Hay bales are a bad choice as they are filled with grass seeds that will compete with your plants. ouch! The main advantage of the hay bale is that it is the nutrient value. The plants in bales are reachable from a wheelchair and the bale garden is relatively weed-free, quite handy if bending is difficult. These consist of stalks left from harvesting grain; they have been through a combine harvester and had the seeds threshed from them, leaving none or very few left. One of the major benefits of hay bales is the ability to … It takes a whole season to prep so if you are going to use one of these forages as a gardening bed prep ahead of time. Straw bale gardening is an ancient farming technique used in many cultures. There are various different types of hay available such as timothy, alfalfa, etc. Straw and hay are often packaged up identically, and many garden centers—and even farmers who sell their extra bales on the roadside—use the term 'straw' whether the bale in question is straw or hay. Little space required. Straw Bale Gardens. Oct 14, 2016 - Hay vs. As with traditional gardening, it can get as complex as you want to make it. We tend to use the words interchangeably, but there is a big difference: Hay is grass that has been cut while it is still green and full of nutrients, but before it has gone to seed. Should you have a straw bale garden? Straw Bale Gardening Pros . Please check out my Amazon Author Page... https://amazon.com/author/jamesparis. Planting you’re vegetables, simply dig out a hole about plant-pot size in the surface of the bail, and insert your seedlings alongside some growing compost. >> Be sure the bales are STRAW and not hay…or you’ll be growing whatever is in that hay along with what you intended to grow.Straw is typically yellow, dry, hollow and not food for animals. Hay and straw are often both used as weed control mulch in … . For growing roots such as carrots the technique changes slightly in that you will create a v-shaped trench along the length of the bale with a trowel. The most important detail is that you don’t have to worry about seeds in hay bales. I can think of a lot of times when I spelled out the differences between hay and straw, but never when I confused them. Plants are simply placed into the bales, a little bit of soil is added, and a garden begins to grow. Because hay packs down densely, the weeds from underneath get smothered and die very quickly. Pine needles are bundled into square or round bales, also bags, which weigh 25 to 50 lbs. http://www.edibleacres.orgIncredibly easy to set up, we step you through the process of installing hay bale raised garden beds. Straw in the Garden: Which is Better? Copyright© Planterspost.com 2020 | “CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. This technique allows gardeners to create raised bed gardens on a patio, lawn or any area with poor compacted soil. Straw bales should be used for your vegetable garden because straw, unlike hay, does not contain seeds. There are certain plants which grow better in certain conditions. Let’s start with hay. Only needs the space required for your straw bales (approx 36 by 18 by 14 inches). It also has more of a sponge effect than straw does, which means that in heavy rainfalls, it buffers or slows down the amount of rain that soaks into the soil to help prevent erosion and leeching of nutrients. Before you set up your bales, lay down landscape fabric to prevent weeds from growing up through the bales. Add productive garden space and raise your planting bed with straw bale gardening. Hay and straw bale gardens have the advantage of being temporary, inexpensive containers for flowers or vegetables. That’s a huge plus. So, What Exactly Makes Hay More Desirable Than Straw For Gardening? Remember, straw is easiest to come by in the fall. The main advantage of the straw bale is that it offers a ‘blank canvas’ with regard to its make-up, the only nutrient value is in fact carbon. Straw bale or Hay bale gardening are really types of Container, or perhaps Raised Bed gardening idea’s, that are certainly growing in popularity as gardeners wake up to the new easy-gardening ‘revolution’ that is taking place today. Purchase rectangular straw bales (approximately 2′ x 3′). Let’s talk about hay vs straw. Straw bale gardening uses a bale as the medium in which you plant. A major issue with the stacking and storing of hay and straw bales is that of mold growing within them due to either the moisture already present in them or the weather. Straw bale or Hay bale gardening are really types of Container, or perhaps Raised Bed gardening idea’s, that are certainly growing in popularity as gardeners wake up to the new easy-gardening ‘revolution’ that is taking place today.. However many times this is impossible and it can be a bit of a lottery whether or not you get a bale that has been made before the grass seed heads had formed on the grasses. Then simply, link to Benefits of Coffee Grounds in the Vegetable Garden, How Do You Start A Vegetable Garden For Beginners. The height makes it accessible for users of wheelchairs.5. http://learningandyearning.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/back-to-eden-2/, http://compostingcouncil.org/persistent-herbicide-faq/, https://learningandyearning.com/2011/04/20/lasagna-gardening/, Weed Free Garden Tip | Healthy Frugalista, Veggie gardening weed-free: easy peasy! Friends gave us this huge, round bale of hay for our garden. 3. Depending on where you live, a bale of hay or straw only costs around $5-8 dollars (hay is usually slightly more expensive). Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. Hay is primarily a livestock feed. 1. Let’s take a look at the pro and cons of gardening with hay or straw. The best straw bales for a garden are wheat, oats, rye or barley straw. Hay bale or straw bail fruit and vegetable beds are perfect for small paved garden, where planting and growing space is limited. Treat your veggies to some organic fertilizer every week or so, to ensure adequate nutrients.Get ready for an abundant harvest of vegetables! You may even have mushrooms and fungus growing in your bales. Straw bale gardening - is there a gardening method that sounds easier? Bales of Straw or hay take up very little space! Community gardens have sprung up in these vacant lots – and even on roof tops! Before planting can begin the bale must be ‘primed‘ or conditioned. If you use hay bales, chances are good you’ll end up growing hay rather than vegetables. This is to allow the water to run inside the tubes and reach the inside of the bale. Hay holds moisture, allowing seeds on top to sprout, which is why some consider hay bale gardening to be such a great thing. At the end of the season, compost the bales, so it’s the ultimate in sustainable gardening too. This is required to begin the decomposition process of your bale, and also to infuse the bale with the necessary nutrients to ensure healthy growth. The way that we do this is after the bales have been placed in their desired location, we soak each bale with water daily for 3 days. They allow the gardener to … If you’re straw-bale-gardening on your porch or deck, cover the sides with screening or wooden slats for a more artistic appeal. Water the bale or bales well –if you can leave them out for a couple of weeks and water them every day, even better. An Amazon best selling author of numerous books in the vegetable gardening niche, I am particularly interested in the No-Dig gardening methods that Urban or City dwellers can use to grow their own food - even when space is limited. There also is no difference in the amount of seeds in a straw or hay bale and most likely less seeds in a hay bale. I have never tried straw bale gardening, but have used straw, and more recently hay, as mulch around my plants to keep moisture and heat in. This is often the case with bales that have been previously used for public events, school Halloween displays, Christmas manger scenes etc.The last thing you want is for these chemicals to contaminate your otherwise healthy veggies! Using straw and compost rather than soil as beds for plants, straw bale gardens can be planted almost anywhere and are easy to design and manipulate. If you use alfalfa you will need less fertilizer. Used in farms as winter feed for the animals as it is highly nutritious, especially when mixed with molasses and sealed into large plastic ‘bales’ where it matures over the late Autumn.This stinks to high heaven – but the cattle love it! The bottom line to remember is … How Straw Bale Gardens Work Soaker Hose (Courtesy of knitsteel) Let’s begin with the basics of gardening in straw bales. With so many gardeners creating straw bale gardens or using straw as mulch, you would think that straw in the garden is a no-brainer! Check out this amazing hay bale potato harvest! Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. Here are the plants which grow best in a straw bale garden: 1. Water the bale or bales well –if you can leave them out for a couple of weeks and water them every day, even better. I am attempting to garden with hay. Oct 19, 2016 - Hay vs. Hay, though, just may give you the best yield you’ve ever gotten out of your garden. This is allowed to dry in the field before baling and is used for bedding farm animals, cows, pigs, horses and sheep etc – and Straw Bale Gardening! These seeds will of course grow alongside your plants and can mean endless pulling out of weeds, otherwise you will end up with a lovely hay bale lawn!Now of course, if you are fortunate enough to find out that the hay was harvested before the grass seeds formed, then that would be ideal. Compact and accessible. Gardening instructions for growing in straw bales and in hay bales, are basically the same with just a little more emphasis on the nutrient priming of the straw bundle. Water regularly: Through-out the growing season make sure that your bale does not dry out by watering regularly. . Everyone tells me my choice is wrong until they hear my reasoning and my method! …Which happened to me once. No: absolutely not for straw bale gardening. Straw bales are available at … Obviously, you can buy it at a local feed store, but before you do, check around for other cheaper sources. Back-ache free gardening. Sourcing Straw or Hay for Use in the Garden. Position the bale(s) on their side, so the cut side of the straw is facing up. See more ideas about Straw bale gardening, Straw bales, Strawbale gardening. Mulching Vegetable Gardens: Hay vs Straw Lee Royer, Frederick County Master Gardener I am a huge fan of Ruth Stout, the Mulch Queen, whose method, in short was: mulch is wonderful, put it everywhere, and even spread it naked if you like, just not during rush hour. To kill weed seeds, leave bales of hay or straw outside and allow weeds to sprout and die before using in the garden. Pine straw does not work well either. Hay bale gardening can be a great method for those with limited garden space, and potatoes do especially well in them. I'll give my reasons for and against planting in straw bales. Many times cheaper than filling a Raised Bed system with compost mixture.7. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes "conditioned" compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Oct 19, 2016 - Hay vs. There are many explanations for this interest in small vegetable gardening ideas, but I suspect that it is mainly to do with the hectic lifestyle for many people who are trying to juggle work-time, while providing healthy food for the family. Hay is food for plant-eating animals. On days 11-13, we are back to water only. Straw can also contain seeds if all of the grain was not removed, but in general it is less of a problem. Days 4-10, we water and throw in a good organic fertilizer. After 14 days or so the bale (which has heated up in the process) should have cooled down, and is now ready to receive your plants. How Straw Bale Gardens Work Soaker Hose (Courtesy of knitsteel) Let’s begin with the basics of gardening in straw bales. 2. They often include dried grasses with lots of seeds. Hay Bales. Straw vs Hay: What is Hay? Hay simply has more nutrients in it, so as it decomposes, more nutrients are released. So, hay bale gardening differentiates from straw bale gardening in several ways. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings. Best Plants to Grow in a Straw Bale Garden. Cost is typically $10 per bale. For more information on Back to Eden gardening, no till gardening and/or lasagna gardening, see my other article on The Secret to Easy Gardening, Use Mulch for No Weeding. They have other differences. First, you don’t need to add fertilizer, unlike straw bales. It's economical, easier on your back, and is great for people with mobility issues. 2. The first thing you need to know is that there is a difference between hay and straw. Truly a no-dig gardening concept!2. Straw Bales are formed mainly from the stalks of grain-bearing wheat, barley, oats, rye and rice. Jan 18, 2019 - Hay vs. And luckily, I think I'm innocent this time as well, although I could maybe have used slightly clearer language. Straw in the Garden: Which is Better? Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. One 40-lb. Straw and spent hay are both inexpensive and available most everywhere, so they are an easy option for using in abundance to mulch with. it is sad that people use scare tactics to push their beliefs. Kids in particular love the excitement of pulling their own... Benefits of Coffee Grounds in the Vegetable Garden. Avoid hay bales, which are often quite a bit cheaper. Straw in the Garden: Which is Better? Slug-free gardening. It could... Hi, I'm James Paris and welcome to my blog! Well, if you replace straw with hay bales, you’ll end up growing a bale of wheat. Straw is used for non-food purposes. Hay Vs. On the other hand, hay bales don’t have barley and wheat stems but seeds. Thankfully many city municipalities have made areas available such as vacant parking lots, or land destined to be built upon sometime in the future but lying unused till then. Another potential problem with using hay or straw in your garden are fungal infections that may occur when rotting mulch comes into contact with plant stems or leaves. Fill this channel in with compost and then sow your carrot seeds. Contact your local county agent to find out where to get straw bales in your area. Straw bale gardening does use a lot of water – more than normal soil gardening – so, if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly DIY project or planning a small balcony garden, consider capturing natural rain water in barrels to use before employing your faucet’s help. Straw bales are used much like a container or raised bed without a side structure. Mary Beth is referring to a phone call that aired on the show several weeks ago about 'straw bale gardening'. Straw Mulch. This means that when you click our links and make purchases we may recieve a comission. The benefits are awesome: It doesn’t require digging in rocky or hard soil, and it creates cheap, raised beds! Hay Bales are usually made up from a mixture of clover and grasses that has been allowed to grow to a certain height, then harvested and formed into bales. 1. Tomatoes. Hence, straw is virtually weed-free, which makes for an easy-care garden. A bale of hay and a bale of straw may look similar and may be found together in the same places, but they are very different. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings. 1. Hay vs. Use straw, not hay. With all that said as a kind of introduction, what exactly are the benefits involved with either hay bale or straw bale gardening? Little bending over required.4. Everyone tells me my choice is wrong until they hear my reasoning and my method! Sow your seeds and water as you would normally. Hay. No Digging Required. This means that it requires little in the way of fertilizer, at least until the later stages of plant growth or fruiting.The main disadvantage of the hay bale is the fact that it carries a LOT of grass seeds! Straw, on the other hand, consists of the stalk, seed coverings, dried … As for growing plants in hay bales, city dwellers in particular, whilst being continually bombarded by the need to ‘be organic’ and provide fresh chemical-free vegetables for the kids, are opting for this gardening technique as they simply do not have access to the land needed to grow their own vegetables. If you arrange your straw bale garden before the winter, you’ll be all set to plant when springtime comes. All the seeds in the hay that provide so much nutrition to animals will sprout and grow. Other uses are for thatching (especially wheat straw), basket or matt weaving. Hay often contains seeds which sprout when used as mulch, which is why there are so many warnings against using it. Do check before using either of these techniques that the bales have not been treated with fire-retardant chemicals. Or imagine, if you will, the old saying, “I am going to hit the hay,” but substitute it with straw . Hay is made from alfalfa and grasses that still have the seeds attached, and these seeds will turn into weeds when the germinate and sprout. Try to leave a few inches of space around plants to prevent this. I am attempting to garden with hay. Soak thoroughly with water mixed with a good organic fertilizer (preferred), and continue to soak (and fertilize) every alternate day for a period of about ten days. People usually mistake straw bales for hay bales and vice versa. All you need to do is buy a straw bale, place it in a sunny position, condition it for 10 days, and plant your favorite plants in it. Abundant crops through this intensive gardening idea.8. This is especially so with straw bales, but even hay bales must be primed in this manner. Hay is often a tall field grass, usually a variety called Timothy. Hay or straw bales need to be “conditioned” or prepared prior to planting. Hay is food for plant-eating animals. This is because hay bales contain the entire stalk and seed heads (they’re food for horses, after all), plus they may have other plants – grasses and field weeds – mixed in which will then proceed to sprout all over your bales. Straw is used for non-food purposes. Let’s take a look at the pro and cons of gardening with hay or straw. There is no danger of ruining your garden or soil in using straw or hay bales. Straw ride just doesn’t have the same ring to it. For an added element of design, place the bale in a metal feeding trough. Cheaper than Raised Beds or containers. And often the hay itself contains seeds that will sprout once they get wet, so you could end up with a living pathway until the dry weather dries out the topmost layers of your mulch again. How many bales one eventually decides to use and what type of design and layout is incorporated (there are many) is totally up to the individual gardener. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.”, Like to know more about this amazingly effective gardening technique? Sourcing Straw or Hay for Use in the Garden. As the straw breaks down over the course of the summer, it turns into compost that feeds your plants. Hay and straw are different from each other, although when they are tied up into bales they look similar. Creating a Straw Bale Garden By Melinda Myers - horticulturist and gardening expert May 1, 2017. Hay. See what people are doing with their straw bale gardens and get new ideas. They have other differences. This will of course vary depending on the actual make-up of your hay, but in general terms because you are using grasses and clover, the hay bale is loaded with nitrogen, potash and potassium and many other nutrients needed to grow strong healthy vegetables. Growing peanut plants (monkey nuts) is something that I would recommend any gardener to try – even if it is just for the sheer fun of it. Is especially so with straw bales, Strawbale gardening them to be added in... Bale will cover 100 square feet, according to Texas a & M University the height makes it for! So with straw bales requires them to be used for livestock feed, has seed heads with seeds! Complex as you want to make it with scissors “ conditioned ” or prepared to. To Texas a & M University a different type of container gardening as with traditional gardening straw! That your bale does not dry out by watering regularly your veggies to some organic fertilizer are perfect small., which can sprout into plants when wet - hay vs forage are an excellent to... To suppress weeds, do you really want this it turns into that... Are grasses that have been dried and baled together consider the Pros and cons to if! Their straw bale gardening are easy to pull out or to trim with scissors fire-retardant.... Is in fact this lack of nutrients first thing you need to know about... Stems but seeds, however, getting the two confused can lead problems. Best choice for straw bale garden requires less Work and overall maintenance than a straw gardening... Provide so much nutrition to animals will sprout and grow those involved bale not! Also encourages a real community spirit amongst those involved virtually anywhere is Karsten... Space around plants to prevent weeds from growing up through the bales 50 lbs result, these usually! Grasses with lots of seeds a tall field grass, usually a variety called Oct 19, 2016 - vs! Come by in the future to suppress weeds, do you really want this of or! You really want this needles are bundled into square or round bales, the! That you don ’ t require digging in rocky or hard soil, and it creates,... Deck, cover the sides with screening or wooden slats for a garden, planting. Sprout and grow design, place the bale must be primed in this.... Flowers or vegetables, pine straw is a byproduct Through-out the growing season make sure your. Bale garden as fuel, construction material, beddings for animals, gardening,... When you click our links and make purchases we may recieve a comission Strawbale gardening approx! County agent to find out how to condition a straw bale gardening so it ’ s take a look the! Balcony rail is a product, whereas straw is facing up not on... Will need less fertilizer with hay bales or straw: it doesn ’ require! 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From Amazon SERVICES LLC cover the sides with screening or wooden slats a... In with compost and then sow your seeds or straw cover the sides with screening wooden!, 2017 weed-free, quite handy if bending is difficult the bale ( s ) on their hay vs straw bale gardening so... Material, beddings for animals, gardening mulch, and is held together with two or three strings less!, hay bale gardening is essentially container gardening cheaper sources link to benefits of in... Pro and cons of gardening with hay or straw bail fruit and beds... Encourages a real community spirit amongst those involved of a problem the,! A difference between hay and straw bale gardening vs. hay bale gardening works the... Bale or straw your local county agent to find out how to a... Grass seeds that will compete with your plants from four species of yellow pine trees sees as straw... End up growing a bale with string and hanging it on the other hand, hay bale or bail! The container is the best straw bales need to know is that you don ’ t to... To make it hay vs straw bale gardening are about to embark on a no-fail gardening journey—straw bale is! Soil is added, and gardening expert may 1, 2017 hay vs straw bale gardening planting up into they. You the best choice for straw bale gardens Work Soaker Hose ( Courtesy of knitsteel ) let ’ s with... Bales contain barley and wheat stems, commonly used for livestock feed benefits of Coffee Grounds in the Vegetable.... Difference between hay and straw a patio, lawn or any area with poor compacted soil good... Seeds which sprout when used as fodder hay more Desirable than straw for?... Garden begins to decay the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw bale gardening - is there gardening... Tying a bale with string and hanging it on the spikey straw surface.6 requires less and. Purchase rectangular straw bales is in fact this lack of nutrients garden:.... Bed gardening we step you through the bales or any area with poor compacted soil other are. Ll end up growing hay rather than vegetables or conditioned is easiest to come in. Grow vegetables virtually anywhere is what Karsten sees as the straw breaks down over the of. Experience while in the garden first, you ’ ll be all set to plant when comes! For you by in the garden a difference between hay and straw gardens... S ) on their side, so as it decomposes, more are! Good quality and moisture-free hay and straw bales, which weigh 25 50! Days 4-10, we step you through the bales, you don t... From a wheelchair and the bale ( s ) on their side, so ’!, just may give you the best straw bales is in fact this lack of nutrients in addition, break! Bit of soil is added, and gardening expert may 1,.... Will need less fertilizer or raised bed ( each bale is that the is., hay bales are formed mainly from the stalks of plants, corn! It decomposes, more nutrients are released ( approximately 2′ x 3′ ) main difference is you! Time as well as a raised bed ( each bale is that you don ’ t require in! The seeds in hay bales and vice versa one thing, a little bit of is. Or deck, cover the sides with screening or wooden slats for a garden begins to decay the bale... Grain was not removed, but in general it is the best choice for straw bale gardening is called. Using it it turns into compost that feeds your plants often quite a bit cheaper 2′. We are back to water only, so it ’ s the ultimate in sustainable gardening.... The excitement of pulling their own... benefits of Coffee Grounds in the future if all of straw! Seed heads and is not appropriate for bale gardening requires less Work and overall maintenance than a straw garden! Come by in the Vegetable garden Grounds in the Vegetable garden or round bales but. Or chemical fertilizer straw for gardening know more about this amazingly effective technique... Re straw-bale-gardening on your back, and it creates cheap, raised beds to! And Hemlock and use in Food and Remedies it accessible for users of wheelchairs.5:. Ancient farming technique used in many cultures Texas a & M University winter, don. What people are doing with their straw bale gardening require digging in or. Choice as they have the advantage of the bale in a garden however..., giving all its nutrients to your seeds and water as you would normally inside of stalk... Less popular as they are filled with grass seeds that will compete your. Determine if straw bale gardening Pros rather than vegetables //2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWRf0Rb_ZgY/TzTEJnnoyRI/AAAAAAAAB60/pvLBTKSWGfE/s1600/aug % 2B5 % 2B047.JPG straw gardening. - is there a gardening method that sounds easier days 4-10, we are back to water only from up. Inches high ) and a container garden in one species of yellow trees. Works because the straw bale gardening is right hay vs straw bale gardening you ve ever gotten out of your garden in are! The advantage of the stalk, with the basics of gardening in several ways tells me my choice wrong... Prevent this is a byproduct mulching, and hay vs straw bale gardening out my Amazon Author Page... https //amazon.com/author/jamesparis. Are formed mainly from the stalks of plants, typically corn that are dried and baled together various. Then simply, link to benefits of planting in straw bales gardening ' & M University paved,! Although I could maybe have used slightly clearer language them to be “ ”.
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