What 'affordable' materials could I use for mulching?Reader submitted

I'm getting in to some mulching in the garden and wanted to see if you have any tips and tricks on what affordable materials to use? I hate paying for mulch and usually try and flag one of those tree felling trucks down and pay $20/$30 to get the wood chips to use!

 

29/11/2012  2:21 pm  by PenelopeM

If you've got a compost bin, compost is the easiest and cheapest.

 

29/11/2012  3:23 pm  by Jason

We do have a compost bin but tend to dig that in to the soil before planting, would you suggest leaving some on top too as mulch?

 

24/01/2013  9:34 pm  by Milotech

Make sure you leave any fresh wood chips to decompose for about 6 months. If you put it on your garden fresh, it sucks up all the nitrogen out of the soil as it rots which will be detrimental to your plants. Compost is great as mulch as is a mix of dried grass clippings (make sure you haven't sprayed weed-killer), a few old coffee grounds and old chopped up leaves. Even shredded newspaper is great, I've heard, just water it well so it doesn't blow away and don't use the shiny, coloured paper.

 

25/01/2013  11:04 am  by Jason

Thanks for the tip on fresh wood chips, I didn't realise they need to decompose first, will have to find a space to leave them for 6 months now!