The question was raised in another thread, could a mattress be used in the same way as some organic gardners use old carpets ? The answer is of course yes. However the practical side of getting rid of old carpets after mulching is magnified by using a mattress.

I am not in favour of either method, whilst carpet is effective it is still insightly, and is harder to dispose of wet, covered in mildew etc. Straw is the best mulch as it can be allowed to rot or dug into the soil. By using a good thick layer of straw it is perfectly possible to grow vegetables WITHOUT DIGGING ! I have grown excellent crops of potatoes merely by lying them on the soil then piling straw over the top. Picking the crop merely involves moving the straw and picking the potatoes up off the ground. If you cannot get straw easily here are some alternative mulching methods. The point of muching is to conserve soil moisture and inhibit weed growth.

These following notes were prepared by a skilled gardner, not myself.

In a vegetable or fruit garden, the best mulches are those which will not rob the ground of short-term nutrients. Very thick mulches of organic material help to conserve soil moisture, but they also inhibit seed germination. That includes desirable seeds, as well as weeds. As very fibrous organic mulches decompose, they also tend to use up nitrogen. Fine-textured mulches such as fresh lawnmowings are best, especially for shallow-rooted raspberries. Well-rotted manure or very crumbly compost are also good. Do not apply manure to root crops such as carrots or parsnips, as it can cause fangy roots. Plastic sheeting is a good alternative, because this both warms the ground and helps to retain moisture. My own preference is to develop what is called a dust mulch. By regular, very shallow hoeing, I keep the weeds down between the rows of vegetables, and the dusty consistency of the frequently worked surface soil acts as a mulch.

Hedge clippings are difficult to rot down in their entire state but, if shredded, they become a valuable by-product. Their plant nutrient content may be negligible, but they have great potential for improving soil condition. When added to a compost heap or bin, their woodiness helps to keep the consistency of the rotting materials more open and friable. This helps to make the mulch or soil additive easier to use and less smelly. Thanks to their woody nature, chipped or shredded hedge clippings can also be used right away as a mulch. They will rot down very slowly if spread on the soil surface and, like any other mulch, will help to reduce the loss of moisture and supress weeds.