Don you might try the black landscape fabric like I have around my squash, it keeps the weeds out and holds the moisture in. I run soaker hoses around all my plants so it is very efficent when watering them. Also you have to keep your squash sprayed with sevin or the bugs and vine boarers will kill them quick. I also plant a second crop of squash so I will have them all the way up till frost.

You can also use a thick layer of pine needles like I have around my tomatos it is cheap and at the end of the year you can just till it back into the ground.