Zeedman, I'm really grateful you mentioned that. I had rats nest under a tarp last summer, and have not checked the garden area I tarped this fall hoping to kill weeds. I don't want that to harbor rodents, even if they help to destroy the unwanted vegetation, but the LAST thing I want is to risk my garlic to winter mice. So tarping instead of mulching is off the table.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
