I have had to change my garden location and cannot take the existing soil. (Long story that makes me furious).

I am trying to build a good garden soil quickly. I am currently collecting large quantities of coffee grounds locally. The local horse stables will give me as much stable gleanings as I can handle. I have started making fish hydrolysate to help the microbes get going. And, I'll be composting everything I can get these old paws on!

To mulch, I would like to use the huge amounts of water hyacinth available to me. They are literally right out of my back door.

Even though hyacinths may look delicate and dainty, they are very fibrous. I'd like to shred them so that they would decompose faster and lay down much nicer/neater.

I have an old lawn mower that runs well and an older weed trimmer.. Gotta keep it inexpensive.

Chopping them by hand is out of the question since I wrecked my elbow a couple of months back and it's not healing-up very well.

Any thoughts or ideas?