Is hay or straw better for a garden?
There’s also the worry that the farmer may have used a persistent herbicide in the field, which could harm your plants. So, straw is clearly the better choice as a vegetable garden mulch. Its bales are much lighter, easier to handle and can be purchased at farmers’ co-ops and some big-box stores. Straw Mulch Increases Nutrients in the Soil Straw decomposes like any other organic material, but it’s much slower. As straw rots, it releases nutrients, feeding the plants growing in it. Straw actually makes your garden better.Yes, straw is a very good garden mulch that can be used in any season because of its wide-ranging benefits. Straw is light, clean, easy to work with, and composts (or breaks down) fairly easily. Here are some other critical benefits of straw garden mulch: Retains moisture longer in the soil.Straw…it’s more than just the leftover from wheat harvest. This agricultural byproduct has a huge number of uses. While some are quite traditional like the bedding for animals and mulch in the garden, it can also be used as a quality cattle forage, heating fuel, ethanol production, or even as a building material.Wheat straw enriches soil as it decomposes and is effective in suppressing weeds, making it popular for vegetable gardens. Pine straw tends to be more expensive than wheat straw, but both have eco-friendly benefits and can enhance garden aesthetics.Interestingly, straw mulch for flower beds or vegetable gardens decomposes faster than a wood chip mulch would. If your garden is managed well, your straw garden mulch will decompose in several months. However, if left unattended, it may take up to 1-2 years.
How do farmers decide between hay and straw?
Hay holds nutritional value and is used as feed for cattle, horses and other farm animals, while straw is a by-product of hay that is composed of dried grain stalks and may be used for non-food purposes. It also can be used for mulch, keeping the soil moist and preventing the top layer from getting too dry. Straw can also crush weeds and will compost over time. Hay, on the other hand, is made up of legumes. This includes things like alfalfa and clover or grasses like Bermuda, fescue and oat.Straw is inexpensive, easy to work with, and good for your soil. A layer of straw mulch between your veggie rows sets off your plants and makes your garden look neat and tidy. Although it takes some initial effort, mulching with straw will save you time in the long run when it comes to weeding and watering.Straw is fluffier than hay, and its bales can be easily broken apart and used for many things, such as animal bedding, cover for freshly planted grass seeds or mulch for your vegetable garden.The Usual Temporary Solutions for a Mud-Filled Yard Straw: One of the simplest fixes is straw, which can swiftly blanket muddied areas. However, it may not hold up well in windy conditions, so be prepared to frequently clean up and replace straw.
Which is cheaper: straw or hay?
Short answer: Yes — straw is typically cheaper per bale and per pound than hay, because straw is a lower-value byproduct used mainly for bedding and erosion control, while hay is cultivated and harvested as animal feed. Affordable & Readily Available – Straw is often more affordable than hay and is easy to find in bulk.Although prices vary by season and region, hay is usually more expensive than straw.Pine straw is great for moisture retention and weed control, making it ideal for landscaping around trees and shrubs. Wheat straw enriches soil as it decomposes and is effective in suppressing weeds, making it popular for vegetable gardens.There’s also the worry that the farmer may have used a persistent herbicide in the field, which could harm your plants. So, straw is clearly the better choice as a vegetable garden mulch. Its bales are much lighter, easier to handle and can be purchased at farmers’ co-ops and some big-box stores.
Which is warmer, hay or straw?
Straw is dried out when it’s cut, but hay is still green when it is cut. Hay is more likely to mold, and when it breaks down and flattens, it no longer provides good insulation. Since straw doesn’t break down, it is one of the best insulators for outdoor animal bedding. Moisture intrusion is the #1 concern with straw bale homes, just as it is with conventional homes. Because straw bales can provide food for decay fungus, widespread, long-term fungal activity can destroy a straw bale home. In addition to decay of the straw, decay fungus is a concern because mold fungus releases spores.The stiff, hollow composition of straw makes it a great insulator. Straw decomposes at a much slower rate than hay, has a very low moisture content and has no nutritional value. Choose straw for bedding, erosion control, building and insulating purposes.Natural Materials Using straw as insulation means that the standard insulation materials are removed from the home. Standard fiberglass insulation has formaldehyde in it, a known carcinogen. Bale walls also eliminate the use of plywood in the walls.
Are straw bales better than hay bales?
Though they may look similar, hay and straw serve very different purposes. Hay is grown and harvested as animal feed, while straw is a by-product of grain crops used for mulch, bedding, and insulation. Hay is dried grass and the most vital part of a rabbit’s diet. Straw is dried stalks from grain crops and is much more suitable for bedding as it is warmer and less likely to be eaten. It’s not a problem if rabbits eat straw but there are few nutrients and they must be given good quality hay to eat.Diet for other small pets Rabbits could survive on Hay and water alone, it’s not dissimilar to what they would find out in nature. But they will also find lovely fresh green shoots, leaves and vegetables.Straw bedding Hay is dried grass and the most vital part of a rabbit’s diet. Straw is dried stalks from grain crops and is much more suitable for bedding as it is warmer and less likely to be eaten. It’s not a problem if rabbits eat straw but there are few nutrients and they must be given good quality hay to eat.
Is straw or hay better for garden beds?
Straw bales should be used for your vegetable garden because straw, unlike hay, does not contain seeds. Hay bales are usually grown and sold as horse or livestock feed. As a result, these bales usually contain timothy and alfalfa seeds, which can sprout into plants when wet. Hay bales do indeed attract mice as well as other rodents because the bales make a suitable nesting place. In the autumn and winter when the days are shorter and the temperatures colder, mice are likelier to choose your bale of hay as their home.What about mice and rats? There is no greater risk of encouraging mice and rats into a straw bale building than there is for any other type of building. Straw is the empty stem of a baled grain crop and, unlike hay, it doesn’t contain food to attract furry creatures.Other problems: Straw bales are attractive to rodent and insect pests. The degree of infestation depends on moisture content, the percentage of grain residue and how long the straw was left out before being baled. Nebraska-style” straw bale homes may not meet building code requirements everywhere.There are also fire safety issues associated with straw and hay. When baled with a high moisture content, hay (and to a lesser degree, straw) can heat and spontaneously combust!