Thought I would add...
I use straw, but I'm cheap. I go to the greenhouses and farms in the spring and they usually have a few bales that have been sitting around too long and got wet. They can no longer use it, so most of the time I get it for free! It's GREAT for the soil and it keeps the weeds down. I also like the fact that it's a darker brown and not so golden. I just find it more visually pleasing.
Another way to get mulch is to call around to your local tree removals or landscapers. They have to PAY someone to take their chipped branches and bark. Many of them will let you have it for free or only pay to have it delivered if you don't have a way to do it yourself. If you get them to deliver it in a hot sunny place, just let it sit for a summer in the heat, and you can use it in the fall and next year. It's not perfect like some of that stuff you get from the store, but it works just as well and keeps things VERY tidy.
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