What mulch would be best on my veggie patch?

[Herbsandveg]

I'm getting round to thinking I should use a mulch around my plants on my newly dug veg patch, and wondered what I should try as the answer to this. Could anyone advise me on this one, please? I could do with it being a fairly low cost option, so I don't think I'll be able to afford any kind of mesh unless it's very reasonable priced!

[zazen999]

What have you got? I use whatever I have. Sawdust, bark chippings, home made compost, leaves, dried up,weeds, grass, newspaper, cardboard, ...the list is endless.

[Aberdeenplotter]

What are you trying to achieve? keeping weeds down or feeding your plants?

[Two_Sheds]

Mesh isn't a mulch ....?

[horticultural_hobbit]

And with bark chips, some of the zap the goodness out and some of them retain it. No idea which is which.

[Two_Sheds]

^ not if they're laid as a mulch

[Snadger]

Try and make it an organic mulch rather than black plastic sheeting...........rant over!

[zazen999]

Shredded paper, coffee grounds, trimmings from pruning and chopping back another few...- the fruit trees got a mulch over winter of all the marigolds that had died off so the dropped seeds should be germinating soon.

[Creemteez]

I mulch my fruit bushes with pine needles collected from the local woods while walking the dog. Always have and old carrier bag in my pocket...