Help with mulch for asparagus plants

My asparagus are starting to come up. I would like to put something over them so that weeds will not grow in them. Would it be ok to put some of the chicken litter (from the deep litter method Chicken poo and wood shavings) on top or does it need to be turned to compost before I use it? How about dried mulched oak leaves over the top of the asparagus. I don't want to use something with the wrong ph or too strong of fertilizer. I was so excited to see something growing in my garden now I want to do something in it.
Thanks for you help.
Marion

If you don't mind the chicken stuff, I'd use that.

I could be wrong, tho' Wash your hands, and don't breathe any dust, if it's really dry.

I have hardwood mulch over the area where mine is growing and it is doing great...I wonder if the chicken manure would be good uncomposted since you are eating the stems right as they emerge? I think the reason eggs have salmonella is from contamination with chicken feces...you would be cooking it, but....

Chicken poo has a tendency to be very strong. You might want to compost it first. The oak leaves are a much better idea. :)

I think the oak leaves will be better also. It has rained so much that everything is wet here. The leaves might be dry today. I will try them. Need to pick them up and get the mower out and mulch them. I think that is what I did last year. My asparagus is about 6 years old and gives me lots of stalks. I just need to controll the grass that grows in it during the summer. We are having some trees cut down this year. I might get some of the limbs made into mulch. If I can't get the leaves raked up soon that is what I can do. Then I can use that mulch for the rest of my garden also.
Thanks all
Marion

Try a few layers of newspapers (I don't use the colored pages) wetted down, then top with mulch and it will help keep the grass and weeds down.

The asparagus sprouts are strong enough to punch through the newspaper?

I wouldn't count on it, so maybe you have to wait to see exactly where the asparagus plants are before using newspaper. Although we planted in rows, it's tricky to tell where the plants are until they actually make an appearance. Meanwhile, we just weed by hand.

Here only thistles can come through newspapers! If we want to keep the thistles down, we have to use cardboard!

Are you guys saying that it's okay to lay heavy mulch down even after some of the stalks have been picked and are actively growing. What about the existing weeds/grass? Will the mulch kill that and not the growing spears? My bed is 5 years now.