I am using spoiled hay as mulch. When should I put it on? I have one bed left to plant and I'm wondering if I should put it on as soon as I plant the seeds or wait until they are coming up? It's hard not to smush them with it after they come up. But then, if I put it on before they sprout, will it hinder that? We have year round seasons here, so weather/timing is not the issue. I'm 1 degree above the equator so it's 12 hours day/12 hours night, all year round with not much change in temp either.  This seems like one of those dumb questions. Thanks for your help, as always.

PS – In addition to when to mulch, should I also cut the hay into small pieces or just leave it as is?

I was hoping I could mulch right after I plant the seed and they would just push up around/through the hay. Because I worry about damaging the plants as I'm trying to shove the hay all around them. I'm doing square foot gardening, so no rows, just lots of little squares. I think I'll put a thin, loose layer now, and then cut some up to add around the plants as they come up.

Thanks for the tips. Yes, it's great to be able to plant any time I want and not be bound by the seasons.

When adding mulch around young plants, I find it helpful to first cover them with a flower pot (upside down) or even drinking cups.  Whichever seems to be the best size to fit.  Then I can fling the mulch whichever way, right up to sides of the pot, and when I lift the pots, the little plants are unharmed.  Thought this might be of some help.

I mulch between the rows right away leaving the planted row or spots open. I put cardboard or newspapers down first between the rows too. The I wait until the babies are growing well before mulching around the plants. I usually have to do one careful hand weeding of the seedlings after they come up, then apply mulch around them.

I have used old hay for mulch and it works well.  Now I use shredded computer paper. It cheap and free and I have a continuous source of it. The small stuff is a great mulch. The bigger stuff blows away. Paper and cardboard are wood products, so they use up nitrogen as they break down but I always add a lot of manure to counteract that.

It's WHITE so it looks kind of odd at first, but it keeps the garden neat and tidy. It's also a lot lighter and so less harmful when just thrown around.

I live sort of near the commercial district at the edge of town. I drive through there on recycle pick up day and get bags and bags of shredded paper and cardboard. It's also a great chicken litter. Being a wood product, it uses up the nitrogen from the chicken poop as it breaks down, preventing the build up of ammonia. Something hay and straw do not do. Dry, fall leaves do this too. They make a good mulch, as well, if run over by the mower first.

Pete, I can't take credit for the idea, but I learned it so long ago now that I can't give proper credit for it.  Have used the tip for years now.  Hope that passing it along will help others too.

I also use the cup/ bucket idea over the plant when spraying weeds in my flower beds. It's especially helpful if it is windy. Then you can spray the weeds right up next to the plant without hitting the plant.