I've had great success keeping weeds at bay and eliminating water/dirt splash up these past two years using shredded fall leaves. I mulch the garlic bed with an extra heavy layer just before winter, then pull off all but a then layer in the spring. The other bed keeps a slightly heavier layer on it and I just push it aside when I plant seedlings. It's fairly well broken down by fall and ready for a fresh topping.
I don't miss having to hunt down and pay for bales of straw. And even the supposedly "seed free" stuff would still start sprouting hay all throughout my beds.
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