Best Mulch for Vegetable Gardens on Clay

Straw is ideal: it suppresses weeds, allows soil warming, and tilts in easily at season’s end.

Why Not Wood Mulch

Wood mulch keeps soil cool, delaying fruit set. It also ties up nitrogen as it decomposes.

Straw Benefits

• Light, porous, warms quickly.
• Adds carbon to clay when tilled in.
• Inexpensive and weed-free if sourced well.

Apply 3–4 inches after soil warms in spring.