A Good Reason to Use Alfalfa as Mulch

I'm pretty biased when it comes to using straw because it's just, like, what I've done forever.

However, in recent research I've found some great information regarding use of alfalfa hay, which is typically animal feed, as a mulch for your garden.

The reasoning is that while straw carries very few seeds, it is actually the least nutritious part of the plant. It brings almost nothing to your soil except some more mass.

The hay of alfalfa and other grains, however, is the most nutritious part of the plant. This means it contains the most value to add to your soil, the same way fruit and vegetables add to compost. It simply adds more to the soil because it's a food.

Of course, it drops seeds like no other, but this is easily resolved by buying your mulching hay a year in advance, and leaving it out to weather so that the seeds fall off. This way, it partially decomposes before use in the garden. Plan ahead.

Typically, less herbicides are used in hay, also.