"Simon Stenkle" wrote in message
...
i was wondering if anyone uses hay as mulch in their vegetable garden?
will
it increase the weed problem if it has gone to seed?

Depends. In most regions the first cutting is usually a bit weedy for
most types - alfalfa, clover, timothy, brome, et al. Second cuttings of
alfalfa and clover are less weedy and the third cutting of alfalfa is
almost weed-free.

In the desert southwest (Phoenix area) the opposite is true. Early
alfalfa cuttings are pretty pure but when warm season grasses (like
giant Bermuda, aka devil weed) start to grow, the later cuttings are
progressively weedier.

So it's pretty hard to generalize about weeds in hay. I prefer wheat or
rye straw - not many weeds. Sometimes the cereal grains get through the
combine screens but the resulting wheat and rye sprouts are pretty easy
to control.

Olin