What do you use for mulch?

SuperGreen

I'll be honest, DH and I did not mulch our vegetable garden last year since we couldn't seem to find a safe mulch.  We don't have any trees (so no leaves), and I'm very wary of putting mulch purchased from Home Depot on our plants as it could contain dyes or pesticides.  The same goes for straw from Home Depot.  We were going to use the free mulch from the county dump, but friends told us they've gotten diseased mulch from the dump before (!!!).  So what do you use to mulch your edible plants?

jennyk213

I feel the same way about mulch or straw from unknown sources, especially the big box stores. Do you have a garden store in your area that specializes in organic or sustainable practices?  If you do, they might have something or be able to tell you where to look.

I went to a gardening class a couple weeks ago and some of their ideas were cardboard boxes, at least 4 layers of newspaper (they said most of it uses soy ink now), 100% cotton sheets or other fabric and jute rugs.  They also suggested grass clippings, leaves and straw.  Some of this stuff seems odd but the instructors work for local, sustainable nurseries and have degrees in related fields, so I guess I trust what they're saying.  (Apparently you can even compost cotton and jute, which I never knew!).

Another idea that I'm going to try - and I'm not sure if this would be appropriate for your climate - is to cover my warm crop raised beds with black plastic and cut holes for the plants.  They said this can act as a mulch of sorts and it helps extend the growing season.

Prulove

I use grass clippings.

Magdala9

Our trimming from the Christmas tree hedge.  We have a hedge composed of past-year's balled and burlapped Chrismas trees.  Every November, I trim it and use the branches to cover the garden.  If I have my act together, I will put down our homegrown compost first.   At least this way, I know where everything has come from

SuperGreen

Prulove:

I use grass clippings.

I should have mentioned in my OP that we have a dog, so I can't use our grass clippings.

ramora189

Try using a living mulch like red clover. The flowers will attract pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects. Clover is a legume so it will also enrich the soil. Google "living mulch" for more info. There are all sorts of plants you can use and it gives your garden a very nice, full look.

spiritenergy

leaves. Can you ask a local farmer if they have some leftover straw or a friend for some leaves?

Jen&Joe06

For our veggie garden we didn't use any mulch last year. Not sure if we will this year or not.

jennyk213

I came across this from the U of Minnesota Extension office.  If you scroll to the bottom, there is a chart with different mulch options and the pros and cons.  http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h139mulch.html

msjesct

I'm wondering, would you use this in a veggie garden? would it choke out other plants?

msjesct

I began mulching with seaweed. IT's working so well!.