What's the Best Mulch for Your Vegetable Garden?

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: October 25, 2021 References

Whether you're new to vegetable gardening or you've been doing it for a while, you probably know that mulch is important! Covering the soil prevents weeds from springing up and it insulates your vegetables from hot and cool temperatures. Mulch also helps the soil retain moisture if you live in a dry climate and can prevent erosion if you live in a rainy region. If you're wondering what kind of mulch to use in your garden, check out our answers to common questions so you can get your garden in great shape for the coming season.

Question 1

Question 1 of 9:
What kind of mulch should I use in my vegetable garden?

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Grass clippings are free, effective, and look nice in the garden. As long as you apply dry clippings, they'll prevent weeds from springing up and air will still be able to move around the plants. You can always toss more dried clippings on the garden bed as they break down.^{[1]
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- It's important to use clippings from an untreated lawn since you don't want want to introduce chemicals to your vegetable bed.
- If you're applying clippings around delicate vegetables like lettuce, carefully spread the clippings by hand and don't push them right against the plant where they could stick.
2
Use straw for crops that prefer cool soil temperatures. These include cabbage and broccoli. Since straw is light and loose it allows for good air circulation between the vegetables. At the end of the growing season, it's really easy to mix the straw into the soil so it breaks down. This is especially useful if you've got clay soil that needs to be broken up.^{[2]
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- Keep in mind that straw doesn't last for very long. You may need to apply it a few times during a growing season.
- Although hay and straw might seem interchangeable, hay is grown specifically for feeding animals and straw is the byproduct of grain crops.
- Avoid using straw around crops that like warmer soil such as tomatoes or melons.
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3
Mix leaves into straw for an inexpensive mulch that prevents weeds. You can spread leaves on their own, but when they get wet they can make a soggy layer that sits on the surface of the soil. Instead, mix leaves into straw before you spread a 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) layer around your vegetable plants. The leaves add nutrients to the soil as they decompose and protect the soil from erosion.^{[3]
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- You can leave the leaves whole or use a mulching feature on a lawnmower to chop the leaves into smaller pieces.
4
Use shredded newspaper for a cheap mulch that lets air circulate. You've probably seen people lay down sheets of newspaper, but applying a thick layer can trap moisture and cause the roots to rot. To use newspaper, shred it up and arrange it around your vegetables. Keep in mind that if you always use newspaper, you will reduce the nitrogen in the soil.^{[4]
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- For a really effective mulch, mix shredded newspaper with grass clippings. Paper provides carbon while the clippings have nitrogen so when they break down together, they produce beneficial compost.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 9:
Should I use plastic mulch in my vegetable garden?

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Spread plastic mulch if you want to warm the soil and control weeds. If you live in a region that has a short growing season, spread the plastic mulch over your garden area to warm the soil. Then, cut holes in the plastic so you can plant your vegetable starts. You'll either need to water the base of each plant or install an irrigation system before you spread the mulch. Either way, you'll be able to put in a vegetable garden earlier in the season.^{[5]
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- Inorganic plastic mulch won't break down over time, but it will only last 1 season so you'll need to remove it and throw it in the trash every year.

Question 3

Question 3 of 9:
Can I use colored mulch in my garden?

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Yes—use colored plastic mulch to increase yields and manage soil temperature. You might be tempted to pick a color based on what would look nice in your garden, but researchers have found different results based on the color of mulch and the type of crop you're growing. You might use:^{[6]
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- Black plastic mulch for an inexpensive way to control weeds and keep the soil warm so you can plant veggies sooner and possibly get a higher yield.
- Red plastic mulch for higher yields of tomatoes, fruit, basil, strawberries, eggplant, and peppers.
- White plastic mulch to keep soil temperatures cooler, especially if you're growing peas, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
- Blue plastic mulch to increase yields of cantaloupes, summer squash, and cucumbers compared to using black mulch.
- Silver plastic mulch to deter aphids and cucumber beetles. It can also increase yields for pepper crops compared to black plastic.
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Question 4

Question 4 of 9:
Can I use compost as mulch and what's the best kind?

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Yes—the best compost is probably the kind you make yourself! Although you can buy bags of compost from garden centers and it's perfectly fine, homemade compost is just as beneficial for your vegetable garden. Plus, it's free and your garden will generate a lot of material to toss in the compost heap!^{[7]
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- If you're new to composting, check with local community centers or university extensions. Many offer classes on getting started with compost.

Question 5

Question 5 of 9:
Can I use wood chips in a vegetable garden?

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Wood chips are great for around the garden bed, but not in the bed itself. Covering the soil with wood chips makes it difficult for seeds to germinate up through the wood chips. Plus, it takes years for wood chips to break down in the soil. If you want to use them in your garden, spread wood chips on the walkways between raised bed boxes or garden plots.^{[8]
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- Putting down 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) of wood chips in your walkways is useful for weed control.
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Question 6

Question 6 of 9:
What kind of wood chips are bad for gardens?

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Recycled or dyed wood chips may contaminate your vegetable garden. Recycled or dyed chips are often made using wood that was commercially treated with toxic materials. For instance, wood chips might be sourced from construction and demolition (C&D) waste. If you do want to go the wood-chip route, check that you're buying wood that you can source.^{[9]
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Question 7

Question 7 of 9:
When should I mulch my vegetable garden?

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Spread mulch from mid-to-late spring or in autumn. Applying it early in the season can prevent weeds from popping up and it will help the garden retain moisture which can be really useful during the hot summer months. If you spread it in autumn, you'll still make it harder for weeds to grow, but you'll also insulate and protect the soil from erosion.^{[10]
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Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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- You can also apply mulch throughout the year if you've planted new vegetables that aren't established yet.
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Question 8

Question 8 of 9:
Should I put mulch in my raised bed?

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Yes—the mulch helps the bed retain moisture and minimizes weeds. It also insulates the soil so your vegetables' roots stay cooler in the summer. Plus, it's really easy to mulch your raised bed! Plant all your veggies and spread a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) layer of the mulch of your choice across the bed. Taper the mulch around the bases of the plants so it's not packed tightly around them.^{[11]
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- If you're planting seeds, wait until the vegetable starts have a few inches of growth. This way you can see where they're at and you won't cover them with the mulch.

Question 9

Question 9 of 9:
What's the best mulch to put around tomato plants?

1
Black plastic mulch is great if you want to raise the soil temperature. If you live in a region with a short growing season or temperatures don't get very hot, give your tomato plants a little help. Applying black plastic mulch around the transplants increases the temperature of the soil so the plant can grow a little faster.^{[12]
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- Black mulch also protects the roots of your tomatoes plants and helps the soil retain moisture.
- It's best to apply black plastic mulch early in the season so it can raise the soil temperature while the plant's putting on a lot of growth.
2
Organic materials are best if you want to retain moisture and manage weeds. Say you're in a hot, dry region—you may be more concerned that your tomato plants will dry out. Instead of using inorganic mulch like black plastic, spread weed-free straw, chopped leaves, compost, or newspaper. These help keep moisture in the soil and block sunlight so weeds don't spring up.^{[13]
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University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Division of the University of Georgia focused on research and community education
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- Organic materials won't warm up the soil like black plastic mulch, so wait until the ground is warm before you spread organic mulch around your tomato plants.
- As the organic mulch breaks down, it adds organic matter back into the soil so it's really easy to maintain and replace.
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