If you need a biodegradable mulch mat to reduce weeding chores on your crops, consider the paper-based Weed Guard Plus. This weed-barrier mat comes in rolls 35 or 46 inches wide, and unlike petroleum-based plastic mulches, it will biodegrade over the season. To install it, roll it out, sprinkle it with water, then rake soil up over the edges (or you could cover it with a layer of nutrient-rich grass clippings). WeedGuard is certified for use in organic production by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Cost is about 70 cents per 10 foot section.