Hello all!

I bought a new house a few months ago, and the backyard had been neglected for 10-15 years. It was originally landscaped with lots of vines, so I've been ripping them all out now, while it's cool enough to work, and the ground is soft. Also, I will have PLENTY to do come spring, so getting as much as possible pulled out now is a priority.

Now I have large sections of the yard that are nothing but mud. I would like to cover them up with something for the winter, so the puppy and I don't track too much mud around. I will likely be adding compost and planting grass in most of that area this spring. I was thinking straw would be the best material to use to cover the mud for now, and would be easier to pick up again in the spring. I wanted to check first and see if there's something better that I don't know about. I don't have a lot to spend on this project right now, so the cheaper the better. ;-)

Thanks for the help, guys!