Where I garden, covering anything with a tarp (or any other solid cover) over winter is risky. Once the tarp is covered by snow, mice will likely nest there over the winter - and dig up anything buried there for food. Some years back, I lost an irreplaceable perennial onion that way; all the bulb tops were eaten.
When I cover garlic at all, I use marsh hay, or hay that I know is mostly weed free. Several farmers in my area grow a timothy & clover hay which I've had good luck with. It rained heavily the day after I put my garlic in, and the ground is still too muddy; so I'll lay the hay down when the ground freezes.
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