Sorry for the double post but also wanted to suggest white pine shavings as a cheap mulch. A bale (okay, not remembering how big it is but it's big) for about five bucks. Make sure it's white pine and not cedar, and make sure to water so the shavings don't wick the water from the soil, but it is lightweight, cheap, and very easy to use. Cheaper than straw I expect. Feed stores and farm stores carry it; it's used as rabbit bedding and kennel bedding and the like.
