Should I mulch my tomato and pepper plants? If so, with what?

I always mulch my tomatoes and peppers...and most of my veges and flowers...why? -it helps retain water...which means less watering for me (and my budget) - it helps prevent fungal diseases by preventing water from splashing off the ground to the leaves (one cause of fungus attacking)..tomatoes are very susceptible to fungal problems... -and, mulch stops weeds from growing..so, the more mulch in my garden = less weeding for me :) also, mulch is much nicer for walking upon, especially if the ground is wet...no mud on my shoes (really I'm usually barefoot) Kind of mulch to use: veges: straw (not marsh hay, it has too many weed seeds) or hardwood shredded mulch..with no dyes or chemicals...and you have to watch your soil for too much wood build-up if using wood mulch..or, you can collect leaves in the fall ( a whole bunch of 'em) and store them over the winter, in a fenced area, and use them for mulch...flower gardens: I only use hardwood shredded mulch, great for plants and looks great

Should I mulch my tomato and pepper plants? If so, with what?
Your local sanitation department or department of water and power probably has a program where they collect green trimmings from homeowners. They ofter convert this to mulch, which they often give away for free.
Reply:I mulch mine to keep dirt from splashing up on them. I have used grass clippings, leaves, straw and shredded paper. (I shred alot of documents)
Reply:Yes, Mulch them with any type mulch you prefer. Mulching retains moisture to the plant and reduces the weeds.
Reply:With a mulcher, but why do you want to shred up your veggies?

horns costume