"Ended up switching to wood chips—heavier and less likely to wander off."
Wood chips are solid, but I've found straw mulch surprisingly effective too. It mats down nicely after rain, stays put better than cardboard, and breaks down quicker than wood chips...might be worth a try next season.
Wood chips are decent, but honestly, straw mulch can be a pain if you're dealing with heavy winds or storms. I've seen it blown all over yards after a good gust. If you're looking for something that stays put and breaks down nicely, shredded bark mulch might be your best bet—it's heavier than straw, doesn't wander as much, and still decomposes quicker than chunky wood chips. Just my two cents from projects I've done...
I've been thinking about shredded bark mulch too, but does it hold moisture as well as straw? I'm trying to keep my plants hydrated without watering constantly, especially during dry spells. Curious if anyone's noticed a difference in moisture retention between the two...
I've used both shredded bark and straw in my garden beds, and honestly, straw seems to edge out bark slightly when it comes to moisture retention. Bark looks nicer and lasts longer, but straw just seems to keep things damp underneath a bit better during dry spells...at least in my experience.
"straw just seems to keep things damp underneath a bit better during dry spells...at least in my experience."
Funny you mention straw—I tried it last summer, and while it definitely kept things moist, I ended up with a mini wheat field popping up! Did you have any issues with seeds sprouting, or was I just unlucky?
