Mulching Your Vegetable Garden - The Definitive Guide

Mulching Makes All The Difference! In our backyard gardens, just like in nature, bare and exposed soils are just no good. Walk through a forest or any natural greenscape and you'll won't see the naked dirt. Nature has designed seasonal systems and processes to eliminate exposed soils for protection and to keep the plant-soil interaction healthy and robust.
Same with our gardens. You soil is your most precious resource for growing the best veggies and fruits. You and the soil have to work three times harder when an exposed top layer keeps drying out, is prone to weed colonization, and the microbial activity is lost to the depths.
Let's change that today talk about everything MULCH! I'll give you my 6 key benefits of mulching your vegetable garden right now, as well when to mulch, how to mulch, and what to mulch with! Enjoy. :-)
2022 is the Year of the Garden! We deserve it after the last little while, and growing our own food and self sufficiency is just the reward we need to get back on track!
For more information on all your gardening questions, check out my other videos!:
How To Grow Strawberries!: • How To Grow Strawberri...
Fertilizing Strawberries: • Fertilizing Strawberry...
How To Grow Garlic: • How To Grow Garlic - T...
6 Benefits Of Hydrogen Peroxide!: • 6 Benefits Of Hydrogen...
Pruning Pepper Plants Experiment!: • Don't Prune Your Peppers!
Direct Seeding vs Starter Plant: • Direct Seeding Vs Star...
100% Germination?: • Seed Germination - 5 R...
Seed Starting Soil: • How To Make Your Own S...
Seed Starting 101, The Basics!: • How To Start Vegetable...
Starting Tomato Seeds: • How To Grow Tomatoes P...
Starting Pepper Seeds: • Growing Peppers Part 1...
Starting Cucumber Seeds: • Video
Starting Zucchini Seeds: • Growing Zucchini Part ...
Starting Corn Seeds: • Growing Corn - Part 1 ...
Starting Pumpkin Seeds: • How To Grow Pumpkins -...
DIY Ultimate Potting Mix: • Make Your Own Potting ...
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#gardening #mulching #permaculture

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2022, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening! Composting Tumbler! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39CgtYw Amazon USA: amzn.to/39Dha49 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3yLsKVf Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8 Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU

[@aidanspoekie]

Thank you, was awesome 😊👍🏽💚

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@aidanspoekie Cheers valerie! :-)

[@viper04af]

I put cedar shavings from wood working in my strawberry bed and the insect stopped attacking them !!!! it has helped a BUNCH I'm trying to source a good mulch now but I have 18 beds lol (some of it was fine so it is affecting the Nitro a bit but i just feed them more now lol)

[@shineyrocks390]

Paul Gautschi couldn't have said it better himself! Amen

[@juliaderi4175]

Thank you Jeff!! Where do you buy fine straw? I'm having a hard time finding it

[@OakKnobFarm]

don't forget you can grow things specifically to chop and drop, like comfrey, to make mulches. All of my rhubarbs get enormous every summer, so I cut off those huge leaves on the other ring and use them as a mulch

[@johnmilligan4260]

I am new to your channel, but would like to say that you are a fantastic communicator. You are providing a great service to the gardening public!

[@daviddials5750]

Ditto!

[@jackielambert7980]

Yupper!

[@kamalamohammed9700]

Ditto! Best explanation of mulch I’ve ever heard. I finally understand advantages and disadvantages of different options, Thank you!

[@gricinda3830]

Agreed!!!

[@andrewhayes2773]

Same. Dude is a natural teacher.

[@PeggyLeeSebeni]

This was the most succinct, yet thoroughly informative review on mulching I've ever seen. So many vloggers list their favorite methods, always indicating it's the best which just leaves me confused. Others just show themselves mulching & give a cursory explanation that it's important. You have spelled out why, what, when & how it should be done. You gave a complete list of materials, explanations & biological reasons for everything. Immulating what nature does is genius. Bravo, my green thumbs are both pointing up in appreciation of your excellent presentation. Thanks. Guess what I'll be doing first thing tomorrow. 👍

[@AcornHillHomestead]

I use all of our bagged grass clippings and straw to mulch the veg garden. It is astonishing how much less weeding I do compared to previous years. In the fall leaves and wood chips top my soil and now I have nice loose soil. Its sandy but much nicer to work than clay. I am in year 5 of lasagne gardening for veg, fruits and flowers. I love it. Most of what I learned was from selfless online gardeners like yourself. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Janette, that is so awesome to hear...keep it up!

[@fabianlewis6lewis249]

We could all agree that Jeff is a plant master so I watch him every day for my plants to be nice and healthy you should to because he is amazing 🤩

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Too kind...too kind! :-)

[@michellescukanec2359]

100% 🙌🙌🙌

[@emylytle7149]

I agree his very down to earth and kind and always reply to all comments and concern to make our gardening easy, in fact I haven’t perfected the garlic second year in a row but will try the third I just missed fertilizing them as he mentioned on his video 👩🏼‍🦳👩‍🌾 I like his energetic and knowledgeable how to. Excellent video in mulching, still can’t find straw, so fine wood chips are ok? Thank you again!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@emylytle7149 thanks Emy! Much appreciated! I don't like wood chips as a mulch for veggies... Could work ok for garlic though. Grass clippings and shredded leaves also work...

[@emylytle7149]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I’m saving al my grass clippings from my lawn, I tried to get some dry leaves from neighbors or parks, I can’t find any straw without seeds it’s hard to get it here, I don’t know why. But best regards to your family and happy gardening, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Learned a lot 👩‍🌾🙏🏻👍🍅🥦🥬🥒🍓🍆🥕🌟🌟🌟

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

This is a very interesting topic - there are lots of options, but some work better depending on the conditions, too. I think it's important to kind of find out what the experienced gardeners in your neighbourhood do and then try those methods first. Really nice review of some of the options and a good run down of the pros and cons. I am really getting into living mulches. Alyssum is a great green mulch. The roots don't compete with other plants, they are cute and self-seed. I'm also going to try to use basil as a living mulch around my tomatoes! Cheers, Colleen and Jason

[@nancywebb6549]

My “lawn” is made up of wild violets, white clover and grass. I use the clippings in my garden beds making a light application each time I mow. It has time to dry out before the next layer and works great.

[@Wellbaby94]

I’ve essentially gotten the equivalent of a college course over the past several months watching KZbin videos on gardening. I just discovered your channel and have to say yours are at the top in quality and thoroughness. So now it’s time to binge-watch! Thank you so much for helping us all grow better crops. BTW my “garden” consists of 40 fabric pots on my back deck (only sunny spot in our yard).

[@Randy_Smith]

Saw you using straw in several of your videos that I watched previously and I decided to try it out myself this year. I had used straw from a bale previously and it worked but wasn't very easy to spread because the individual pieces were so long. This year I broke up a pieces of a bale, fluffed it as best I could and ran over it with my mower and bagger. The end result is straw that is nicely chopped and super easy to spread. I'll try your suggestion about mixing straw and grass to see how that works. Thanks for sharing so much useful info!

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

I saw a chicken coop guy used his mulching machine to blow cut mulched straw into the coop!

[@Randy_Smith]

@@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594 I've been checking out chipper/shredders and think one of those would work great but I can't really justify spending the money with the relatively small amount of stuff that I need to chop. The mower and bag work great for chopping up leaves to use as mulch as well. Also, I filled about half a 50 gallon trash can up with straw and used my string trimmer to chop up straw and it worked really well

[@doctorprocter4225]

You don't wanna use just any straw, you never know what has been sprayed with by the farmer, to get rid of pests etc. And compost is not mulch. It is pretty much, super dirt. Packed with microbes and beneficial organisms.

[@lpmoron6258]

What worries me about straw mulch is the chemical residues it picks up from the soil where it is grown. If you grow it organic yourself that's better.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yup, but that's also the case with any mulch...

[@Pilotpaulie]

I’ll bet it hurt watching that soil run out of your bed for the video. Another great video man. Your editing has seen some serious improvement. 👍🏼

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh man, you bet it did... All for the sake of a video, lol!

[@gregspence4692]

HI , WATCH YOUR CHANNEL ALOT THANKS MAN . IF YOUR WATERING WITH A DRIP, DO YOU WATER ON TOP OR UNDER THE MULCH AND SHOULD YOU KEEP THE MULCH WET ALONG WITH THE SOIL?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Greg, thanks! I always water on top, drip, soaker, or manual. I like the mulch to be part of the action too!

[@sofakingbrill]

Fantastic and useful content , just the type of advice I need as a newby to vegetable gardening, thank you so much for sharing , I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to my next master class. Thank you

[@FairyRosee_]

Finally! An explanation of why my cantaloupe died immediately after I mulched it... with WOODCHIP MULCH. UGH. lesson learned.

[@lizzybarbosa6857]

I just moved to a pine forest area, can you share your thoughts on using pine needles as a mulch for vegetable and fruit tree garden? Enjoy your videos very much, thanks 👍

[@murdochag-iy5oh]

pine needles create an acidic environment quickly. i would not recommend using them.

[@jimaboughoche6191]

Hey Jeff, So what do you do in the fall or spring to amend the bed if you keep the mulch in all the time? Do you add compost on top of the mulch and mix it in and then re-mulch? Or do you remove the mulch,add the amendments then move it back? I'm just starting to mulch this year and I can't believe how little I'm watering my garden,almost doesn't seem right!haha

[@claudevanstraelen652]

You should be digging everything back into the vegie bed after harvesting. Nothing goes to waste or gets thrown away in home gardens. One needs to prepare the beds before planting (about three weeks before). Remove weeds (make sure you have a compost pit. Fork the bed over and add blood and bone. Turn that over too and leave it for a week or so then just before planting dig in some more new organic compost (which I get from my compost bin once everything is well broken down and turned over) or buy some from a reliable nursery. I have been growing my vegetables like this and it all works very well. Vegies love liquid seaweed fertiliser. I use lucerne for mulch. Good luck.

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

@@claudevanstraelen652 rabbit pellets are nice, too. Sold on EBay even!

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

@@claudevanstraelen652 rabbit pellets are nice, too. Sold on EBay even!

[@lolaseymour1532]

@@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594 Try going to your local fair in the fall & meeting a rabbit grower. Hook up for a local supply. Thanks for the tip. Bet you can guess what I'll be checking out at the fair this Fall.

[@giuseppecuratolo9595]

Please tell us where oe what type of that clear mulch you use is it straw for animals thank you please tell us

[@janiceknight9587]

I have been using shredded paper as mulch for my containers. when the season is finished I add to my compost bins

[@monikas5125]

I been doing it for years

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Perfect, same here!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@monikas5125 Me too! :-)

[@racebiketuner]

Great stuff! I live where it's dry and windy. I've learned I can save a lot of water by using more than 2 inches of mulch during summer. When temps get up to 85F, I use 3 inches minimum. There doesn't seem to be any benefit in using more than 4 inches.

[@debrao4756]

I'm confused: chop & drop, I thought you were supposed to clean up tomato beds after harvesting all tomatoes due to diseases resulting if you do not. Also, with leaves as mulch I heard once if you mix the leaves into the soil they reduce the available nitrogen. Are these 2 statements correct?

[@jimmcdowell9017]

Jeff, it’s hard to say how important and vital mulching is. It’s up there at or near the top. All gardeners will benefit watching your videos. Kudos!

[@tvsettv]

On the open air, all that mulch will be blown away by the average wind. This approach is similar to having a separate pot for every single plant.

[@648Roland]

I've used various types of mulch over the years from pea-straw, straw, un-sifted home compost and presently sugar-cane mulch which found easy to spread and takes awhile to break down. My garden is nearly 150 years old at least so seen many changes.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Same man! Gotta keep experimenting and evolving!

[@michaelatimciska4245]

Hi Jeff. I finally found straw to mulch my pots on my balcony garden. 😜 It works great. Except my balcony is so windy that I have to water frequently to keep it wet... Otherwise it blows away. The birds are thieving it too. :p I tried cutting up the paper pots that the plant starts came in and that works great too. Thanks for your advice again.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's great to hear Michaela! It'll settle and then really stick good.....take a couple weeks sometimes. Although the birds are another story...

[@viper04af]

maybe try some small hose (like from drip) and the stakes to hold it down ? and then you also just added drip lol

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@viper04af good suggestion man.

[@michaelatimciska4245]

@@viper04af it is a good suggestion...but I'm in a condo without a garden hose... drip gets expensive to set up.

[@francus7227]

#6 Weed suppression. The ones that do grow? They are MUCH easier to pull with the bulk of their roots anchored into loose mulch instead of compact soil. I tapped the thumbs up 👍 button to feed the algorithm monsters.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

So true Francus! Even if they do sprout, they're so much easier to pull up and deal with! Thanks for the tip AND the support! 🙂

[@BluishGnome]

When should I mulch? If I sow seeds, let's say at 1/4" deep in the soil per the packet instructions, then add 1" of mulch on top, will that affect how the seed sprouts? Should I mulch after the seed sprouts and is mature enough not to be crushed by the mulch (like wood chips)? edit: Nevermind... note for future self, watch the entire video before asking questions. 😂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

For shallow seeds (carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach) a super light mulch at first works best. It also keeps the soil moist for a better germination rate.

[@MovingBlanketStudio]

I'm afraid to go in my veggie garden. I think I might see this guy's head peering back at me.

[@kimber-leighdomiano901]

1st year mulching my container/elevated garden. Thanks for all the amazing!

[@tuliplangel4624]

Jeff, any mulches that you think would help to warm up the soil for tomatoes, peppers, etc….zone 5/6 here….I got plastic mulch, but would love something more natural…thanks

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Tulip, the green mulches can heat up as they decompose.... But it's not reliable and most times there ends up being extreme hot spots...

[@priayief]

An interesting and informative video. However, there is a good practice that wasn't mentioned. Due to its insulating properties, mulch will dramatically slow down the warming process in the early growing season. I realized this many years ago when I mulched my strawberry beds in the fall. Early the following spring, I noticed that my other unmulched beds were almost ready for sowing early crops. When I looked under the mulch covering the strawberries, the soil was still frozen solid. From that time on, I remove mulch once the risk of the extreme freeze/thaw cycle is over. Cheers

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

What zone are you in?

[@priayief]

@@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594 Currently in Canadian Zone 5B and previously was in 7A

[@markb8954]

Agree. Lets face it a good 2-4 inch layer of mulch acts like insulation would. In Summer it keeps the soil from getting baked hot, in Spring it keeps the soil temps cold/frozen. Soooo, a lot depends on what you are growing, when you plant. As usual - it depends.

[@LaRa-youknowit]

I used Straw and now I have what I think is wheat growing in my containers. So now I’m ripping it all out. I just saw a person using cedar wood chips for pet bedding. No dye or chemicals, and some say it prevents vine borers when used around squash and zucchini. So I’m going to try it.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yup, unclean straw will actually have hay in it. That stuff sprouts almost immediately. Gotta be careful.

[@iancrump2130]

Where do you get the bagged straw you are using?? Great show by the way.

[@viviantamara5889]

Hello I added what I thought was straw but it seems to be sprouting so I think it's hay. Where can I get organic fine shredded straw like yours for my veggies garden? I was told the bale I bought had herbicide as well. So now I'm going to remove and want to add the organic straw instead. Just not sure where I can buy it? Thanks for your great videos!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Vivian, sorry to hear about the hay. I always buy my straw locally. I'm not aware of any brands that ship it or places to buy it online yet...

[@sc3858]

What about cedar natural mulch?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I avoid it. Cedar has potent natural phenols. You can smell it right away. Fine for woody perennials, not so good for our veggie crops.

[@sc3858]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I live in Ontario, Canada, and I can't find fine straw anywhere. Also don't have enough grass to collect some grass cutting 😭

[@alyssa0411]

I’m interested in trying straw for a mulch but I’m getting mixed reviews from other gardeners online. Some people love it but others are saying that they’re dealing with a lot of seeds which are growing in their beds from the straw.

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

That is why he said he buys ‘clean’ hay, no seeds.

[@growmother8636]

Such an awesome video!! Thank you for promoting natural gardening and healthy soil! ♥️🌎

[@DustBunnnie]

Does Jeff ever stand up straight? lol

[@Andre-ct4fq]

I must say this was a wonderfully explained video! Thank you from a complete beginner gardener :)

[@lizbethliss101]

Can I use chopped cilantro as mulch? I have a lot that just bolting and don't want to waste it. Thsnks.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

You most definitely can Liz!! :-)

[@jacquelinehelton2197]

On the subject of wood chips, using it once it has laid for a year and putting g it in the garden in the fall at the end of season to mulch down and rejuvenate the soil. I've used it for the past 13 years and love all the beautiful benefits and healthy black nutrient rich soil it produces. I do add other things when planting to add to my gardens building blocks., no watering all garden season since I've been using the wood chips and have beautiful harvests and healthy plants. I do enjoy your videos of wonderful knowledge and will be using some of your ideas this year. Diversification is a garden dream;)))))

[@timadams8687]

Good day mate. I'm in Queensland Australia I use sugar cane mulch its much like straw and some grass clippings

[@mizzfreaky4525]

Hurray! The video that I have been waiting for 🤗 I think that what I've learned is that I probably need to start collecting leaves during autumn and save for the up coming spring in order to have any mulch during that period 🤔 as I said before, getting straw is hard where I live and during summer I have plenty of gras clippings. Its mulching material at the very start of the planting season where I have problems. Have you ever heard of anyone using spruce or pine needles as mulch? I do have a bit of land but with mostly evergreens. Thanks for yet again an amazing video 💚

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching! Collect deciduous leaves for sure. Pine needles are bit tougher.....they can work, people do use them, but I've found them to be a bit of a herbicide. You know? Whenever you see a pile of pine needles in a forest, almost nothing is growing in it.....there has to be a reason for that. Best of luck! Leaves for sure though!

[@mizzfreaky4525]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks for the advice 😊 I've will for sure prep for next season with leaves, and then go full on mulch mulch mulch in up the coming spring 😁

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@mizzfreaky4525 definitely! Once you get that mulching routine down, spring and winter, it'll become second nature and you won't even think about it

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms in SC I noticed many yards were mulched with pine needles.

[@nancywebb6549]

Pine needles are fine to use but they can change the ph in the soil. They are great for plants that like acid soil.

[@judithmoore6564]

If I use chopped straw and grass clippings should I work it into the soil as it degrades during the growing season and top off with fresh?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, it always becomes the next layer of soil.... Don't even need to really mix it, it will do it on its own

[@toniwehnert6488]

Where would you recommend purchasing mulch from? Is there a good online source?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I always get mine locally toni...I haven't found any good online sources. I'll keep searching though...

[@shineyrocks390]

I'm building a walapini greenhouse! I'm watching all your indoor grow videos. Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Shiney! Let us know how it goes!

[@mikaellindqvist5599]

I will never use grassclippings again because the worst damn weed i ever came across is all the moss i planted in my raised beds. So i you have moss be aware.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Never had any moss here! Thankfully! :-)

[@donnacochran3335]

The only thing about straw, just be sure it hasn't been sprayed with chemicals. I found out the hard way😭 you work so hard, loving on those tiny seeds, watching them grow, only to find them sick, stunted and very far from healthy. Where do you get your bagged straw? Thank you for your help.

[@cheesekake1841]

Yes, I agree totally. Same here I learned this the hard way. Luckily I pulled out the straw quickly after seeing the barley weeds popping up in my garlic containers... A few of those seeds were still in a container and grew alongside with my garlic until a couple months ago I realized they weren't garlic and they were taking the nutrients from my garlic! Where I am in the USA it's impossible to find clean straw without herbicides, so straw is not an option for me. I asked Jeff before where he could get such clean straw but so far I haven't got any answer from him. I think it only exists in Canada. We aren't lucky in the USA, the land of the poisonous chemicals! 😭

[@ed8ted8t]

I live in the city, but I am less than an hour's drive to a feed & seed stores that sells bagged and baled straw. I believe Jeff uses Gardenstraw distributed by Healthistraw. I'm using that and another bagged product too, organic and seed free! I bought a hay bale a couple of years ago - learned that is not the way to go. As Jeff said, weed seeds galore! I'm slowly using it up to cover up bare soil and smaller amounts in my compost bins. I believe Heathistraw distributes in the US too.

[@donnacochran3335]

@@ed8ted8t thank you so very much! I will look into that product!

[@hollyjordan1307]

Again another superior video. Thanks for sharing as always!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Holly, too kind! :-)

[@ikiruyamamoto1050]

Thanks for the video. Can you much right up to the stem of tomato plants? I've seen some other KZbin gardener say it could rot the stem. I don't know what to believe.

[@Mischiou]

Really, i love you for sharing this! I started growing my own tomatoes for the first time. I'm gonna mulch my tomatoes right now. Yaaay :-) Call me an idiot, but i'm really excited to see how it will turn out. So far your instructions have worked like a charm. Thks & greetz from Holland

[@alexpolidoro4126]

Thanks again! Question: I noticed you cut the kale right till the bottom of the stem. Does this mean it will re-grow again once spring turns the corner again ? I grow lots of Kale Rebor this spring and I am curious to know if I should pull out the entire plant once harvest season arrives ? Thank you.

[@jaysenperkins1550]

You forget one of the best, leaf mulch. It is free, incredibly abundant and effective.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Leaf mulch rules!

[@dollyperry3020]

Those are the prettiest strawberry blooms I've ever seen. What variety are they?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Dolly....they are Toscana. :-)

[@feliciabrasuell1997]

Thanks for sharing. I just found your channel and I am learning a lot. I am new to this and I have a QUESTION? Do you mind me asking what kind of straw you are talking about?????? THANKS

[@patriciaserdahl5577]

Thank you Great information 👍 I'm definitely mulching my garden beds n containers this year

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Patricia, all the best!

[@yes350yes]

So what do you call the straw you are using , doesnt appear to be baled straw??

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

It's advertised as "fine, clean, garden straw"

[@glow1815]

I just Mulched my garden and plants today with barks all i can find. With Phx heat hitting soon. It alrqsy 100 degrees currently. It's very hard to find starw here and grass even harder to obtain most homes are just gravel. Might be available at Nursery. Hopefully weh the temperature hits 115 or 120 it'll be okay i don't have to water it too offen. For Compose i just throw eggshells ans chopped Orange peels every time we eat we throw in there. Fertilizer i addeded fish fertilizer mixed with water. My mini garden is full of junks lol

[@annast9172]

Amazing informative video! I going to mulch all my plants now!

[@mudpiemudpie785]

I'd like to know where you get your straw. I bought seeding straw, for lawns. It supposedly doesn't have the grass seed in it. It's called EZ-straw. I bought it because it was chopped finely. It's for protecting your grass seed on your lawn, but I'm using it in my garden, and I've been pulling grass since I've started. Last year I used fine animal bedding shavings and it worked much better. But, I'd rather use straw than wood shavings because it breaks down faster. What kind of straw do I need to buy that isn't full of seeds?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I get mine locally.... The farmers separate it from the hay and sell both. Other than that I've had mixed results when buying online..

[@mudpiemudpie785]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks. Looks like I'll be going back to the animal bedding.

[@debrao4756]

Does this animal bedding straw encourage snakes and mice to live in it?

[@audas]

Wood chips extracting nitrogen is an urban myth - there are a thousand channels that have proven this - just don't mix them INTO the soil. And as a mulch - nothing comes remotely close to them - moisture balance, nutrient delivery, pest control - everything. You absolutely MUST add fresh nitrogen rich compost or other material between crops - but as you should.

[@brandonhorwath6351]

I have heavy clay soil that I could probably use to make pottery...Mulching deeply is step 1...

[@jeanpaeth7424]

Weed seeds were in mine..so I went to hay!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Best of luck Jean!

[@jeffnay6502]

Question about using grass as a mulch. If you use grass as a mulch. Wouldn't you also be planting, any weeds that got cut, while mowing your yard, directly into your Garden soil ???

[@EvaLoVerde]

I'm growing for the first time and OH MY THIS IS SO USEFUL! My mil doesn't do this and I've seen what not using mulch can do. I'll try selling it to her, fingers crossed. I'll surely do it with my very small garden

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Eva! Hopefully you can convert her! :-)

[@tokes2042]

Love ur videos, awesome content, only thing I dislike about them is ur rider ls gear! GO BOMBERS! Lol

[@gmax758]

Great information and love your presentation.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks, appreciate that! :-)

[@viper04af]

do grass clipping have to fresh cut? can they be dry ? also we have Johnson grass and it is toxic when it is green (but fine if dry) lol

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Dry is perfectly fine.... It's almost like straw.

[@marram2852]

Fresh grass clippings are great for some veggies but not all as too much nitrogen encourages leaf growth. This can affect peppers/tomatoes and even root veggies.

[@Susan.I]

What if your grass has weeds in it? Is it a good idea to use it, or compost it for a year?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I usually don't worry about it Linda. Unless you're mowing down a bunch of flowers with seeds, the grass itself isn't going to resprout.

[@Sense2024]

Smart guy with great information! Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Raymond, thanks for watching! :-)

[@petertgreen]

Where can you buy these bags of straw in Canada

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I get mine locally here in Victoria.....not sure if there's a national distributor...

[@sandyg3772]

HELP! Slugs have invaded my potatoes and have eaten nearly all of the leaves and stems. I found that they have taken up residence, and are raising their families, in the straw mulch. What can I do to keep slugs out of my beds? Are there particular mulch materials that slugs do not like?

[@mariocuka7766]

I'm sorry fresh cut grass is not! good around young plants. Use very sparingly and mix in with dry matter. Or dry it out/compost it a little before use

[@xxpatrick204xx]

I have straw infested with slugs. I assume i shouldn't use it with my rhubarb. Is it safe to use for mulching my honeyberry bushes? Or cherry trees/bushes?

[@alexmason1022]

Great video. But how do you deal with slugs? In my experience mulches provide a perfect habitat …

[@TiffsAmazingGrays]

This was the best much 101 video I found on here. Thank you.

[@emilybentz102]

What should I do with a flowerbed that has old mulch? My front flowerbed has been empty for years. The previous owners didn't have anything in it, but bark. Do I need to dig up and throw out all the old mulch to then mix compost and other good soil in our clay before planting and then adding a fresh layer of mulch? I did that with the vegetable garden in the back but I honestly don't think I can do all that for the flower bed this year. Would it be pointless to try and just plant in the soil as it is and cover with a new mulch?

[@A55-s9d]

Buy a wood chipper and a chainsaw. Prune your trees. Feed the cut branches and leaves into the chipper. Combine woodcips with cut grass. You will have the best mulch.

[@nancyrobinson6388]

great video! thanks for making it!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Nancy, thanks so much for watching!

[@lolaseymour1532]

Recently subscribed & this is one of my favorites that I have viewed so far! Wasn't aware that green grass could be used as a mulch. I had been letting it dry out. My bad.

[@judyingram-kh1vm]

I didn't either, been throwing it away. I haven't ever mulched my little pitiful raised veggie garden, boy I'm way behind. I thought grass clippings would mold or make grass a weeded would grow and kill my veggies. I have plenty of grass clippings. I'm sooooo excited.😂

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Very nice👍👍❤❤❤❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers! :-)

[@laurakuley3085]

This was amazingly helpful and your dramatic angles and pauses are an extra entertainment value.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, happy to hear that. Glad you liked and happy mulching!

[@michelemarshall5253]

Where do you buy your straw? I’m in Montana & they don’t have organic straw here! Please tell us!

[@jordanhuguenard8315]

I chop and drop Tithonia Diversifolia(Mexican Sunflower) perfect mulch and fertilizer 👍

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Awesome! Waste not, want not!

[@annenorris8350]

What kind of mulch do use and wear u buy those bags?

[@minnoux]

Thankyou for an informative video, it’s winter here in South Africa, I would like to put down a layer of compost to feed the soil, but I still have mulch in my beds where I have perennials, can I put compost ontop of the old mulch and then a layer of new mulch to prepare the beds for annuals. I’m pretty new at this and I suppose it shows!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I always just layer mine on top of one another minnoux. Depending on how think your layers are, it should be fine. :-)

[@minnoux]

Thankyou for answering, so appreciated x

[@csgowoes6319]

Just to add, I also do this, just dump the new compost on top of the old mulch, it gets you that "lasagna" effect where the mulch underneath will now break down quicker, although also what happens (especially in the case of straw mulch, which I use) is most of the new compost gets washed through the mulch by the winter rains and ends up under the old mulch anyway, so it's all good. Just remember to plant THROUGH any existing much layer next year, you don't want your plants trying to root into semi-decomposed mulch, they will struggle, you need to scrape right down to the soil proper.

[@minnoux]

@@csgowoes6319 gee thankyou for this it makes so much sense….the old mulch was fine wood chips, new mulch is straw.

[@brnwlls1518]

I'm really enjoying your channel and have learned a lot from you. Where do you get your fine straw from? thank you

[@dayzcamper8795]

Not sure how I feel about that hat.... ;) but this had all the info I was looking for. Cheers from winnipeg.

[@kiwiambo16]

Great video for an amateur gardner like myself.

[@catherineharris27]

Do you use straw mulching for all of your fruits and veggies? I use dark bark without the dye colored. I think using straw makes the plants look so beautiful and especially the bright green plants! Just beautiful. I would love 4 you to come check out my garden n strawberries and make sure I'm doing my garden correctly! You are a pro master!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Catherine! Straw, grass clippings, and shredded leaves (and mixes of all three!) are my go to mulches. :-)

[@dogg91702]

Do you ever use EZ Straw with tack? Is it safe to use for mulch in the vegetable garden?

[@dogg91702]

Where can you buy the straw for mulch?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I get mine locally nate.....from a feed barn.

[@mtd0766]

Can the grass spread disease in your garden. For example there are funguses in grass. There is no way to know if the grass is 100% clean like the grass you are using.

[@stefceline806]

Really appreciated this video!! Thank you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Stef, thanks for watching! :-)

[@doreenstrickland6585]

Should i mulch around my Asiac Jasmin? Will it spread over the mulch?

[@catejordan7244]

I found with the chopped bagged straw that it would very easily get mixed in with the soil when I was harvesting crops. For many people I guess that is just organic material in the soil to break down but I have also found that id I have high organic levels in my soil then I also have problems with spotted snake millipedes - lost most of my potatoes last year to them. Have you had problems with them or with anything else due to high organic content? I am also in BC

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Cate, never had a problem with too much organic content ratio...I'm always after the highest amount possible!

[@evanor1296]

I use sheep wool. And cover crops and shop and drop. Leaves and grass clipping depending on whats available

[@snowhite38]

Just discovered your channel tonight. I had gotten away from gardening, I was in the military and never home, but always had a couple tomato plants and herbs and hoped they didn’t die when I was away. Now that I’ve retired and purchased a house with a fairly decent lot size, I’ve started gardening again. Looking for some mulch and compost info I found your channel. I really enjoy watching your videos and love that you’re a fellow Canadian, luckily I’ve a lot of videos to catch up with so I’ll have new ones to watch for a bit. Thanks for the great content

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Sandra, thanks so much for your service!! Glad your home safe and glad you decided to get back into gardening! Welcome aboard!

[@marlenemartian2931]

What brand of straw do you use? I see so many online and really don’t wish to introduce unwanted seeds into my beds. Thanks!