Beginner Gardening: The Whole Garden, 1 by Ozark

Ozark wrote:
"I was wondering if you strawed your garden to keep the weeds down, looks like you have something between the rows."
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For sure. I couldn't raise a big garden without mulching - I'd be pulling weeds ALL the time.

It's an ongoing process through spring and early summer, and I've got almost the whole garden covered now. I use my tiller between rows and hand-pull weeds in the rows - then as I get each section clear I put fresh grass clippings down, about 6" deep. Those pack down to about 2" after they turn brown.

I've got a lot of yard to mow, and I've got a grass catcher on my riding mower for just this purpose.

There's a whole BUNCH of benefits to putting those grass clippings on the soil.

1. They get real hot the first couple of days, and that kills any weed seeds and emerging weeds in the soil. I don't have any more weeding for the whole season once I get the mulch down.

2. The mulch conserves water and keeps the soil cool and moist underneath. I have a soaker hose grid laid out under the mulch, and I water my whole garden just by turning valves.

3. Having mulch down eliminates mud - I can walk and work in my garden even after heavy rains.

4. I didn't expect this one - little black brachnid wasps live in the mulch, and I haven't seen a tomato hornworm for years. The wasps kill all the other caterpillars, too.

5. Veggies that lay on the ground like melons and low-hanging cucumbers don't rot because they're laying on the mulch instead of on dirt.

6. The mulch improves my soil every year, as I till it under in the fall.

So, I wouldn't even think about raising a big garden without mulching it.