Collect it, wash it thoroughly, probably best with a hosepipe to flush the salt off (but think about where the run off will go, preferably not onto soil you want to grow things in). Once the salt has been flushed off, apply to the soil and just turn it in. It rots down pretty quickly and supplies nutrients as it does.

Thank you Bamboo, I have seen a person use it from the seashore, they thought it was all right and said the sea salt helps keep the slugs away. It might keep the slugs away, but you are right Bamboo, it would not be good for the plants . Would it be more of a general fertilizer or just good for certain plants. As I live near the coast there would be no problem collecting seaweed How would you mark it out of 10 Bamboo.

Always thought seaweed was a plant "tonic" and not a fertilizer. Used to use a lot of maxicrop and that was a tonic.

When seaweed was used by the crofters it would be collected from the shoreline and then laid out so that the, plentyfull, rain could wash through it before use. This would have removed much of the salt but not all of it.
Actual seaweed acts as a humus with fertilising ability, Andy, and it also contains lots of trace elements that act as a tonic. The likes of maxicrop have extracted the trace elements so the seaweed extract is a tonic only.

I put some round a young hydrangea and it really took off. Left it out in the rain for a few weeks first though.

Sorry about the late reply, just want say thanks to bamboo, Andy, Steragram and Bulbaholic for all the great feedback and advice regarding the seaweed . I have heard of people using seaweed baths which is meant to be very good for your skin and for detoxing. I might bring some home for my own bath to try if my wife allows me.....ha ha!!!!
I just have one more question that you might have some advice on, Would it be of any help or use if I got the seaweed pulverised into a powder and use it this way instead. Do you think would that be any benefit to the plants?? If any one has any other advice or knowledge I would most great full.

Thanks

Johnjoe :-)

I wouldn't bother Johnjoe - it works fine just as it is. If you put it on as an autumn mulch a lot of it will have disappeared by spring, and there will be just some dried up bits left on the surface. You can dig them in or ignore them.

Tonights 'Landward' programe (BBC iplayer BBC2) shows crofters on the Western Isles spreading fresh seaweed on the machair (a rich grassland used for grazing above the beach). Admittedly the machair is constanly washed over by sea spray but the grass, and flowers, is first class.

The grass and flowers will be varieties that are salt tolerant though wont they, like thrift and scurveygrass and sheep's bit perhaps? Still best to wash it to be on the safe side.

sorry I didn't answer your second question, haven't been on for a couple of days or so, but I can see that Bulbaholic has more than covered it, johnjoe. I'd still wash it, as Steragram says, and would use it fresh, not dried, better humus content that way, and that's great for the soil.