- Straw Garden Mulch -
Why Straw
- Cheap
- Clean
- Light
- Breaks down easily
Types
- Not mixed with hay (hay is dull green)
- Straw is evenly colored yellow-amber
- Look for guaranteed weed-free straw
- Rice straw preferred as it rarely has weed seeds
- Wheat straw is more readily available
Tips
- Keep the bale in tact for the most part, remove the ropes one at a time and just shred off a bucket full at a time as needed. This cuts down on it flying everywhere especially if theres wind.
- Start with 1 bale and buy more as needed, because they are super compressed
- Spread the straw in a 3-6″ layer in between the rows and plants in each row
- Keep the straw away from leaves and stems of plants
- Check straw depth in a month and add more as needed
Break bale down
- Keep the bale in tact for the most part, remove the ropes one at a time and just shred off a bucket full at a time as needed. This cuts down on it flying everywhere especially if theres wind.
Lay it
- I did a handful at a time, tedious, but good to keep the straw from covering your plants if they are spaced close together
Water it in
- Will keep it firmly in place