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Mulching with hay bales...
In article ,
ask@itshall said... : :"Jeßus" wrote in message ... : In article , : ask@itshall said... : :"Jeßus" wrote in message : ... : : As you say, too many variables involved to say with any degree of : : certainty. I'll just get as big a load as I can. : : : : One way or the other it'll be quickly used up, I planted somewhere : : between 200-300 trees last year, and most of those will need some re- : : mulching before too long. Then there's the impending (new) polytunnel, : : which I hope will be ready to go by mid-autumn. Also the shade house : : veggie garden and the 'open' veggie gardens. And the fruit trees... and : : on it goes... : : : :A lady I know wrote a rather good book on kitchen gardening and she says : to : :never use straw straight from the bale but to age the bales first by : letting : :them sit on the earth and turning them occasionally for a couple of : months : :till they lose that straw colour. I have been doing this now for a : couple : f years and I think she's right. I now think that fresh straw isn't as : :good to use for mulch as aged straw. Plants seem to prefer aged straw. : : Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you : know. : : Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better compared : to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a more effective : covering, whilst at the same time providing some organic material, : bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly? : :what she says on the subject is the following: :"There are two good reasons for spoiling bales: :1. Germination or seed spoiling is encouraged and any grass that does grow n the bale is killed as the bale is rotated. :2. During the first few weeks of rotting, the hay and straw produces toxins :that inhibit plant gowth including the growth of weeds. the toxicity can :last for a few weeks." : :The toxicity doesn't surprise me a great deal given how resistant to :breaking down fresh straw can be if put straight on to beds. My soil needs :feeding rather than mulching as I have lots of other options for mulch. : :One thing she doesn't mention is how attractive older bales are to earth :worms. I turn them as I remember and then they sit aroud doign nuttin' and :by the time I finally use them, I find that the side touching the ground is :alive with worms. It is these worms and the decay that I really want in :aged bales. Some good points there, many thanks. |
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