Mulching is the best way to maintain a healthy, weed free vegetable garden. In this post you’ll learn about the benefits, what kinds to use, when to apply it, and get lots of great tips for mulching your vegetable garden.
For many gardeners, weed control is a huge chore, and one of the biggest challenges they face while growing vegetables. Weeds can quickly take over your garden, and your summer.
Some people even give up on gardening all together because the weeds are incessant. But weeding the garden doesn’t have to be so time consuming.
Before I started using mulch in my vegetable garden, keeping up on weeding was a nightmare. One summer it was so bad that I couldn’t even find my tomato plants in all those weeds.
Once I discovered how easy it is to use mulch to prevent weeds in my vegetable garden, I’ve never looked back.
Can You Use Mulch In A Vegetable Garden?
Yes! In fact, one of the best ways to control weeds in your garden is to add a thick layer of mulch over the soil.
It’s standard practice to use it for controlling weeds in flower gardens and other landscaped areas, but many people skip the vegetable garden.
I think one of the reasons for this is because common options, like wood chips and rock, are too heavy for the vegetable garden.
Since you need to dig and replant your veggies beds every year, you would need to take the added step of removing the heavy mulches before tilling, or they get in the way.
Benefits Of Mulching A Vegetable Garden
Mulching your vegetable garden has many benefits, and using it to control weeds is a major one.
But not only does it prevent weeds, it also prevents water evaporation. A thick layer of mulch helps to keep the soil moist longer, which means less watering.
It also keeps the soil and roots cooler so plants are less susceptible to drought conditions in the heat of the summer. Plus it can even help to lessen the chance of many common pests and diseases.
Organic mulches add nutrients to the soil as they break down, improving the soil quality and attracting worms. Plus, it adds a nice, finished look to the garden. All of these benefits add up to a healthier, more attractive plot and less maintenance for you.
Related Post: No Dig Gardening 101: How To Start A No Till Garden
What Is The Best Mulch For A Vegetable Garden?
You should use natural, organic materials that will break down quickly and can be tilled or turned into the soil each year.
The best part about using natural mulch is that you can mix the different types of materials, and use whatever you have on hand.
Plus, most of the time you can find the items around your yard, or even get it from all of your neighbors. Here are a few examples of the different types of options…
Learn all about choosing the best mulch for vegetable gardens here.
When To Mulch Your Vegetable Garden
The best time to mulch your garden is in the spring before the weeds have time to become established.
I also like to add a fresh layer over my vegetable garden after I’ve pulled all the plants in the fall. This helps to prevent fall and early spring weeds.
Don’t worry though, you can add it to your vegetable garden at any time. Just be sure that you remove any large, established weeds before spreading mulch so that they can’t grow back through.
Tips For Using Mulch In A Vegetable Garden
The steps for mulching your vegetable garden are the same no matter which types of materials you choose to use. Here are some tips for how to apply it:
- For best results, add a 2-3” deep layer. Anything less than 2″ won’t prevent weeds from growing, and mulching much deeper than 3″ could keep water from getting to the soil.
- When mulching plants, avoid piling it around the trunk or the stems. Piling it around the base of plants can cause the stems to rot, or hinder their growth (especially seedlings). Try to keep it about an inch away from the stems of plants.
- Natural, organic materials will break down much faster than heavier wood mulches. So, you may need to reapply more than once or twice per year. I apply straw for mulch over my vegetable garden in the spring, and then spread leaves over the top in the fall.
To learn exactly how to mulch a garden step-by-step here.
Mulching your vegetable garden is the best way to save time and energy. Once you get the hang of it, your soil will be healthier, and you will have more time to enjoy them. After all, who wants to spend all their free time weeding and watering?
More Posts About Vegetable Gardening
- How To Design A Vegetable Garden Layout
- How To Prepare A Garden Bed For Planting Vegetables
- A Beginner’s Guide To Companion Planting
Share your tips for mulching a vegetable garden in the comments section below.
Leslie Stuart says
I have used a variety of options to control weeds. Previously used “salt hay” which is awesome, but I can no longer find it anywhere. Then I had been using landscape fabric which works for weeds but is more time consuming when planting. This year, using straw, but it has seeds so I have to pull up sprouts -even if it says it’s sterilized. My first choice would be salt hay because it has no seeds, but I will continue to use straw, it’s a very pleasant surface in the garden.
John says
Hi, I have an area I want to plant vegetables in come next spring (it’s oct. now ) there are a ton of weeds I tilled 3 times and the seem to be growing back again . Since it’s starting to get cool now (I live in New York City ) can I place cardboard down then add organic mulch on top of the cardboard to make sure it kills most of the weeds by spring ? Also do I need to remove the mulch before I plant the vegetables seeds into the ground so not to kill the vegetable seeds . Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, fall is a great time to use either the no-dig garden method or try making a lasagna garden with specific layers. The cardboard will kill the weeds and grass, and everything will break down nicely by spring for planting your veggies. There’s no need to remove the mulch before planting your vegetables, you can just brush it back in the spot where you want to plant something.
jon says
what about using hardwood shredded (and aged) mulch as is sold at plant nurseries and Home Depot? WIll that pose any problems for vegetable plant growth?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hardwood mulches are too heavy for a vegetable garden. The larger wood chunks don’t break down as quickly as the lighter mulches I mention in the article. So when you replant the beds ever year, there will be large chunks of wood in your soil which isn’t ideal for veggies, especially root crops.
Gail Bohlman says
I put chopped straw down on my raised vegetable bed this year. 2 issues that were a problem – the wind (have lots in AZ) blew it all over the paver path, artificial turf & rock mulch in the surrounding yard – even into the AC unit. Then the birds delighted in making nests pushing the straw and dirt out of the bed. We tried to enclose in bird netting, which helped the wind issue but the determined birds found their way in. Suggestions as an alternative?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You need to keep the mulch wet after laying it down over your veggie garden, or yes, it can blow around. Also, it should be a thick layer of mulch which, once wetted down, will be heavier than a very thin layer (and also more effective at keeping the weeds from growing). Here’s a list of options for different type of vegetable garden mulches that will give you more ideas.
Turquoise says
What about following years? Do you rake out all of the mulch to plant your new seeds and seedlings? Or just push it aside for each seed and drop the seeds in?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I turn the mulch into my veggie garden soil every fall and apply a fresh new layer.
Doc says
You said cardboard or newspaper can be used as mulch in vegetable garden. Can you explain how to do it.
Appreciate,
Doc
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can simply lay large pieces of cardboard or sheets of newspaper (several sheets thick) over the top of the soil and then wet it down to make it stick. Alternatively you could shred the newspaper before spreading it over the top of the soil. But for both of those mulch options, it’s best to weight them down because if they dry out they can end up blowing away in the wind.
Heylids says
Is a mix of white birch and maple mulch good for your veggie garden? Can it be added in August/September and will it breakdown by spring?
Thank you very much
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the wood mulch is made of large pieces, then I don’t recommend it for your veggie beds. While it certainly could work, it can take several years for the large chunks to break down. Heavier mulches like that are more suitable for perennial beds and permanent landscaping areas, rather than a vegetable garden.
Elizabeth says
I love using mulch in my beds, but I use it sparingly. I am hesitant to apply a thick layer because I worry that my seedlings won’t be able to pop through. How can I mulch heavy enough to prevent weeds while still allowing head room for my seeds?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I lay the thick layer of mulch down before planting my veggie seedlings. Then I brush it aside in the spots where I want to put them, just enough to get them planted (you can see my holes in the mulch in a few of the photos above). If you’re spreading it after planting, then just spread it around the plants, leaving a couple of inches of space around the base so it’s not right up against the stem.
Kelly Markow says
Do we worry about unwanted bugs with mulching?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Usually bug infestations aren’t caused by mulching. But since it does hold moisture longer, slugs can become a larger problem.
Jocelyn says
Yes-i used straw and was inundated with slugs 🙁
Amy Andrychowicz says
That can happen with any type of mulch. It’s because the mulch makes the soil stay moist, which unfortunately can also create a breeding ground for slugs. Not always, but sometimes it can happen. Here are some ways to get rid of them.
Kelly Markow says
Is peat moss more acidic than pine needles?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Both of them are mildly acidic, and really don’t add much acidity to the soil.
Patricia Paterak says
Can you use peatmoss as a mulch in a vegetable garden?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Peat moss is acidic, and most vegetables like alkaline soil. While you certainly could use it to mulch your beds, you should test the pH of the soil regularly to make sure it’s not getting too acidic.
Jennife says
New to this mulch things on a vegetable garden… so my question is…when you water with a hose or it rains… can all that water get down into the soil and not get trapped in the mulch ( and then evaporate)?? Or when watering am I supposed to try to water each plant individually where there is no mulch…hopefully not a really silly question!
Amy Andrychowicz says
There are never any silly questions! 🙂 The beauty of using mulch on your veggie beds is that the water soaks in easily, and the mulch holds it in the soil longer. So, you won’t have to water as often as you would without it. The best practice is to water only the plants, rather than over the top of the entire bed. Not only is it better for the plants, it will help prevent disease and weeds. Here’s a detailed post that will help you out… How To Water A Vegetable Garden, The Right Way!
Smith Anna says
I put black mulch around my vegetables. When I till the soil won’t everything biodegrade?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, the mulch will decompose over time, which is great because it helps to feed the soil. The reason it’s best to use a lightweight mulch in your veggie garden is because they break down much faster. Heavier wood mulches take much longer to break down, and leave large chunks of wood in the soil, which isn’t ideal for vegetable beds.
Lissette says
I usually grow zucchini, eggplant, squash, and tomatoes in my vegetable garden. Can I mulch my garden with oak leaves?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, oak leaves would make a wonderful veggie garden mulch!