Mulch for my tomatoes

[beac]

Last edited Tue Jul 3, 2012, 09:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Now that the hella-hot weather has set in, it's time to mulch my tomatoes. In past years, I have used grass clippings for this, but it's been so scorching hot and unrainy (except for the OMG-Apocalypse-Build-an-ark-stat-Strobe Lightning! downpour we had last night) that the grass has not needed cutting in weeks.

So, with regret, I must turn to store-bought mulch.

I have the better part of a bag of cypress mulch bought for another project. It's a shredded rather than chunky mulch so it would be similar to the grass thatch I
I've created in the past.

Any opinions out there on cypress mulch and tomatoes? Any better, not-too-pricey alternate suggestions?


UPDATED TO ADD: I am growing all my tomatoes in pots, so weeds are not an issue. The mulch is only to prevent moisture from evaporating so readily.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. When and if I ever need mulch,

the shredded cypress mulch is the only kind I use. But I have also used shredded newspaper---if you have a paper shredder, just put newspaper through it. That is as cheap as it gets and it works---just don't make the layer very thick.

[NJCher]

2. cardboard

Bar none, the best mulch for keeping weeds down.

I get boxes wet and then cut to fit. I leave a 3-5 inch circle around the base of the plant for watering.

Once my cardboard is pieced together. I cover it with chopped leaves. Sometimes I use straw.


Cher

[beac]

3. Should have mentioned in my OP that I am growing in containers so

weeds aren't really an issue, only moisture loss.

I did try cardboard in the in-ground garden once. It definitely kept weeds at bay. It didn't decompose as readily as advertised.

If I'm ever up to the challenge of tackling that in-ground space again (it will need major tilling and at least one season of being covered completely to kill of the myriad weeds and Jerusalem artichokes someone planted once) cardboard will be back on the menu for sure.

[BlueToTheBone]

4. I use straw.

I put it under the pots as a mulch for the concrete to hold the water and to keep the pots moist. Press straw between the pots to keep the side of the pots from losing moisture and then lightly spread on the tops the pots. Don't cover the stems...sort of leave a little pool for the water around the base of the plant. And it's pretty. If you get insects that want to hang in the cool, spray with diluted pennyroyal oil and a dash of dish soap to act as the emulsifier.