rinsed it, and have never had a problem. I actually think that rinsing might remove some valuable nutrients, and the salt content isnt quite high enough to cause a problem. We are lucky to have this wonderful gift from mother nature so readily available. (it can get a little smelly though)

[kdabbler]

Funny you should post this. I have a compost bioreactor and was thinking of throwing some in. I wasn't planning on rinsing but the thought about salt did cross my mind. Mind you, I wasn't going to use seaweed as a mulch though.