Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Weed control

b54red · May 16, 2017

I mulch the heck out of everything. I hate weeding. I used to use grass clippings and straw but down here in our heat the grass clippings just dried up to nothing too fast and constantly needed more replenishing than my yard could provide. Straw just got way too expensive down here. I still use straw in my compost but I'm lucky if I can find it for 6 dollars a square bale.

I now use mostly cypress mulch which is reusable and pine bark. They are both dense enough to hold in moisture well and suppress weeds very well. The cypress mulch with its light color is also great for keeping the soil cooler under my late tomato plantings that have to survive and set fruit in temps well over 90 degrees.

Bill

May 16, 2017	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I mulch the heck out of everything. I hate weeding. I used to use grass clippings and straw but down here in our heat the grass clippings just dried up to nothing too fast and constantly needed more replenishing than my yard could provide. Straw just got way too expensive down here. I still use straw in my compost but I'm lucky if I can find it for 6 dollars a square bale. I now use mostly cypress mulch which is reusable and pine bark. They are both dense enough to hold in moisture well and suppress weeds very well. The cypress mulch with its light color is also great for keeping the soil cooler under my late tomato plantings that have to survive and set fruit in temps well over 90 degrees. Bill