Why to Mulch and Best Natural Mulches

Mulch is one of a gardener's most useful tools! This video covers why to mulch, how to mulch and my favorite natural mulches to use in the vegetable and fruit garden- as well as pros & cons of each.
Related Videos:
Natural Weed Control for Gardens: • Natural Weed Control f...
Improving Clay Soil playlist: • Start with the Soil
Cover Crop in the Home Garden playlist: • Cover Crops in the Hom...
Some of the links included here are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. I will only recommend items I love and should you choose to make a purchase, it helps support the channel! Thank you! 💚
Hortisketch Garden Planner and Garden Manager (use my code JENNA5 for $5 off) - gardensavvy.com
My favorite, long-lasting seed starting trays: allaboutthegarden.com/?sca_re...
A.M. Leonard Horticultural Tool & Supply: amleo.idevaffiliate.com/184.html
HISEA Garden Boots shrsl.com/41ell
North Spore Premium Mushroom Starting Supplies (use my code GROWFULLY for 10% off): bit.ly/GROWFULLY
Lomi Composter: lomi.sjv.io/e43XYz
Dripworks Irrigation: www.dripworks.com/?ref=Growfully
Omlet Chicken Coops and Supplies: www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_kee...
The best workwear for women: Dovetail Workwear- (use code GROWFULLY for $10 Off): www.dovetailworkwear.com/grow...
RX Soil Testing (use my code “growfully” for 10% off your order): rxsoil.com/nutrients?source=g...
Growfully Amazon Storefront (products I use): www.amazon.com/shop/growfully...
00:00 Intro
00:50 Benefits of Mulch
04:16 Types of Mulch
04:32 Leaf Mulch/ Leaf Mould
08:30 Grass Clippings
10:10 Wood Chips
13:13 Hay Mulch
15:33 A Word on Cardboard
17:00 Cover Crops/Living Mulch
18:41 When NOT to use Mulch (or use carefully)
#zone6gardening #ohiogardening

[@johnodonoghue651]

This is the best vegetable gardening channel on KZbin

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow, thank you!

[@yogininamaste]

"For the love of God people NO mulch volcano" LOL I had to play it again laughing. Thank you for great sense of humor and great tips.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😆

[@sherlynshelton7541]

​@@GrowfullywithJenna kppmllpp 12:29

[@rickrhoduscarolefrazier-rh565]

I have to THANK YOU Jenna! Starting a NEW garden spot in a home just moved to. Didn't want to go buy expensive colored mulch at a local landscaper, Hundreds$$$ delivered - I'm also in Ohio, county road crews are out cleaning out overgrown roadsides. They were right across road from my place with HUGE wood chipper & dump truck chips going into. Bravely asked the guys "where do you take those chips?" I got them to GIVE THEM to me - helps them, helps me - they'll dump right next to my compost pile. So NOW I'll have probably all I need for new garden. Looked into that free service you talked about, but was worried I'd end up with 20-40 yards and didn't need/want that. This will probably be 8 yards worth of mixed hardwoods, shrubs/bushes. So glad I asked.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's awesome!!

[@gooseberrydell8095]

Yes!! ..Breaking leaves down before piling them for a future compost pile is important. Otherwise it takes three years before the leaves are completely composted. ..Maple leaves are the very best for composting.

[@priayief]

Mulch is magical. One of my "learning moments" in the garden was when I deeply mulched (with straw) a raised-bed strawberry patch in the fall. It was a particularly warm spring, and I planted my tomato and pepper seedings in mid-May. It was the first week in June when I realized I saw nothing appearing in my strawberry bed. I decided to investigate and remove the mulch to see what was going on. Wow! The soil was still frozen solid! Great practical lesson! Until that time, I had never realized the insulating properties of mulch.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes it is!

[@j.b.6855]

My favorite is leaves, Maple leaves specifically. I live in a town that has small leaf maples lining the streets. Leaves are plentiful and driving around on a couple of garbage days in the fall gives me 20-30 bags of leaves with no work gathering them into bags. They tend to break down fast even if they are not chopped up.

[@dustyflats3832]

Wish I had maples. I have oaks. They seem to never break down unless thrashed and my leaf thrasher bit the dust. And they are acidic.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

A fantastic resource!!

[@virsapiensfortisest922]

Great idea!

[@annaginger6000]

​@@dustyflats3832 I also have 100 yo oaks and I use the leaves for mulching shrubs. Blackberries, currants. They work great and sooner or later they decompose anyway

[@marthalowe1556]

Where do you put them, the leaves, while they are breaking down?

[@CarmenHyde]

I have always been in search of a gardening channel that explains things and shares the same garden zone. Yours is the perfect fit! Love your channel!! Thank you for all the hard work you put into it! - Carmen in northern Indiana!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow, thank you, Carmen!

[@fxm5715]

I've been using shredded brown cardboard mulch in my vegetable garden for years, and i love it. Along with all the plant and soil benefits, it's free except for some of my time in non-gardening months. The I generally use shredded leaves and grass in my compost pile. In the fall, I'll top dress with a few inches of compost, then cover that with three inches of cardboard mulch. Come spring, I just move the much aside to plant. Both the compost and cardboard have been incorporated into the soil by the next fall. Anything left, I just cover with another layer of compost and mulch.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Great tip- thanks for sharing!

[@lindmarcella]

Great idea. Do you shred it or have you found a source?

[@fxm5715]

@@lindmarcella I use a Craig's list 19 page shredder I got for super cheap years ago. If you are methodical, it goes pretty fast.

[@reginaldanglin4264]

OK OK ❤ I can do that. First time community garden. I just removed straw from raised beds. Told it's not good. Either tarp or mulch will do. So I use cardboard instead. Any suggestions. Excited for spring. growing

[@TheStanglehold]

Living with clay soil in northern Illinois, this is one of the best explanations on mulch I’ve ever watched. Thanks.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@lynnejenk1083]

U saved me! I dumped full leaves on my garden beds last fall. I kind of knew that wasn’t a good thing, so I WAS going to till them in my beds! Now I know I need to remove them, chop them up and let them decompose (out of my garden beds) before using!!! Thank you!!! Whew!

[@Rayblondie]

Thank you for all your advice. I have just had an argument with my wife as she doesn't like me putting broken down leaves onto the garden. She said it is only for helping the type of soil and doesn't add anything to the soil and also that it hides slugs ans snails who eat the plants. After listening to this I am more inclined to stick to my guns but for the sake of a good marriage I have to find that place of love which is more difficult than the science of gardening.

[@Rayblondie]

I realise you gave the answer towards the end of your podcast in that I should leave the mulching until it get a bit warmer as the pests hide under the wet mulch and love it there. So I will clear off the leaves as she wanted but put them back on when it is warmer but also break them down a bit with the lawnmower. Thank you. You may have saved my marriage. Ha Ha. It appears you don't have that problem with no wedding ring.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad I could help with the marital disputes! And yes- I'm married too... no stranger to the challenges! 😄

[@thenoilkitchen]

This one is so packed with info. I learned a lot of new info and affirmed what we are already doing in our area.

[@diannafoster7057]

I love how all the birds were competing with you

[@Beaguins]

I'm glad you mentioned the slug problem. Too many mulch advocates ignore it. Thankfully my family has found that slugs dislike pine needles. My sister is lucky enough to have lots of pines and the slugs leave her needle-mulched garden alone. She also hasn't noticed any problem with acidification, which some folks worry about with pine needles. Also, I like that your leaf mold is in a heap instead of in bags. For all that's said about plastic not being biodegradable, the reality is that the bags decompose faster than the leaves do and leave you with a heap of leaves on the ground anyway.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Good to know about pine needles! Thank you for sharing this!

[@gregzeigler3850]

Just put some DE around your garden. Many insects do not like DE.

[@Beaguins]

@@gregzeigler3850 DE can harm earthworms, so I tend to stay away from it. If I get desperate enough I'll use it.

[@gregzeigler3850]

@@Beaguins DE is on top of the ground and around the outside of the garden. Worms tend to be in the ground...

[@cornflowertoile3026]

Would spruce needles work the same as pine?

[@sherihicks1427]

I recently discovered the joy of having *FREE* mulch, aka chopped leaves, and I'm so glad I did! My husband was skeptical. But I insisted. I covered my garlic bed with them last fall, and we covered the in-ground garden with them. My husband made two piles: one in the back of the yard next to the compost pile, and another close to the house. Very convenient. We've been adding them to the compost in layers with earthworm castings. Also, I've heard of people using the leaves for bedding for chickens and such. I first heard of this when I watched a video titled: "I prayed for fertility. God gave me leaves." It was eye-opening, and your video confirmed my choice. Thank you.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad the chopped leaves are working well for you, Sheri!

[@sharonmitchel1377]

I recently bought ez straw for our two 4x4 raised beds. Do you have any thoughts on this mulch?

[@user-jl5ru7or9o]

I use shredded cardboard for mulching, it works great and solves the problem of having a garage full of boxes.

[@northstar4851]

How do you shred cardboard?

[@fredrickvoncold]

I have recently started using leaves composted and grass clippings , Id say my garden has improved substantially.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear it!

[@southbridgeforestHOA]

All the tips below I got from sharing with local gardeners, they are your best friends! I call leaf companies in the fall and give them my address so they can dump the leaves for free. Also discovered a golf club community that rakes all leaves in the community up, puts them in huge piles to make leaf mold and then gives that away for free! Local saw mill gives away thier waste saw dust and wood chips for free, Lastly the county dump hires a giant grinder tub company to mulch up all the branches and tree logs they get and also gives that away for free.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing!

[@skyyramos3006]

Awesome tips thanks ❤

[@ByDesign333]

My worst garden foes are moles & wire grass weed, both L❤VE mulch! 😢 moles tunnel under it, and wire grass goes all through it.

[@michaelmarchione3408]

This is why I watch your shows, outstanding content with great explanations and examples. Enjoyed, take care!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, Michael!!

[@debrascott8775]

Mulched with straw this year in my annual flower and veg beds. Game.Changer. This was super informative, thank you!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear this, Debra!

[@kaf2303]

Excellent, complete guide to mulch hopefully more people will join us in this practice of organic gardening!

[@MrBig8Little]

This is my first time watching one of your videos and I must say you have one of the best voices! So clear and soothing to listen to with great content. Thanks for what you do!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow, thank you!

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Amazing info on mulching Mrs. Jenna. So happy so see you are doing so good with your channel. Got my garden up and rolling now. Remember to not forget us small guys out here. Stay safe my friend!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm so glad to hear from you CB-- and can't wait to check out the last couple of videos. KZbin has done it again-- not sending notifications even when I asked for them and I totally missed your start of the 2023 garden season video!!

[@Kate98755]

yes i use leaves to protect plants…this year i put a heavy layer where i know it will be muddy in spring, it did help!

[@malayaliinuk6426]

You are superb. A garden enthusiast from India in Uk. I collected fallen leaves from street using a mower last year and used straight away to my small orchard to suppress weeds and to increase water retention properties with a top layer of wood barks got from a Gardner for free.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you so much!

[@dadmezz4024]

Jenna, I have tall grass in my area. I cut all mine down and ran it through a wood chipper. It works great if you want a longer lasting mulch.

[@lindamurray1406]

Love your videos Jenna. Thanks! I’m mulching with uncut, large leaves this year… rhubarb, comfrey and dock mostly. I simply lay a couple of layers face down over any bare soil and up to an inch or two away from plant stems. I did a trial last year on a small patch and liked the result, so fingers crossed for the whole garden.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's a great idea, Linda!

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Excellent synopsis--thank you! I use a mix of leaves and grass clippings in my beds over winter. In the spring, I aerate it a bit before planting crops. It lasts as a mulch for most of the growing season. It has also improved the texture of my clay-heavy soil over the years.

[@cknlver]

You don't chop leaves? Just mis with grass clippings? Idk how I would chop leaves.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

@@cknlver yes, we use a bagger on the mower in the fall, which chops everything up nicely. We let the grass get extra long after the leaves have fallen and mow them together. It’s perfect.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds like a great way to improve clay soil!!

[@cknlver]

@@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn Thank you!! That helps

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

@@cknlver You're welcome!

[@Javaman92]

I play a little game when I watch your videos. I try to see if there is anything I can add to your presentation. Almost all the time you are so complete in your coverage of the topic there is nothing I can add. Once again that is the case. Our big mower has been broken down and when last I did get to use it the grass was so high that it left huge areas of cut grass laying on the lawn. I got my cousin's 10 year old to work with me raking it all up and putting it on my garden. But after watching this I think I will get out my awesome electric mower and put the bag on and collect up some more grass. Exercise and mulch at the same time. lol

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's a good game- it will keep my on my toes to try to make sure I cover everything! Sounds like a good job for a 10 year old! And that's kind of the way I look at push-mowing. Instead of wasting money to walk on a treadmill in a gym, I can do it for free, add resistance and get free mulch out of the deal 😆

[@craigdreisbach5956]

I normally watch youtube videos at 1.5 speed. I always watch your videos at I.0 speed...I don't want to miss any nuggets of info. I agree totally with leaf mulch/grass clippings as my #1 mulches. I also find that aged chicken manure (1 year old) is magnificent for flowers. (don't apply until in smells 'normal') Thank you so much. Craig

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's great to hear, Craig- thank you! Composted chicken manure is great stuff!

[@kennypridemore5466]

Love your vid's kid, keep up the hard work, gardening was never easy , but very rewarding , we all were gardener's at one time until the industrial revolution, now only 1% of humanity gardens , but the future is going to change that, and it's going to be very painful for most of humanity.

[@sw6579]

Practical and chock full of good info. Thank you!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@krissy1740]

Awesome video again Jenna! Very professional and informative! You are the best resource for gardeners!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, Krissy!

[@joannak4640]

I love how smart you are 😁 This was a very helpful video. Thank you

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, Joanna!

[@thomasrobb1398]

great job! you are a born teacher! by the way -thank you for knowing how to use adverbs in your sentences - most media presenters do not use adverbs correctly!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@chelseekpeace]

Thank you Jenna! 👏 👏 👏

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome!

[@ARSmith76]

My suburban house has two patches of ornamental grass that were here when we moved in. The grass has to be chopped down every spring, which is a chore I don't love, but it does provide me with a great free source of mulch for my garden beds, with no worries about weed seeds or herbicides.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

What a great resource!

[@Sandaway]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@esthersdaughterlong8149]

Thank you Jenna. Great information.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@bohemiangardensandgourdfar8812]

Loved this one. I use all the same things but like hearing about and seeing how other applications compare with my own... because of course there's always room for improvement. Thanks

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@audregarland1634]

Great tips as always!!Thanks Jenna!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@micheler.5]

Excellent video! You really covered it all. Thanks!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@janetwalker3541]

Hi, I live in a small condo with a tiny piece of land in the front and a bit bigger piece in the backyard. This past fall I put a thin layer of straw on all my small garden areas and this spring the flowers and chives did really well! I think it gave some nice protection from the snow and a bit of salt (on the edges from the condo maintenance). There must be some really good nutrients in this straw, as I bought it from a farmer. The only downside is it attracts critters like mice and voles etc. But I may still do it again this fall unless someone from the condo complex complains.

[@justsomeguy6133]

I use straw and shredded leaves on veggies. Love wood chips for pathways and around my raspberries, blackberries, and fruit trees.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes! They're great for bramble berries!

[@suziekeasthunt6272]

EXCELLENT VIDEO! This works!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@sunshinedunker3220]

I just found your video on KZbin. This is amazingly educational! Very informative and factual! You have done an excellent job of explaining all of the ins and outs of garden mulching. Thank you so much! I look forward to learning from more videos that you have put together so thoughtfully for those of us who are still learning the best way to garden in our climate, soil composition, and what we need to know to reach our goal more successfully in our own gardens. Thank you so much!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wow! Thank you!

[@tegoblue]

Just found your channel. Geez, you got great audio and I dont see a lavalier mic on you. How did you do that? Also your delivery is clear,, well-spoken. You should have your own tv show. I am with you on the mulch!

[@paulmcgonagle2998]

Jenna, Very well explained love your videos

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, Paul!

[@GreenfieldsHomeplace]

Excellent video. Just what I needed. Thanks, Jenna!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@a.d.3288]

Right to the point and concise, video full of great information, greatly appreciated. Greetings from another farmer all the way in Colombia, South America. God bless you farmer! (in my book the greatest title on earth)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you very much!

[@paulsherrod1365]

Jenna you are truly a kindred spirit.I agree with you on areas I have experience in. Like mulch on most points . Grass clippings and leaf mold top two. I plan to try some winter kill cover crops this winter.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😀💚

[@SinautaniTV]

Thanks for the information jenna.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

My pleasure!

[@phenixwars1]

This was really informative without being overwhelming 👍🏼

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad to hear this- thank you!

[@alicecostiuc1762]

One of the most helpful videos on using much that I’ve seen. Thank you!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tuxedocatpicasso8917]

Thank you! Great information as I have just planted my seedlings!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear you've just planted- best wishes for a great gardening season!

[@beerbuzz62]

Super AWESOME and informative video,Thanks bunches and keep em coming

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@charlesbale8376]

Love the information, great video.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@muahlakaparak]

Nice sharing. Love your garden

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks

[@albertmo1722]

Hi Jenna, I have been saving my grass clippings as mulches, thanks to you! Cheers, Albert

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's great!

[@krysthanh8932]

a beautiful farmer

[@mikefrench3800]

Great show girl!!! I'm a leaf mulcher myself. It's what I have. I did use a lot of wood wood chips last year. Work the leaves around seed planting but still worth the weed control.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks, Mike! Glad to hear that you're a leaf mulcher too!

[@thevikingwolfpack836]

Be ready for the cold weather coming this weekend out there.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

We had one chilly night on Wednesday- but otherwise it looks like that cold weather is going to miss us.

[@ronalddavis5905]

Great video Jenna, learned a lot, we live in Gladwin, Michigan.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks, Ronald!

[@dadmezz4024]

Hello Jenna. Here in Akron and getting back into gardening during retirement. My would in all sand and used chips and shredded paper, boxes, a and leaves that have bulked up the soil. The inked boxes and paper go around on one tap plants and they thrive just fine. Thanks for being a Buckeye.

[@barbnitecki4407]

Great explanation.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnclarke6647]

I do the same thing. I slope any remaining dirt into a bowl type container around new bushes or trees T direct any water back towards the bush or tree. I then cover the bowl with mulch so rain will not wash it away. If the bush or tree has a spiral trunk protector around its trunk then I spread the mulch all the way up to the protector. If not, I pull it several inches away from the bush or tree.

[@sewingbreesinger4831]

This was very helpful!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrs.t4382]

Good presentation, thank you.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks!

[@JeanneKinland]

Good quality content and presented very professionally.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@reality....]

LOVE! 💚

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

💚

[@illustr8life863]

Your garden is really big and beautiful! I loved the drone footage for scale. I used pine bark chunks this year as I just barely got the garden built before growing season started. I am collecting shredded leaves and grass clippings in a geo-bin to use hopefully in the fall. I also got a tumbling compost bin for kitchen scraps. My garden is probably about 165 square feet of actual growing space in raised beds along with a tiny fruit orchard in containers and flowers in pots and window boxes. Tiny patio garden. This was very informative and useful even for a tiny space. Thank you!

[@burntorangehorn]

Pine bark doesn't maintain moisture as well as regular woodchips and doesn't break down to feed the soil nutrients quite as quickly, but some people actually prefer that, because it will definitely last a lot longer than woodchips or shredded wood.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! Your garden sound lovely too!

[@tomcox5063]

This was a master class which encouraged me to start a new gardening playlist…. masterclass gardening. I will transfer some of my most important videos to this playlist. Intelligence is a most beautiful virtue, Thanks for sharing!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wonderful- thank you, Tom!

[@babagreg5555]

thanks very informative

[@palate6036]

Excellent video on mulching! I was going to buy straw for my raised beds, but now I’m going to save loads of money by using grass clippings and decomposed leaves for mulching. Thank you!

[@pang-ngiavang1956]

Very informative video. Thank you for sharing!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

My pleasure!

[@gardeningfishingjimw9364]

Good morning Jenna from Australia!! I use grass clippings, tree fern fronds (chopped up), small branches chopped with veggie scraps from the kitchen for my compost. For garden cover, I normally use sugar cane mulch which is cheap and is very beneficial for my raised beds. My beds are set up using hügelkultur in the base of the bed then I run with permaculture for the top half of the bed then the mulch on top. Around my beds is lawn which is cut and harvested for the compost heap, so the only things that go out in my green waste bin is weeds and rose clippings. Have a great day Jenna XX

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds great, Jim-- and I love how you're using whatever is available in your area, like tree ferns and sugar cane!

[@waynesell3681]

I'm clearing areas in my last fall leave mulched areas to plant in? Didn't get good germination of sunflower seeds. On a learning curve with this one. Thanks for your video!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Best of luck!

[@catiegrace5792]

Thank you so much for all the valuable information. Really great video well done 🙋🏼‍♀️👍🏻😄

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@sharimuhamad5905]

Thank you for a great info on mulching Jenna. I am with a comunity of gardener so 1/3 of the garden supposed to be grass and I use grass clipping as mulch for my vegetation area.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds great!

[@thebackyardlife475]

I would agree. Mulch is a game changer! I actually dig a trench in the middle of each bed and fill it with my leaves in the fall, along with throwing alfalfa pellets a few times on the beds. Then come planting time ill use a wood shavings mulch around the plants. Seems to work out pretty good. Used to have low nitrogen issues and I dont anymore so that awesome. Great videos as always.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@chiaraubertino8156]

Do you buy the alfalfa pellets? Is that to get a good C:N ratio?

[@ChloandSibs]

My favorite mulch is whatever I have on hand. I will use wood chips if I can catch a tree cutter with a full load. But more consistently, I use the mulch from cleaning out my goat barn and my henhouse each spring. I will use bales of hay that have been left out (alfalfa), grass clippings, or wood chips from the farm store if I have an urgent need to be quick.

[@gardenfunwithjane4897]

I live in a high desert climate in Utah. The only way to keep moisture in our soil is mulch. I love woodchips on top. It works amazing in my very dry climate. Thanks for a great video

[@zachb1494]

Same but I live in northern New Mexico. I use old tumble weeds ran through my shredder as mulch. Use what I have on the property.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tomm5228]

Great info, planting garlic a week and just laying grass clippings down 😊

[@pamstein1556]

Great video. I use grass clippings from my lawn and year old wood chips that have partially broken down in my veg beds. On the paths, I use fresh wood chips, but going to add the cardboard from now on. Hadn’t thought of that. Going to look into green manures, like the sound of that. Thanks for advice.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds great!

[@Kate98755]

i started chopping leaves, i use a vacuum leaf chopper tool…and then spread it out, mostly i started doing it to add organic matter to my planting beds…and it’s an easy leaf disposal… then i started seeing videos on this subject….here i thought i was this odd ball…nope, others are doing this! i found my friends! 😂

[@bjones8354]

Wow, that was a very comprehensive "mulch" video! I haven't done the cardboard boxes because of inks and glue. I do lightly mulch direct sow seeds with shredded pine bark and they do pop through. It keeps the soil from getting hard and crusty. Thx for another excellent video!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Good to know- I've not tried shredded pine bark!

[@dalipkumar4238]

Jeena your garden is very smart

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks

[@bhalliwell2191]

Grass harvesting, oh, yes. I've been looking to find that delicate point where I've maximized the garden space while also maximizing grass clippings. (The city has made part of that decision for me by decreeing that front lawns may not be turned into turnip or kale beds.) Too many of my neighbors enjoy "shooting" their lawn weeds with Round-Up, so I'd never ask for their grass clippings and I'm even a bit hesitant to take their raked up leaves in the fall. According to some expert authority, possibly self-styled, that juglone is supposed to break down and/or wash away in the rain within a few months if the leaves are composted or otherwise just sitting around detached from the mother ship (so to speak), and in my immediate neighborhood we have *a LOT* of walnut trees. A *lot!* From my own leaf-raking, so far no problems that I've detected from juglone, although I'm not claiming there can't have been any: only that I haven't *observed* any. I use a lot of leaf mold, which for me isn't free, but it's not unreasonable in price and it's easily obtained. Also growing as much biomass as possible, but again, there's that balance point to bear in mind. This year, broad or fava beans are being sown for the biomass and for the nitrogen-fixing and for dried beans for next year's seeds. I know this isn't as effective or as efficient as being able to plant a cover over the entire, tiny first-ring suburban garden, but basically the favas are being given a limited amount of growing space, and whatever nitrogen they can fix where they are, they'll fix, and as much biomass as they produce, I'm happy to get. A certain amount of space is being given over to white mustard this season, too, to bulk up the compost heap. Also a lot of Greek Gigantes beans; Red Ripper cowpeas, and a common bean in addition to the fava beans are being grown, and in theory none of them will cross with any of the others so we'll be able to save seed safely. The rest of the veg and the flowers will get tucked in here and there. And that's the plan (although you didn't ask in this video!) Many thanks for the reassurances on using cardboard as a mulch. Each quadrant of this garden (Huey, Dewey, Louie and Fred---we're going with Fred, definitely) has an L-shaped, right-angled path in it and those are right pains to mow, so we've decided to try another KZbin gardener's idea of using that space as a kind of compost-generator, laying down the cardboard, first, and then the garden plant clean-up litter from "tidying" the beds: very young weeds with no flower heads or at least no seeds, older leaves trimmed away from the growing plants, the "haircut" cutaways from cutting back chives, all that sort of thing, are meant to go onto the cardboard pathway in a sort of chop and *toss or place* to break down right there, and then get collected and used once all the scraps and such have decomposed where they lie, not unlike what you do with your alfalfa hay 'tiles' on your garden paths.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear you've had not problems with the walnut leaves. Working those fava beans, cowpeas and Greek gigantes beans in amongst your other crops is a great idea. Also love the composting paths idea!

[@bhalliwell2191]

@@GrowfullywithJenna We shall see how the composting paths work out for me this season. And please remember, I didn't originate that plan, but I make as sure as I'm able to pirate only the best ideas!

[@whatnow8362]

I’m mulching with mushroom compost this year because it wasn’t as finished as I wanted so I’m not mixing it in this year. Just laying on top of a layer of finished compost and it’s working great!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad to hear it's working great!

[@mickeymcdoogle119]

another channel was saying that mushroom compost turned out to be/make (?) things to salty and had to get rid of it all.

[@raynaldisugatamawiranata1578]

​​@@GrowfullywithJennaI plan growing mushrooms with mulch too any recommendations?

[@mohsen7021]

Thank you so much

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're most welcome

[@brucemullis479]

Perfect timing on this video. I was just looking for more mulch ideas. I have had good luck with fine pine shavings. Let me know if this is ok. I do have a ton of slugs and catterpillers here in the Florida panhandle. With that , the hot sun dries everything out fast.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I've not used them, but have heard good things from other folks using pine shavings in beds-- I'd say if you've had good luck stick with it!

[@vvolpe572]

I did notice when using straw this last year, that there were many 'sprouts' of seedlings popping up in my raised beds and in-ground beds. But, the nice thing is, I didn't have to struggle to pop them out- it was easier to remove them than my 'usual culprits' that show up. I am going to try to switch to alfalfa hay and see if there is any difference. Thank you for your informative videos and helping me grow more skills to make my raised and in-ground beds better and healthier!

[@jessicapante7974]

My favorite munches are like you wood chips, grass clippings & leaf mold. I also have used shredded paper!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Shredded paper is one I've not tried!

[@johnkosmas759]

Excellent video Jenna and thanks for the information regarding different types of mulches to use in garden beds, in terms of the flower weed, those are quite healthy and arent really a weed its actually a perennial (chicorium Intybus) especialy the ones you have in your fields the leafy ones are wild and you can eat them as a salad when you boil them and garnish them in olive oil and lemon juice as a side serve with your lunch or dinner. your videos are great! Greetings From Melbourne Australia.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing! Gotta love those edible 'weeds' 😄

[@cknlver]

I love this video! I needed this video. I'm in west central Ohio, and you would think that finding clean wood chips would be easy around here. It is difficult. Great video!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I've had a similar experience! It's been a little more challenging than I expected. I thought maybe I'd hit the jackpot when our power company sent a tree trimmer to come and chop off and chip all the branches near our power lines. After having 2 different people promise us they'd give us our wood chips-- they didn't actually give us any of it!

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

Thank you ❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome!

[@parabellum7961]

Thanks!

[@BackyardGardenFlo]

I use leaves and straws in my garden thanks for sharing ❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds good!

[@Utah_Mike]

I go for the free side of the mulch. Leaves are plentiful, I pick up straw after Halloween, and lawn clippings from my lawn (about 6-8 bags at least once a week), I only use from my property as I know what chemicals have been used. The straw is used in between rows.

[@krzysztofflis1847]

❤ thank you