I am growing in containers would grass clippings be a Good mulch or bad? Should I mulch at all ? any opinions / experiences welcome and appreciated  Thanks Bob

I always 're-use' my first 2-3 spring grass-clippings by spreading them thinly

It's ok to use them. Just beware of any ripe seeds or pesticides/herbicides you or someone else may have used. Best bet is to allow them to dry out first in case some weeds got bagged and may take root. Good luck.

Grass works great when used as described above. Unfortunately, I didn't know those "rules", several years ago, and I piled a big heap of fresh clippings around the trunk of a young tree, and killed it. When the grass started to rot, it got extremely hot and cooked the trunk! Live and learn.

Thanks fellas . I put a layer of clippings on all my trees today,if I see anything suspicious I'll pull it off.  What mulch (if any) do you guys use ?  Is pine mulch good? I did'nt use pine mulch yet cause I thought it might acidify the soil.

I'm not too scientific about it. I've gotten a couple loads of free mulch from a local landscaper, consisting of whatever pruned branches he's just run through his chipper-shredder. I also bought a little electric chipper-shredder that can handle branches up to about an inch-and-a-quarter, if you take it slow on the thick parts. I turn whatever I prune out of the yard into mulch, and avoid having it go into the landfill.

bob,

I use whatever is plentiful and known not to have been contaminated. We recently had the electric company come around and trim everyone's trees that were on/near power lines. I asked for and recieved a truck load of the mulch and applied it to most of my trees in my little orchard. Also applied dried grass clippings to my garden. Have used those things for years without problems.