FAQ - Deep Mulch Vegetable Gardening (Ruth Stout Method)

TRANSCRIPT: backtoreality.org/2020/06/22/f...
In this video I’d like to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about the Ruth Stout method, and about growing no-dig vegetables under mulch.
Questions:
1. (1:00) Where are you located?
2. (1:34) When you say “hay”, do you actually mean “straw”?
3. (4:02) What do you mean by “spoiled hay”?
4. (5:29) Does deep mulch eliminate ALL weeding?
5. (6:40) What about weed seeds that come IN the hay?
6. (7:41) How much water?
7. (8:18) What about “unwanted visitors”?
8. (9:19) Are the potatoes less nutritious or less flavourful?
9. (10:05) Can you grow other vegetables like this?
10. (11:27) Make sure your natural mulch is ACTUALLY natural
Previous videos:
Plant Hardiness Zone, Rainfall, and Other Important Information
• Plant Hardiness Zones,...
Where We Get FREE Garden Mulch
• Where We Get FREE Gard...
Our Deep-Mulch Vegetable Garden After TWO MONTHS of Complete Neglect
• Our Deep-Mulch Vegetab...
Companion Planting Asparagus and Strawberries (No-till, Ruth Stout)
• Companion Planting Asp...
Spring Prep in our "No-Work" Garden, and an EASIER way to Spread Mulch
• Spring Prep in our "No...
Preparing our Hugelkultur Garden for Winter: Chop and Drop
• GGC - 73 - Preparing o...
The Ruth Stout Method of Permaculture
• The Ruth Stout Method
337 lbs of Potatoes! NO digging, NO watering, and VERY LITTLE work!
• 337 lbs of Potatoes! N...
Planting Potatoes in a Ruth Stout Permaculture Garden (QUICK and EASY)
• Planting Potatoes in a...
Results from our NO DIG and NO WATER potato experiment (Ruth Stout Method)
• Results from our NO DI...
Companion Planting Carrots, Radishes and Onions in a Ruth Stout (HAY-ONLY) Garden
• Companion Planting Car...
Results and Lessons Learned from our Carrot, Onion, and Radish Experiment
• Results and Lessons Le...
Winter Ruth Stout Permaculture Update and HAY vs STRAW
• GGC - 76 - Winter Ruth...

[@talesoftheredpill7542]

I planted garlic and bush beans together., and in separate patches...all the bush beans where eaten by the rabbits. But, they didnt eat any of the bush beans planted in the garlic.

[@gardenboots7464]

@Tales of the Red Pill That is E X C I T I N G news! Thank you.

[@talesoftheredpill7542]

@@gardenboots7464 your welcome

[@myidahohomestead.7123]

6th generation farmer in southern Idaho. Straw is specifically harvested when the seeds are ripe. Hay is cut mostly while the pants are still green and growing. The seeds are far from ripe yet. I used straw in my garden against my better judgment. I've spent hours pulling the grain that's sprouted that was still in the straw. Straw will give you 10 times the seeds in your soil as hay will.

[@tayleanruatha]

I found the same thing, thanks for sharing your experience with us all.

[@jamesrempel8522]

This has been my experience too. Straw in my area has tons of wheat seeds in it, makes for an unpleasant mulch. The seeds will sprout even in bales that are used as fall decorations, still in bale form.

[@happybeehoney3461]

Daniel. Is straw routinely sprayed with herbicides in the US like hay can be? I used hay a couple of years back and am still suffering the consequences of it.

[@myidahohomestead.7123]

@@happybeehoney3461 depends on the farm growing it. A lot of farms spray it with 2 4D. 2 4D kills broad leaf plants but not the grasses or grains. So they use it to kill the weeds in the grain fields without hurting the grain. It has a residue that call last a year I know. But not everyone sprays their crops. You need to find a farm you know doesn't spray. In my area I don't know of anyone that sprays their hay with anything other than fertilizer. But if it has been sprayed with herbicide you'll want to stay away from it.

[@jefftparker]

Idk. All they sell in Ohio at stores and Craigslist is "straw". I haven't had any problems with sprouting straw.

[@jameskniskern2261]

We are all learning as we go, my friend.

[@rifarmerbob4588]

When I was sowing potatoes this spring I had some left over seed tubers with no more room in the potato patch. I remembered your video showing how you Ruth Stouted some under hay, and I got inspired. I had no hay, but I threw the tators on the ground in an area near the wood line and covered them with a mound of last year's tree leaves and pine needles. I never even watered them, but sure enough, I have potato plants coming up. Unfortunately I won't be able to report on the final results as we will move before the fall harvest, but I'm guessing it will be a success. Experimentation is great.

[@yvesberube6067]

About 3 years ago I picked up a well used book by one Ruth Stout, hadn't heard about her prior to that but found it was the most logical gardening approach I had ever heard of. Finally this Spring I decided to put her method into action and have, so far, been very pleased with the results. I can also say, on beds where I direct seeded 'without hay', disaster! I suppose initially I didn't water frequently enough. I'm going to 'hay' them over and start those beds from scratch 🙃. My Ruth Stout, unwatered potato and turnip beds are doing marvellously! I couldn't be more excited! Thank you for this reaffirmation, I totally agree with every single thing you said. I'm in! 😃 ... Brenda, Nova Scotia

[@kellypatton2110]

We just love you’re incredibly informative and well designed videos! Growing potatoes via Ruth Stout method this year, thanks to you guys! Keep up all this glorious content! We appreciate you!

[@suedunlop3514]

Lovely to see you again Derek. I have been struggling with wind and rain on my plot in Wales, and ready to give up. But seeing your latest video had inspired me to keep growing.

[@jamesw6484]

My favorite person is back! I really missed you guys. Thank you for making videos! Can't wait for your next one. In the meantime happy farming🙂

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

When covering freshly seeded garden beds, we like to cover them with a feather-dusting of grass clippings (from my own yard, not sprayed). While purposely not enough to stop anything growing through it, it does help shade the soil, and coupled with overplanting a dozen or so types of food seeds, it ends up working out pretty well.

[@mairzydoats4879]

Your voice is so full of soothing inquisitive energy. Have you thought about a podcast where you talk about methods to practice observing and journaling our environment? So that even folks stuck in a studio apartment right now can start practicing the observation and documentation skills they'll need to thrive on their dream homestead?

[@manipurel]

I love his voice.

[@tayleanruatha]

Great video as usual. Enjoyed the comparative, experience based question responses. Also appreciate that you guys don't pump your videos full of filler and the crash course type animated examples are extremely good. Much appreciated. It's really helpful to have people share their hard won experiences, especially when your in the same latitude (ish) and zone. Many thanks and well wished from northern BC!

[@claudiaw9246]

You always explain everything so clearly, and the visuals really help! Thanks for doing the FAQ, it was very informative :-)

[@bobbiejeanesser864]

Love, love, love your videos!! I love how you explain everything, show your successes and "mistakes" aka experiences. And I especially like your graphics, demonstrating what happens under ground and over time. More videos please!

[@kevinjenkins2706]

Thank you Darrick (and Paula). Your videos are always good and very informative, but I suspect, it is not just because you research so much, or what you document. But it is very much because of your honestly and your character - your spirit seeking to a enjoy balanced life and your passion for sharing. - From my heart, "Thanks".

[@ohiotracker2609]

Absolutely some of the best, most researched videos on YT! Production quality is wonderful, such a pleasure to watch! I use card board between the rows & use different mediums for different crops. I use leaves, hay, woodchips & cardboard. Commercial mulch is a no-no as 90% of it has been treated. I do compost the leaves & woodchips for awhile as well. It has been such a pleasure learning about the Ruth Stout method!

[@kwall1464]

Really appreciate the clarity and care you put into your videos!

[@NagikunX]

I linked my mother (an avid gardner) to your other video about Ruth Stout Method a couple months ago and she decided to try it for her potatoes this year. They are doing absolutely amazing and we will probably be using it going forward. Thanks for teaching us something new!

[@gilshelley9183]

I appreciate your disclosures at start of video. You set a good example.

[@annjones3672]

Well, I have learned by trial and error that the location that Ruth Stout gardened (Connecticut I believe) and South Carolina where I live have pretty much rendered the "No Weed, No Watering, No Work" garden a myth. Every thing you said in the video is what I have found. The hay cuts down on the weeds but you must be vigilant about weeding every other day - at least in my garden! Keep up the wonderful videos and helpful information. Y'all are appreciated.

[@emilymarguerita2781]

I’ve found with wood chips as mulch I only have to weed every other week or so.

[@debbiegibson6113]

I am so glad you explained the difference between straw and hay. Thank you

[@marthasundquist5761]

When you do these informational Q&A type videos, even if it isn't looking like much yet...We'd sure like to see your garden as is at the time! Good points in your talk.

[@sherry2836]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Good info but would be nice to see the garden as the season progresses.

[@canaldelectura3200]

​@@sherry2836 they do have lots of videos of that in this channel... they have the start and the follow ups

[@canaldelectura3200]

they do have lots of videos of that in this channel... they have the start and the follow ups

[@MrDave8539]

👍

[@HelenRullesteg]

@@sherry2836 Yup, can only concur, a bit of footage from the garden would be great. Not that I don't trust what you are saying, but footage adds another dimension.

[@kosa-angrykpany6489]

I planted some broad beans in soil this year and when it grow to ~15cm I bedded a part with hay - this part came way better than not bedded one and require way less weed removal. Got inspired by Your video! Thank You

[@Iloveorganicgardening]

When I was a kid, I used to read Mother Earth News and organic gardening so I saw a lot about the Ruth Scott method. It made a lot of sense to me but I didn't have a supply of mulch to try it out. Now I am doing wood chip gardening which is awesome to. You are right about the herbicides in Hay. It also does through the animals and into their manure which can kill your garden even after its composted

[@paulsmart5199]

Half way through the year already. Thank you for another great video. Hope you are both keeping well

[@longarmsupplies]

Great video...I'm a middle aged farm wife from Alberta and I'd second every statement you've made...I'm only a few years into the no dig method so I'm still learning after planting my garden in tilled soil for decades. My best advice would be to get a personal relationship with the person supplying your hay or straw and ask the right questions before you use it. Those few questions and the trust that the answers are honest is paramount for good results. Even if one of our neighbors offers me old straw or mulch, I ask which field it's off and then ask my guys whether it's had spray on it or not, or if the straw will be weedy.

[@michigandave9680]

I vote for more Q & A videos. They are informative, well done, and I like them. Thanks for sharing.

[@ManWander]

as always... the info and style of presentation are top notch! keep 'em comin'!

[@elizabethmcdonald652]

I'm in US Zone 7 (north of Atlanta by about 45 miles). We live in a suburb that was once very rural and has many horse farms. I got a big bale of hay earlier this year from a local farmer, and we spread it on a plot in our garden to try this Ruth Stout method with potatoes. And, so far, we've been really pleased with the results. Out of about 20 plants, I've harvested five or so as they start to turn (these are all early/new potatoes planted March 7), and the results have been great. Eager to get another bale and layer on some additional hay for planting a new crop for fall harvest. (Also, as an experiment, topped hay layer with pulpy cardboard (the kind that comes in a case of wine), and planted tomatoes directly into holes cut in the cardboard (and filled with compost). So far, results are amazing! LOVE your conent.

[@manipurel]

You are aboot my most fav. canadian. Love your channel

[@zpoedog]

Thank you for making this video. I have been growing potatoes in spoiled hay and straw for a while (thanks to you guys) with great success. I got about 10 free bales of straw last year and let the weather have then all winter long. They were rotten by spring and I used the for my potatoes and everything looks good so far. I also do wood chips. (like the beard)

[@fallenangelwi25]

ALWAYS PLANT WITH 10% EXTRA IN CASE YOU LOOSE ANY!!!! WE JUST PULLED OUR FIRST POTATOES FROM ONE PLANT IN OUR RUTH STOUTH METHOD AND THEY WERE AMAZING 😍!!!!!

[@dailydough2956]

Your videos have the best animations!!

[@danecaldwell9470]

Hello from Baltimore Ontario! So excited I discovered your channel today! I now know what to do with last seasons left over hay. Thanks for the great content.

[@chiphungerford]

great video I may have missed this years opportunity to start a garden this way but it for sure is on the list for next year. Thanks and keep up the great content

[@frithar]

I enjoy catching up with you guys. Be well. Stay safe.

[@richardcordero9489]

Thank you so much for your honesty and simplicity...I really enjoyed your video!

[@barrysullivan59]

I'm glad you brought up your last statement in this vlog. Many users of hay,as a mulch or animal fodder have had HUGE problems with a chemical Grazeon. It's being sprayed onto hay fields as a broadleaf weed killer. It's then picked up in the hay. Even when used as a fodder it passes through the stomach coming out as manure where it lives happily for up to 2 yrs+. Unfortunately people are using this "composted"manure on there gardens and greenhouses and wonder why there tomatoes are dead. It kills ALL broadleaf plants. You need to ask the supplier if the field was sprayed before using ANY hay.

[@TheDevorah1836]

Oh my gosh look at you!!!!! This just popped up on my phone and when I heard the accent I immediately remembered following you when you were living in the Van. FARM OUT!!!

[@LBurnsy]

Love you guys! 👩🏼‍🌾💕👨‍🌾 good vibes your way!

[@DK-qx3lv]

Love your videos. Your a great teacher and speaker. Than you!

[@mikamika4456]

Thank you for sharing ! I really love the animation visual. Learned a lot as well. Please keep it going.

[@libbyjensen1858]

This is an excellent video, thank you! I'd love to see more of these. I am experimenting with wood mulch, leaf mulch and straw bales (which I cut apart and spread out for my second year-with MUCH more success). So far all of them have been great. The only issue I've run into with straw, especially in the bale form, is it provided excellent space for yellow jackets to build nests. Thanks to videos like yours I keep experimenting with better ways to grow food. Right now we're in a city but we hope to be moving soon to a more open area. Your videos will help me develop my garden there as well. Thanks again!

[@BackToReality]

Thanks so much for sharing, Libby! I'm really glad that your experiments have worked out so far! Please keep let us know how they continue to progress! :)

[@rainydaylady6596]

Good to see a new video. 🙂🖖

[@laceysnursery5080]

Absolute love this channel, wish I'd have found it sooner. One good thing, I got plenty of videos to watch over the next couple of days 👍🏻💯 liked shared and Subscribed.

[@treebeard7140]

Awesome. This takes a lot of patience trial and error!

[@jonathanvanallen1662]

You guys are doing some great work. It’s also nice to see videos from my area (5b Eastern Ontario). Keep up the good work.

[@Denpachii]

My main garden area isn't very big, about 10x20 feet, so I have bought chicken wire fencing to help keep out the bunnies and other smaller critters, then wrapped that with a four foot fence to deter deer. I use straw as a base during planting for paths, then more for mulch, heavy with the potatoes. For me Straw is more available in my area of Pennsylvania. All other mulch is cut grass over the straw, and in the fall, oak leaves with the grass to keep down the weeds next spring. When planting, clear and repeat. There is a horse stable near me, so free manure every now and then for the compost pile. I rarely need to water. Little trick I learned, but have not yet used, is use a blacklight flashlight to spot for Tomato Hornworms and similar critters. Last year I found 2 young Garter Snakes in my broccoli, bugger trying to catch them in the kitchen! It seems they were doing a number on bug and slug pests that year as there was very little plant damage to anything.

[@OldChief3854]

I live in East Central Mississippi. Our growing season is almost year round. We planted red potatoes starting in February and then added white and purple potatoes in hay. We've harvested a good number or red potatoes, some purples and a few whites. Also planted sweet potatoes and butternut squash in hay. Just harvested our first butter squash. Dewberry vines, millipedes and ants are out biggest enemies. A little permethrin spray solves the bug problem. This is the first time I've tried the Ruth Stout Method and I will continue in years to come!

[@DataSmithy]

Being in a small town, my best mulching option is leaves, leaves and more leaves. I can't believe how many leaves people actually want the city to pick up and take away. I just tell everyone that they are raking them up for me.

[@coleweede1953]

Chicago suburbs, my uncle runs a private business for municipal composting, so many leaves, bush and tree branches, and mulch

[@ursulapieper2939]

Love your videos, thanks! I am trying to keep out the voles and moles by lining my raised beds with a stainless mesh - the critters come from above! Since I started mulching the vegetables, they are growing much better. I use arborists wood chips, because that’s the cheapest available. Keep up with the informative and nice video, love to follow your story!

[@nancyplants757]

I love a heavily mulched garden. I pick up wood chips for free at my local dump. This is my first year with my current garden and it's doing well! Next year will be even better.

[@Greens5511]

Very straight forward answers! 👍👍

[@danihall3676]

We cannot use any of the hay or straw from our area because they are all sprayed with persistent herbicides. Lesson we learned the hard way. We use composted wood chips from tree companies and our system is mature enough now that we can rely pretty much solely on chop and drop. The fine Myakka sand that we started with is now rich soil! Thank you for sharing!

[@westbankproudus4008]

Great informative video. I am going to try this method starting this year starting with my first hay spread in the area I am going to use. Going to use several of your methods and veggies. All in my suburban "mini-homestead".

[@LivingRedefined]

Love your videos guys! Keep up the good work! Haircut looks great btw.

[@BackToReality]

Thanks so much! :)

[@LivingRedefined]

@@BackToReality We're just West of Algonquin Parl so know exactly what you're talking about with short seasons and the difficulty in this hardiness zone.

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Yes, I love the haircut, too.

[@brianandcarolelorenz8346]

@@BackToReality llklllllljhu

[@stilcrazychris]

YES, more videos please. I love your videos & I wish you would do more of them. But I understand if you don't. They are time consuming. Chris from Missouri

[@Picci25021973]

Really like Your videos, as I do love your humble and curious approach. Thanks for sharing! I found woodchip mulching simply wonderful for strawberries, just be sure that chips come from small and nutrient branches (I shred them by myself). In my area I have slug issues, straw and hay are not a good choice, but I harvest them for composting.

[@LadybugAdventures]

Love this kind of video.always learn a lot. Thank you.

[@emilymarguerita2781]

We’re using a mix of straw, grass, and leaves for our Ruth Stout bed. It’s going well so far!

[@donaldplumley5350]

goign to start this year with lawn clippings first, then leaves/hay in the fall.

[@coolanimestuff2617]

Beautiful video.. very useful. Thankyou for greate informations. This is my first year trying mulch and no dig. And so far..looks promising. :)

[@jwrappuhn71]

Excellent vid guys.

[@VincentArboriste]

Very nice and informative video! I am an arborist and young KZbinr north of Ottawa, in Cantley. I get literal tons of wood chips every year. I have been using it in my own veggie and fruit garden as well as for fixing soil problems around trees. But even though I shovel plenty of the stuff, I had never heard about farmer's lungs before. I will surely be more careful from now on. I really enjoy your video style. It's clear, concise and humble. We surely need more videos like yours on youtube. Let me know if you ever have tree questions or want to do a collab. ;-) Cheers from Quebec!

[@trevisaf]

Definitely seen the increase of slugs in my garden after using R-S method this year, but one benefit he didn't mention is that this method makes your garden soil a WORM SANCTUARY. I live in an area of Canada (same zone as BTR actually) with very clay heavy soil and the increased worm population is now making the soil much easier to dig through (especially since we didn't till). we simply laid the cardboard and hay before the winter came in 2019 and come growing season 2020, the earth was so easy to dig through to plant our crops into the ground. We have definitely seen more pros with this method than cons and will continue to use it when we can!!! Thanks to BTR for all their videos as that's how I learned about this method in the first place :)

[@beanperry]

I find that planting 1 garlic plant in between my herbs and tomatoes has kept them from being another creatures lunch

[@gardenboots7464]

@Jonathan Perry I'm a big fan of interplanting alliums with my other edibles as well. Yesterday evening I scattered some fresh onion greens on the topsoil around my tomato plants. Kind of a chop and drop to ward off pests! Hoping that it's effective!

[@southernsunset_farm]

I appreciate this video. We are using the Back to Eden method but are trying to use more hay because it is more readily available. I've been concerned about the weed seeds but have been keeping the hay under black plastic to help kill the seeds before using.

[@alexanderfenes]

Amazing work

[@lesliemouriquand9467]

This was very helpful! Thanks!

[@Sraccoon68]

Look'n well Derrick! Another great video also, thanks you!

[@zen4men]

Great presentation! ...... Thank You!

[@charlesbale8376]

Helpful and informative.

[@DinoX.gaming]

Inspired by your videos and permaculture principles we threw bean, radish, beets, pea, and kohlrabi SEEDS directly into new Ruth Stout beds. Very little composting has occurred yet, but everything has begun to grow! We're curious to see how they hold up root wise with no real soil yet developed. Thanks for the videos and inspiration to try new things!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Thanks. Love all your vids. I live on Long Island in New York state.

[@sydneywoodyard6541]

Thank you! Awesome video

[@manipurel]

best canadian youtuber

[@fxm5715]

As another data point and mulching option, I've been using a combination of fresh hay mulch from a meadow on my property for field planting, and shredded brown cardboard for the raised beds. I find the cardboard is much easier to work with around smaller, more delicate plants and is completely weed seed free. I have more than enough fresh hay from the meadow, so the excess gets composted and spread on the raised beds, before being topped with the shredded cardboard. The field crops are standard deep mulch friendly and deer resistant potatoes, garlic, onions, squash, melons, while the raised bed crops, like sweet peas, tomatoes, carrots, beans, herbs, are inside an electric fence. This has been working well for me in Zone 7 in the mid-Atlantic region.

[@ranchodiablaacres3967]

Solution: Use arborist woodchips. :)

[@downbntout]

If you're thinking about Paul Gautschi, the Back to Eden guy, I know. He fails to mention that he munches thickly on top the wood chips with the compost from his chicken pen. It gets to three feet thick and is full of chicken manure. That's why his stuff grows so well

[@rafaelnadal796]

Thanks for the explanation. Subscribed

[@kitsurubami]

wonderful video! very informative and logical.

[@raincoast9010]

Yup, i got a load of "killer compost" from the city landfill composting facility. Only after did i realize that they use lawn clippings in the mix and most of those would have some kind of "weed and feed" residue.

[@GreenLove1]

Sorry to hear this. How did you recover your garden after realizing you had used killer compost?

[@rifarmerbob4588]

Overall, I'm sure any food you grow in that soil will still be 10x better than commercially grown food with regard to pesticides and defoliants.

[@livingladolcevita7318]

yeah slugs seem to be the problem for me when I tried this method. I do however put a very light covering of grass clippings over my broad (Favor) beans when they are about 3 to 4 inches high to help surpress weeds until the plants are big enough to do the job themselves.

[@c4manke]

Whoa! Who is this guy? Been watching your videos for a while now, then all of a sudden there is this slimmed down buffed up lumberjack looking dude with the same voice on your channel. Well done man, good on ya.

[@ronevilla]

I learned a lot. Thanks

[@Blackhuf]

Awesome video! Looking forward to the next one!

[@sikamikan]

great video, thanks for sharing

[@TheWatching11]

Yes! Please do the follow-up video on the rhizomal grass! I have found the exact same thing here in NZ. Other mulching I've tried: 1. bamboo leafy tops as mulch: Didn't provide good enough coverage for weed suppression. The woody stems make it difficult to plant or weed and take ages to decompose. 2. leaf mulch in the greenhouse: Way too wet. Caused an explosion in slugs and some issues with stem rot when the mulch was pulled in too close. I also suspect it slowed down growth as it kept the soil cooler than it would be if it was exposed to sunlight. However, I do have several greenhouse frogs now, which is a cool. 3. cardboard + leaves to suppress convulvulus/morning glory: surprisingly successful after the second year of mulching. Down to two stems pulled this year for the entire bed (edit: down from hundreds). Cheers!

[@sunangel-rivka]

Using either straw or hay will yield an absolutely incredible amount of weed seeds. I found this out the hard way. Now I put down cardboard first and put homemade compost on top of that, about 6 in before planting. I am sure Ruth Stout method has worked for others, but I just don't see how unless you can find a source free of seeds.

[@kentopolishomestead8812]

I love your animations. Very cute.

[@VastCNC]

Leaves have worked great for me this year. We never water our potatoes and the soil retains moisture from rains perfectly.

[@ccccclark2605]

Location? City, state

[@NerdJourneys]

excellent video!!!

[@JudithBisson]

I’ve added egg shells that I’ve baked to kill bacteria. Surround the tatter with some shells then add the hay. I’ve done layers which has eliminated my problem

[@Farmerknowsbest]

I'm straight south of you along the St Lawrence. Have done a straw bed garden for 3 years now and have had far more successes than failures. This spring slugs invaded our garden as the drought became severe. We were forced to remove the mulch to save the vegetables and are now winning the battle. Each year is different and you must adapt.

[@kristyhowarth1624]

I cut a plastic bottle in half and put it in the garden bed cut end up then fill it with cheap beer. Has significantly reduced my slug problems.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

Great video Love your channel and your animation Thumbs up!

[@bethatz252]

Great info

[@timothylacroix6559]

Nice vid again! I'd love to see how you handle those grasses.... I have a similar problem

[@paulagardner3218]

I garden in a hot, dry, windy climate where wheat straw is readily available and cheap. I use it to mulch heavily and have found that it packs down just fine and will stay in place on my beds all summer and even through the winter. And, FYI, damp bales of hay and straw can spontaneously combust, so it's best to break up any damp ones.

[@lyndawillms4494]

Love the info you present and how you show us diagrams and explain things. Have you had anyone give info on what to do to prep garden for winter after having squash bugs invade winter squash with cardboard covering ground?We have straw covering beds next to the sqush. My plan was to cover the squash bed with straw once I clean up the dead vines. Concerned I will give the bugs a nice place to overwinter.

[@cordeliadinglehopper5993]

Very helpful.....Thanks

[@scrapshackfarms1349]

Grew garlic in the way you and the misses did and it turned out great! In your zone, please look into a small greenhouse with the weather the way it has been and going to be its going to be hard raising crops outside. I'm in zone 6 and experiencing issues now.

[@gearsofbaird3529]

I ended up getting an ad for rubber mulch right after this 😂 one of the benefits being that it doesn't decompose like wood mulch so you only have to apply once a decade

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

Technically, I would be using the same as hay. I mow a wild meadow with a rear bag mower. I would consider the main benefit of mulch to be moisture retention. Especially for shallow rooted crops. Even though we get a fair amount of precipitation, I found that bare soil, on a hot sunny day, dries out in a flash! WTR Slugs, I found meadow clippings mulch to have no effect on amount of slug damage Voles have tunneled but not damaged the crops. This last winter, the voles were extra active though. so we will see