Improve soil health and keep vegetable beds weed-free with natural mulchsome found in your backyard.
Mulch is one of the most useful materials to add to garden beds.
But what is the best mulch for a vegetable garden to use?
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Compost
Compost is one of the best soil amendmentsthat you’re able to use in gardens.
It boosts soil nutrient levels and improves the drainage of garden beds.
But compost is also a wonderful mulch and it will offer a lot of benefits in the vegetable garden.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Shredded Autumn Leaves
Some of the best mulch for a vegetable garden can be found in your backyard.
Shredded leaves contain a lot of nutrients that will enrich your soil and enhance earthworm activity.
One drawback of using straw or hay is that these products sometimes contain weed seeds.
To avoid this, be sure to purchase weed-free straw.
Keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot and keep pests at bay.
These materials can be aesthetically pleasing in gardens and they can work with a range of garden styles.
Many gardeners useno-dig gardeningmethods in their vegetable beds to keep weeds down and improve soil structure.
An important rule of no-dig gardening is to avoid compacting the garden soil.
This means your vegetable garden paths can stay weed-free for years with minimal maintenance.
