straw as mulch??

[Noreaster]

You know.......maybe my problem was the type of straw that farms use around here. Seem to recall that it's "rye" straw . Whatever it was it was chock full of seeds......became available in April/May....and as another poster said.......maybe it's OK if you leave it out to rot over winter, killing the seeds.....but we don't have the space for that !

[SmartAlex]

Originally Posted by kath

Tomatoes and worms love a shredded leaf mulch if that's something you can find easily.

This is my second year with raised beds and last fall I put a layer of shredded leaves then topped with compost, and this spring I am AMAZED at the number of worms in the leaf layer.

[sic transit gloria]

Originally Posted by Noreaster

Patty B.

My advice, after having done it 2-3 years......DON'T DO IT !

It looked nice, kept weeds out, protected leaves from dirt spit-ups during rain or watering. Got bales fresh from local farm.

BUT.....the straw seeds became straw in HUGE amounts growing in the beds. Had to stop. It was sorta like a weed of it's own.

Since then, I now use 6 mm black plastic laid over each bed, with holes cut out for tomato plant. Once in, place black mulch all around the stem.
And THAT keeps out the many weeds wanting entrance to the soil as well as preventing rain splashes hitting leaves.

I remove the mulch before tilling soil in following spring, and replace with new mulch once new seedlings are planted.

Where do you buy the 6mm black plastic? I've been to Home Depot and they have a water permeable plastic, but it tears up too easily. Are you able to re-use the plastic the next year (or longer)?

I don't use the 6mm black plastic on my beds, but I use it for other things. I buy it at Home Depot. I have used it in the past to smother weed and grass seed in a few beds through the winter. It warms the beds when sunlight hits it causing the seed to germinate. Because they can't get any sunlight through the plastic, the plants die. The excessive heat under the plastic seems to also have the effect of sterilizing the seed that hasn't germinated. I suppose it is also hard on the earth worms and other life forms under the plastic. I remove it and leave it off when I plant my garden.

I've also wrapped a bale of wheat straw in it. I moistened the bale before wrapping it. I just want to see the effect of high summer temps and moisture on the straw and wheat seed in the straw. I'm expecting the seed to be totally germinated or sterilized and the straw to be partially decomposed when I unwrap it this fall. I plan on using the straw as a type of compost in my beds along with my normal compost.

Ted

Originally Posted by mx4inpa

[url="http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?p=214130#post214130"]

I discovered this about 3 years ago. Only I dont shred them, though I probably would if I could. At least a portion of them. The worms are still found happily munching away in between the whole leaves that stick together.

I also add straw and dont have much of a problem with weeds. Hay is the first cut with the majority of the seeds. Straw is the second cut with much less seeds I believe.

In my understanding, hay is the mowed and baled pasture grass like coastal bermuda. Most of the cattle and horse operations in my area plant and fertilize a good pasture grass for grazing or harvesting and baling for winter feed. They typically mow and bale the grass two or three times per summer.

Straw is the stalk of grain plants like wheat or rye. I think it must be harvested or cut with the seed heads attached. The seed harvesters I've seen, pulverize or grind the stalks and blow them back onto the field while separating the stalks from the grain.

Many people in my area plant wheat or rye in order to harvest the stalks and bale it. It is sold as small bales of straw as bedding in stalls and other uses. Others harvest it into large bales weighing hundreds of pounds. After aging in the fields in large stacks for a year, it is sold to mushroom growers for use as mushroom compost. After it has produced mushrooms, it is packaged and sold again for gardeners to use as compost in their garden beds.

Ted

[Noreaster]

Originally Posted by sic transit gloria

Where do you buy the 6mm black plastic? I've been to Home Depot and they have a water permeable plastic, but it tears up too easily. Are you able to re-use the plastic the next year (or longer)?

I get it at Home Depot. They sell it like 20 wide x 200 as well as 20 x 100.
Prices are $ 98 and $ 56.

6 MM is VERY strong, and can last for years. I'm on year 2, and see it going at least 5years. Nothing rips it except your own tools !

[sic transit gloria]

Is the plastic sheeting in the garden center?

[kimpossible]

Hay has seeds & weed seeds. Straw doesn't. It's as benign as grass clippings. I have used straw for years with great results, and it breaks down & adds organic material to your soil over the winter.

It's also great for pathways and edges to smother any weeds or encroaching grass.

[luke]

I made the mistake of using hay. Once. Seeds took over.

This year I was fortunate to find a place that mulches wood and they have a compost mix of fine mulch, dirt and sand. I bought two front end loader buckets (a full size truck bed full) for $30 and used it to cover my entire garden. I will turn it over in the winter after I pull my plants to start over.

If you have a truck or trailer, check around and see if you have access to any mulch in bulk, and be sure to check what is in it.