There are many materials that you could use as mulch, from those grass clippings (free) to straw ($6.98 per bale) to shredded leaves (free) to wood chips (from free to $3.33 per 2 cubic feet).

Mulch should be a minimum of 4 inches in depth, or newspaper or cardboard could be put down first and then covered with other material about 2 inches in depth. The newspaper/cardboard provides the light block that helps suppress the unwanted plant growth that a thinner layer of mulch cannot.

Stones, rocks, could be used as mulch, however they do tend to soak up solar energy (heat) and can cause problems with plants that may not like that extra heat.

Any good garden center will have a fairly good selection of mulch materials.

kimmq is kimmsr

thank you

Is there anything special I need to do with those grass clippings from my lawn? Do I just leave the clippings out in the sun for a day or so and then put them in the garden? Must they be mulched over a second time with the lawnmower?

will this pile of dry grass in the garden, when wet, turn into slime over time?

I would never use gravel in a vegetable garden. Shredded wood mulch will work but you don't want to dig that in so the next time you plant you'll have to rake it back. Straw, leaves, grass or a mixture of any of those is best as it will decompose into the soil during the season, feeding it.

Put grass clippings directly in the garden, just not too thick. No need to re-mow, in fact the coarser the better. Put on the bagger if you have one, or use the side chute and mow toward the center of the yard so you can collect them in a row. Start with a couple of inches of mulch and add more the next time you mow if you want. If you put them down too thick they can mat down and block water flow.

I assume you don't have your grass sprayed with herbicides. The clippings can be toxic to garden plants.

No I do not spray my grass, though I do apply a fertilizer with properties to suppress dandelion, crabgrass growth, etc. Is that still ok to use the grass?

Am i correct that I should not touch the grass directly to the stem of the plant? I read something like that on this forum, though I think they were talking about wood mulch, not grass. Can cut grass touch the bottom stem of a plant? thank you for your help toxcrusadr

Granular weed n feed has the same stuff as spray on, likely 24D and dicamba. However with spray on, it's on everything at least for a few mowings. It just doesn't kill the grass. Granular of course goes into the soil and is absorbed by plant roots. I can't say for 100% sure that granular forms are only drawn up by weeds and not grass, but I use granular every couple years and I mulch tomatoes and peppers with grass/leaves mix in the spring and I've never had a problem. If you put it on a couple rains/mowings ago I think you'll be fine. I always warn people in case they had ChemLawn spray it a few days ago, that's certain death for the garden.

Always good to leave a little space around the stem regardless of what kind of mulch you're using.

When a "weed and feed" fertilizer is used on a lawn the manufacturers, and the universities with turf management schools, suggest not using the grass clippings as mulch for at least two mowing, although three would be better.

Mulches should never touch plant stems, no matter which material is used.

kimmq is kimmsr

you can purchase bales of straw at ranch supply stores, horse feed type stores. Be sure it's straw, not hay. Hay has weed seeds. There's different types of straw, barley straw is most commonly sold, at least around here, but it's cumbersome because it's long and gangly. Run the mower over it to chop into smaller sections. It works great, I use it in all beds and large containers. Be aware tho, some folks have wind issues with it and hate using it for that reason. For me, it works. YMMV. Good luck. m