Straw mulch is a good choice, following a careful weeding. My experience with straw mulch in those years where I had the gumption to use it, was a much more uniform soil moisture and actually better bulb size. Around here I prefer wheat straw if I can get it. Otherwise oat straw carries more weed seed.

Great answer OldDutch, thank You very much! I will be ordering straw mulch tomorrow, it's too late here to do that now :). I expect it the next day, and hopefully I will get that under control. I will let you know how I'm doing. Thanks again for the prompt answer!

-Bosko

I mulch with ground up leaves in the early winter after the tops have started up. By the time spring comes around, the mulch has worked down a bit, but it keeps the weeds down well. I never noticed any affect on bulb size.

Great drmbear! The key thing is, it won't hurt the size... thanks.

I will add that I am in zone 7, we have a fairly mild winter usually, I plant where I have good drainage, and it gets hot enough in late spring that I don't bother removing mulch like I read many do. My larger varieties of regular garlic are better than 3-inches across, and elephant garlic 4 to 5-inches across.

One other mulch I have used in the past, but do not have enough lawn for these days is lawn mowing long grass and fallen leaves together in the fall, bagging them and setting aside tied off bags for spring. You get a mixture of green and dry (nitrogen and carbon) that has already started to work by the time you want to mulch in the next growing season.