Oh as to the cucumber beetles the cantaloupes will attract them just was well as cucumbers will so that will not make much of a difference.
On mulch. Use fall leaves saved over winter. Pine straw or just plain common straw that you buy in bales. Straw is better than hay as hay usually has too many weed seeds.
You can make it stretch further in the pathways by putting down afew layers of newspaper in the path and then straw on top. And yes leaves, pine straw and straw are all good to put around your plants.
You can also use grass clippings from the lawn provided you don't use anything like Weed N Feed on that grass. Don't put the green grass clippings directly on the plants, they get too hot as they break down.
On the posts make sure you get those U Channel ones. You will see those U channels on the fence posts which is how you attach the trellis netting.
Your doing great!!!!
