Mulch II

To use a material as mulch, all you have to do is pile it up around the base of the plant. Make sure it's not touching the stem too much, because over time, it will start to decompose, and we want to keep decomposing material off of the living tissue of plants.

My favorite mulch to use is rice straw, because I can also place it on the paths in-between beds for comfortable barefoot walking without getting my feet dirty. It's inexpensive, and I haven't noticed many weeds growing out of it for the several years I've been using it.

A downside of straw is that it makes a pretty good home for pests, bad bacteria, and bad fungus. However, good management of other aspects of the garden should mitigate these kinds of issues.

Make sure you are not purchasing alfalfa, or any kind of hay that's meant to be consumed by animals, if you are instantly applying it to your garden.

Ask the cashier specifically for their oldest, most weathered bales. Not only are they cheaper, but they also work better as a mulch.