What is the level of humus, residual organic matter, in your soil?
What is your soils pH?
What is the nutrient level of your soil?
How well does your soil drain?
How well does your soil retain moisture?
What kind of life is in your soil?
How is the workability of your soil?
Many people do not seem to realize that the seeds from the straw they often use as mulch is just from the plant that the straw comes from, Oats, Wheat, Barley, etc. and that it is not a problem. Small compost piles do not get digested during the winter because there is not enough volume to keep the bacteria that digest the material working, or the material is quite wet and freezes deeply.

start by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension Service about a good, reliable soil test and then dig in with these simple soil tests,
1) Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains� too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.
to see if your soil is in good tilth.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell soil testing

Hey Terry, I would put a layer of cut grass around the asparagus as long as the grass hasn't gone to seed.

I've done that around plants before with nice results, just make sure it's a thin layer, an inch or two thick.

Kimmsr, I don't think the cut and paste really answers the question.