Can straw mulch be used in a vegetable garden?

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 7, 2013

Q: Is it OK to use straw as mulch in a vegetable garden ?
Thank you.

Shawn

A: Wheat straw makes a great mulch for vegetables. I would avoid oat straw because it tends to pack down and repel water or baled fescue pasture straw because of the weeds.
Darrell Blackwelder

County Extension Director
Rowan County Center

North Carolina Cooperative Extension