Discussion forum for environmentally-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jersey
Posts: 1,183
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For those that use hay and straw mulch - Are you typically using straight from a bale or shredding/cutting?
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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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.
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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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 |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jersey
Posts: 1,183
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I have straw which is herbicide free. More concerned with application than hay vs straw preference
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,291
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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.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jersey
Posts: 1,183
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Word!
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
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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.
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carolyn k Last edited by clkeiper; May 12, 2015 at 09:31 PM. |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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I just unroll a round bale.
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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 |
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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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 |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A
Posts: 1,179
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I use pine straw for mulch with good results.
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A
Posts: 1,179
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Sorry- double post
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