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Weed free gardening has become a cinch for us after discovering hardwood mulch. For years I'd tried using grass trimmings and/or heavy black landscape plastic to keep weeds down. Both will work, but each has its drawbacks. Grass trimmings must be thick enough to not allow any light to reach the soil. It's difficult to spread it evenly. In my experience that has caused some undesirable mold problems during warm rainy weather. It can also be hard to come by since most newer lawn mowers automatically allow the grass clippings to mulch back into the lawn to feed it. Black plastic works well to keep down weeds, however besides being unattractive, it also prevents moisture from reaching the plant roots. During prolonged, excessively hot, dry weather it can even be a disaster, causing them to wither. Wood chips work fine for shrubs and bushes but do not work well for vegetable gardening. Leaf mulch works great. If you have lots of trees on your property, save them, keep them on a pile and wet throughout winter, turning them from time to time. By Spring they will have condensed to a fine mulch that does a great job both feeding your soil and keeping your garden weed free. If you have no trees, often neighbors who do will be happy to give you theirs. After experimenting with numerous mulches over many years leaf mulch and/or hardwood mulch are tops with us.

In early Spring work up the garden soil with a tiller, tractor, or fork, depending upon the size of your plot. Apply an even layer of lime, quality organic fertilizer, and/or compost if you have your own. For tomato, pepper, flower stalks, etc. mulch immediately after planting. For rows planted with seeds, wait until the plants are several inches tall to mulch around them. When all plants are tall enough, spread the mulch you've chosen to use over ever inch of your garden, several inches thick. You will enjoy an entire year of weed free gardening.

Tip: After checking around we found a business not far from our home that produces and sells hardwood mulch. Most of their business is done with landscapers and nurseries but they were more than happy to sell it to us at a very good price. If you have a pick-up or pull-behind trailer they will dump a huge scoop right into it for you. Otherwise, you can shovel it yourself into whatever containers you take with you. It would pay to check into where your local nursery purchases that which they sell and you just might find a more economical source if you have a large garden and need a lot of mulch.

Learn more about this author, Rosalie Stine.
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