In this episode, we dig into the full lineup of organic mulches—straw, shredded leaves, wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings, and compost—as well as a shorter look at inorganic options like landscape fabric and black plastic.
For each type, you’ll learn how well it suppresses annual, perennial, and invasive weeds, how it handles moisture retention and heavy rainfall, how to apply it correctly, and what drawbacks to watch for in terms of pests, availability, and cost.
The bottom line: any mulch is better than bare soil. But the right mulch for your garden depends on your weed pressure, your climate, your crops, and your situation—and by the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to make that call. Let’s dig in!
Mulch Quick Reference
Best for annual weed suppression: Straw, wood chips, black plastic
Best for moisture retention: Wood chips, straw, compost
Best for slopes and heavy rain areas: Pine needles, wood chips
Best for soil building: Compost, shredded leaves
Best free options: Shredded leaves, grass clippings (herbicide-free), arborist chips
Best for soil warming: Black plastic
Avoid in vegetable gardens long-term: Landscape fabric
References:
Warnall School of Forestry and Natural Resources - Black Walnut Allelopathy: Tree Chemical Warfare: openscholar.uga.edu/record/22964/files/Walnut Allelopathy 11-10.pdf
Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville - Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential of Wood Chips for Weed Suppression in Horticultural Production Systems: ashs.org/hort/hort/published/rest/pdf-watermark/v1/journals/hortsci/40/3/article-p711.pdf/watermark-pdf/
University of Minnesota Extension — Mulching in the Home Garden: extension.umn.edu
Penn State Extension — Mulches for the Home Landscape: extension.psu.edu
NC State Extension Gardener Handbook — Mulching chapter: content.ces.ncsu.edu
University of Illinois Extension — Wood Chip Mulch: Landscape Boon or Bane: extension.illinois.edu
Cornell Cooperative Extension — Grass Clippings as Mulch: gardening.cornell.edu
University of Tennessee Extension — Using Leaves as Mulch and Compost: extension.tennessee.edu
Iowa State University Extension — Plastic Mulch in the Vegetable Garden: yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
Michigan State University Extension — Landscape Fabric: Is It Really Worth It: canr.msu.edu
ChipDrop (free arborist chips): getchipdrop.com
Resources:
Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com
Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses
Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop
Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/
Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething
Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething
Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething
Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593