Straw as mulch ~

[Tomstrees]

Hope everyones having a
banner season ~

My plants are mulched with straw (first time)
and really have been taking off with buds
on all plants (even Red Brandywine now) !
So it looks like I'll have maters in a
couple weeks ~

My question to everyone is:

What do you do with the straw
at the end of the season ?
Take it off ? Incorporate it
into your soil to decompose
over the winter ?

I can def. tell the difference using it
for weeding and watering alone !
And will use it every season moving forward ~
~ Tom

[Tomstrees]

re: kctomato
Seeds are the only reason I dont care for straw.

re:
Did you mean hay ?

~ Tom

[tjg911]

i compost the straw. some gets tilled in.

straw is chopped stalks of grain like rye, there are no or very few seeds.

hay is grass and is LOADED with seeds. never ever use hay unless you want BILLIONS of weeds over the next decade. i've known this for years but if you ever could have seen the MESS i saw at my friend's garden on sunday! unbelievable! his father loved to use old hay for mulch.

tom

[kioria]

I just leave it all on top, straw, hay, grass clippings, shredded leaves, pine needles, shredded paper, whatever. The worms seem to love it, and so do the plants.

[valereee]

I just pull the plants and leave the straw to decompose over the winter.

Val

[Noreaster]

I second what Kiora said.......this is my third year of using straw, some of which is left to rot in fall/winter.

This year, while digging deep holes during planting, found significantly more earthworms than ever before...and the plants seem to be stronger than ever...maybe due to more castings !

Noreaster

[kimpossible]

Definitely work it into the soil. Great organic amendment!

[giardiniere]

I used straw to mulch my tomatoes this year too. I did put down a layer of newspapaer first, so maybe that would keep any seeds, that might be in the mulch, from germinating. Chances are they would be wheat seeds, and not weeds...... but I guess anything that comes up, that you don't want, is a weed.

[Gimme3]

Tom...great question ! one many first time user's might naturally wonder about.

Straw is a carbon, and as it deteriates in your soil, soil organisms break it down. Two of the Beautiful aspects of using any form of straw,aside from the one's already mentioned (worms, watering needs)) be it wheat, oats, barley, fescue, or numerous other good silage-type mulches...are as follows...

Carbollic acid is produced by decaying organic materials in the soil, in con★★★★★★★★ with the Active microbial Life that Requires such decomposition, to Flourish. Carbollic acid is a BOON to all Plant Life. All Plants common to our Gardens require an benefit from Carbon Dioxide , and the primary way to increase this availability is thru employing organic, carbon-based mulches. if you get time...study these Topics, and i can tell you...from Real world experience....what you will find...aint a lie...))) Study Carbollic acid, Carbon, the Carbon Cycle...Soil Aeration w/regard to natural amendments vs. purely chemical...the Flow of C02 thru soil...

A second Beauty...has to do with the Term...Cation.
This has a Whole LOT of importance w/regard to the capacity of soil to HOLD moisture,...an if ya think about it...it directly affects the prescence or not..of Blossom End Rot on a Tomato. Cation is a term used in discussing the atomical/electrical natural properties existing in soil. A study of this term will further yo joy in appreciating the labors you engaged in, to apply a good organic mulch.

Tom...you are on the Cusp...possibly...lol...of seein a Whole New World...))) but one never sees THIS WORLD...completely...thats part of It's Beauty ...i will tell ya this...lol...it gets Prettier, Every Season, even as tides ebb an flow, speaking of good an poor Seasons......)))

i use straw or hay to ...First off, in order to level the walk-paths between raised beds, because it can be tortuos on the feet to constantly walk or stand on such inclines. straw raises the walk paths to a wider level .

After plants are established, i use straw or hay as a mulch all around them. if i run out, i use shredded leaves.


Towards yo question, Tom...here goes...)))
By employing an immense amount of organic Carbon-based materials as mulch...the process of decay never ends. the straw placed in the walk path decomposes , and that walk-path is ALWAYS raked back up on top of the beds, during my dormant season...then new additional straw/hay/leaves... reapplied in Spring. The walk-paths provide a great way to utilize other-wise unused space, by always making them a source of decomposing, rotted material. My walk-paths are scraped by hand..down to their Hard pan, each year. no weeds grow in them, that are capable of any kind of sufficient rooting, because it's where i walk...and it's hard -packed...)))

you will find...in Time...a wonderful increase in your Soil tilth,...if you simply use straw or hay as a mulch and walk-path flooring...this process will be greatly enhanced, if you try an ponder Soil Life...thru time, an practice additional endeavors to Boost it.

These are a very brief encouragement , towards what One can Learn...if they try...Tom. Mighty Best wishes yo Garden Smiles Even brighter, back at you ...thru time, as you keep Tryin...Friend...)))

[Tomstrees]

Thanks everyone ~
Come fall, I'll just pull plants,
throw them out, incorporate straw into
soil, and let old man winter
and the worms take care of the rest ~

Tom

ps.
Sometimes you know the answer to
things - but you just have to
ask for someones elses point of view ...

pss.
Gimme3 -
A wealth of knowledge & wisdom in
your post ...
Much appreciated ~

[valereee]

Tom, I don't even incorporate -- I let the rain, snow, and worms do that over the winter. I just pull the plants. When the leaves drop I add a layer of them on my bed. Next spring I take a look at the height of my bed, maybe add a layer of peat or compost or worm castings or whatever if it looks like it's down a quart, maybe stir in a little lime, throw a layer of fresh straw on, and plant.

Val

[kioria]

Aye, what Val said. "Incorporation" - if that means tilling it in - is too much work that the natural cycle will do for you if you let it. I love my garden, but machinery and/or double digging out in the heat is not for me. Besides, I might kill worms, or tick them off and make them go find another buffet.

Katrina

[Tomstrees]

Katrina -

So you just leave on top after
taking out the plants for the winter ?

~ Tom

[kioria]

Tom - Yes, exactly. And when the leaves come down, I pile those on too, which puts the straw/hay under a layer of leaves. The longer this goes on, the harder it'll be for any weeds to come up to the top. Some weeds aren't phased by this treatment, unfortunately (blackberry and bindweed to name two)...but if you have problems with them, you're going to have problems with them no matter what you do, and all the other weeds are gone. I think I'm finally seeing the end of my blackberry infestation after four years of yanking the things up.

Katrina

[valereee]

And Tom, the longer you do this (let your straw/other organic mulches sit on top all winter and decompose) the richer your beds will be, and the fuller of worms.

Before the ground freezes, I'll take my little under-the-sink scraps bucket and a trowel out to my beds and pull back a little hole, fill it with my cucumber peelings or whatever, cover it back up and leave that to decompose too.

Val