@Sanguine
I haven't planted a garden that past few years, due to our drought in Texas. I think I will this year. Thanks for posting this.
I learned a valuable lesson about growing tomatoes. I put down wheat straw around the tomato plants to keep the weeds down, but that allowed the tomato spider mites to flourish. No more hay...just more hoe......lol.
Actually, last year was the best year re: tomato production I've had since 2011. Got an early start with the plants and had just enough rain before the heat set in....allowed a pretty fair harvest. Not near a good as I used to get in Houston, mind you. But still....fair.
I use hay for mulch in the garden every year and haven't had a spider mite problem.