CorseMachin
Hay will not give you a dry layer of cover that is pleasing to look at, but it is a great mulch for growing flowers and vegetables, and you'll get a fantastic yield. ... Mulching your garden with hay using this method may require a large quantity, but you won't need to add the same amount year after year.
- Can I use hay instead of straw in my garden?
- Can you use hay bales for gardening?
- How long does it take for hay straw to decompose?
- Can you mulch a vegetable garden with hay?
- Does old hay make good mulch?
- Should I use straw or hay to cover grass seed?
- How do you prepare hay bales for planting?
- What can I do with old hay bales?
- How do you start a hay bale garden?
- Is hay or straw better for compost?
- How long does hay mulch take to break down?
- What happens to Straw after grass grows?
Can I use hay instead of straw in my garden?
More often than not they contain weeds that you can inadvertently introduce to your property. I've seen such tenacious perennial weeds like thistle come into a garden as a result of their seeds hiding inside a bale of hay. Straw on the other hand, is much better for use as a garden mulch.
Can you use hay bales for gardening?
Hay bale gardens are perfect for gardeners with no space or poor soil for cultivation. Hay forms an ideal alternative to soil. Since the straw bale makes a natural pot for your plants, you can plant anywhere you have room for your bale.
How long does it take for hay straw to decompose?
According to 4Ocean, plastic straws can take up to 200 years to decompose, — way beyond our lifespans! For a one-time use, they last a very long time as most are not biodegradable.
Can you mulch a vegetable garden with hay?
Aside from well-aged compost, hay is arguably the best mulch for a vegetable garden. Like straw, it's a good insulator, effective against weeds, and breaks down quickly to enrich the soil.
Does old hay make good mulch?
But using hay as mulch has some surprising benefits. It does indeed break down, but unless you have a very wet environment it shouldn't get moldy. Instead, it will start to compost, creating a rich layer of nutrients for your plants. This is especially good for seeds and starter plants.
Should I use straw or hay to cover grass seed?
Straw is preferred to hay as a grass seed mulch because of its lower seed content. Straw is made of the stems of grass plants, while hay contains the stem plus the flowers and seeds. Still, straw will contain some amount of seed from farm grasses and weeds. These plants are undesirable in a new lawn.
How do you prepare hay bales for planting?
Before you can plant in the bales, they need some special preparation, so buy the bales at least two weeks before you want to plant.
...
The first week
- Water the bale thoroughly, until water runs out the bottom of the bale. ...
- Every other day, add more of the nitrogen source; water thoroughly.
What can I do with old hay bales?
There are a host of ways to use spoiled hay in your garden to improve your soil or protect your plants.
- Mulch. Spread spoiled hay under your flowers and vegetables as an organic mulch. ...
- Soil Amendments. ...
- Compost. ...
- Make A Garden Bed.
How do you start a hay bale garden?
For effective straw bale gardening:
- Use straw, not hay. Hay is made from alfalfa and grasses that still have the seeds attached, and these seeds will turn into weeds when the germinate and sprout. ...
- Locate the garden near a water source. ...
- Solarize the bales. ...
- Use short plants. ...
- Plant in full sun. ...
- Avoid pooling water.
Is hay or straw better for compost?
Straw is relatively free of seeds and the few that remain on the stalks shouldn't pose a problem, as they will rot right along with the rest of the plant in the compost pile. ... You can buy both hay and straw in bales at most garden centers, from farms and feed and grain stores.
How long does hay mulch take to break down?
Within 3 years it will be fully broken down and providing excellent nutrients to the soil. Treated woodchips will take longer, around 4 years to fully break down, with the start of decomposition occurring around 2 years after the mulch has been laid.
What happens to Straw after grass grows?
Once the grass gets growing and you start mowing, the straw will get chopped up and end up disappearing into the blades. If you've got mats here and there, rake them up and compost the straw. Or work it into a garden bed.
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