hay or straw mulch

TightenUp · May 12, 2015

For those that use hay and straw mulch - Are you typically using straight from a bale or shredding/cutting?

BigVanVader · May 12, 2015

I use it from aged bales and spread it by hand about 6-8 inches deep. Straw is best but if all you have is hay it works great but sometimes has bad weed seeds in it. I normally cover hay with leaves or something to prevent germination.

Worth1 · May 12, 2015

Straw is the best due to no or little weed seeds.
If you use hay make sure it isn't garbage hay with stuff like grass bur seeds in it.
What ever it is it will have seeds and next year you will have to mulch again to keep the stuff from growing from the year before.
Not really a big deal but be forewarned.

Worth

TightenUp · May 12, 2015

I have straw which is herbicide free. More concerned with application than hay vs straw preference

PaulF · May 12, 2015

Straw mulch here applied 6-8 inches deep by breaking open the bale and spreading by hand shaking apart the "books" (I think that is what the layers are called) as I go.

TightenUp · May 12, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulF

Straw mulch here applied 6-8 inches deep by breaking open the bale and spreading by hand shaking apart the "books" (I think that is what the layers are called) as I go.

Word!

clkeiper · May 12, 2015

Use straw if at all possible. Hay grows mold when wet. The biggest problem with straw for our area is the canada thistle seeds. They are "ready" at the same time wheat is ready to harvest. GRRR!

Paul, we call the hay in the sections "flakes" and I assume that most people use the term "flakes" for straw, also.

Redbaron · May 12, 2015

I just unroll a round bale.

Worth1 · May 12, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by clkeiper

Use straw if at all possible. Hay grows mold when wet. The biggest problem with straw for our area is the canada thistle seeds. They are "ready" at the same time wheat is ready to harvest. GRRR!

Paul, we call the hay in the sections "flakes" and I assume that most people use the term "flakes" for straw, also.

I call them servings because I would ride in the trailer and give each cow her serving, well maybe 4 servings as we moved along.
We kept a big rodeo bull on the place during the off season and he got a hole bail.
His name was Ghost and a big sweet pet.
Our cows were pampered.

As for mulch I use (free) ceder elm leaves now.

Worth

pauldavid · May 12, 2015

I use pine straw for mulch with good results.

pauldavid · May 12, 2015

Sorry- double post

May 12, 2015	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	hay or straw mulch For those that use hay and straw mulch - Are you typically using straight from a bale or shredding/cutting? __________________

May 12, 2015	#4
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	I have straw which is herbicide free. More concerned with application than hay vs straw preference __________________

May 12, 2015	#5
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	Straw mulch here applied 6-8 inches deep by breaking open the bale and spreading by hand shaking apart the "books" (I think that is what the layers are called) as I go. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

May 12, 2015	#7
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Use straw if at all possible. Hay grows mold when wet. The biggest problem with straw for our area is the canada thistle seeds. They are "ready" at the same time wheat is ready to harvest. GRRR! Paul, we call the hay in the sections "flakes" and I assume that most people use the term "flakes" for straw, also. __________________ carolyn k Last edited by clkeiper; May 12, 2015 at 09:31 PM.

May 12, 2015	#8
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	I just unroll a round bale. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

May 12, 2015	#2
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I use it from aged bales and spread it by hand about 6-8 inches deep. Straw is best but if all you have is hay it works great but sometimes has bad weed seeds in it. I normally cover hay with leaves or something to prevent germination.

May 12, 2015	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Straw is the best due to no or little weed seeds. If you use hay make sure it isn't garbage hay with stuff like grass bur seeds in it. What ever it is it will have seeds and next year you will have to mulch again to keep the stuff from growing from the year before. Not really a big deal but be forewarned. Worth

May 12, 2015	#10
pauldavid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A Posts: 1,179	I use pine straw for mulch with good results.