using hay as 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.

Is straw or hay better for mulch?

Straw is the bare stalk remaining after a nutritious seed head, such as barley or wheat has been harvested. The stalks are then dried, bundled and stored safely. ... If your goal is simply to cover the soil, as for paths, then straw is fine. If your goal is to enrich your soil, then the nutritious hay is much better.

How long does it take for hay to decompose?

Some growers will leave the hay out for one full year to be fully saturated and partially decomposed.

Does hay make good compost?

Create nutrient-rich compost for your garden from common household leftovers. Dried leaves, hay, straw, sawdust, wood chips, and shrub and tree prunings. Ned Conwell collects his brown matter, but you can also use straw from a feed store.

Can straw be used as mulch?

Straw is one of the best mulch materials you can use around your vegetable plants. It's clean, it's light and it breaks down relatively easily, giving your plants more of what they need to grow.

Why are hay bales left in fields?

Storing bales reduces the number of exposed surfaces and can reduce losses, especially if shelter can be provided. Once the bales have cooled, the bales can be taken to the feed yard and stacked. Unless the bales are used for bale grazing, leaving that hay out in the fields until freeze-up can prove expensive.

Should you put hay over seed?

A: Spreading a thin layer of straw on a newly sown patch of grass is a good way to increase success. The mulch will keep the soil moist and protect the seedlings. ... First note that one uses straw not hay since hay has seeds that will germinate with the grass seed.

How often should I mix my compost?

How often you should turn compost depends on a number of factors including the size of the pile, the green to brown ratio, and the amount of moisture in the pile. That being said, a good rule of thumb is to turn a compost tumbler every three to four days and the compost pile every three to seven days.

What can I do with old round 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.

Is Hay good for soil?

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. To start a garden, with seeds or starters, first create a thick layer of hay, up to eight inches (20 cm.), right over your garden soil.

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 it take for cow manure to compost?

The pile should heat to 130-140 degrees. When conditions are ideal, compost can heat up within one day, Andrews said. After the pile cools down to an ambient temperature, transfer it to the second bin. It usually takes another two to six months to decompose or cure.

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.

Do you have to remove old mulch before applying new mulch?

Mulch gradually breaks down, adding beneficial nutrients and other organic matter to the soil. Removing pre-existing mulch every year only ends up to be extra work and a needless expense. ... However, if you're down to an inch, top off the old layer with an additional inch of new mulch to keep it at its optimum level.

How thick should straw mulch be?

The secret is to keep the mulch deep enough, say six to eight inches or more. This both provides enough cover to keep weed seeds from sprouting and makes those that do easy to pull from the moist soil.

How much straw do I need for mulch?

When applied properly, approximately 20-40 percent of the original ground surface can be seen. The application rate per acre should be about 2 tons (or one 74 pound bale per 800 square feet). Straw should be clean rice, barley, or wheat straw.

Why do farmers wrap hay bales?

Plastic wrap is most commonly used in high-moisture baling. In this method the forage crop is cut sooner, immediately baled, and wrapped in plastic to ferment like silage. ... Because forage is at it's highest quality when cut, baleage is higher in protein and more palatable for livestock than dry hay.

Is it worth wrapping dry hay?

Wrapping dry hay allows farmers to protect feed from the weather without building more structures. If the hay is in string-tied bales and to be stored outside, then a couple turns of plastic may be an economic advantage, as long as the gain due to reduced storage losses outweighs the loss in increased expense.

Why do farmers have hay bales?

Large farms with hundreds of animals require huge amounts of hay. For these farms, large bales make the most sense, because they provide the most hay at the least cost. Large bales also allow the hay to begin to ferment naturally, which can prolong its use by preventing rot and mold.

Will grass seed grow if I just throw it down?

The simple answer is, yes. Beyond just throwing the seed out into the lawn and not performing any grass maintenance there is a whole world of lawn care. ... Even though the seeds will sprout if just thrown on the surface of the dirt there are negative effects of planting the seed in that fashion.

How many bales of hay do you need to cover grass seed?

A shallow layer of straw is all that's needed to help retain moisture for the soil and fresh seeds. One bale of straw covers approximately 2,000 square feet. Sprinkling it in a light layer allows it to decompose naturally so you won't have to rake it up once the grass has sprouted.

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on lawn?

If you simply toss the grass seed onto the soil, you will end up with poor germination. ... Next, you can use a lawn spreader to put down the grass seed. Very little soil is actually needed to cover the seeds, typically about ¼- inch, so simple raking will do the trick.