Mulching with hay bales... - Page 2

 

ask@itshall said...
:
:> @bigpond.com said...
:> :
:> :pretty hard to determine how far mulch will go as it comes packed
:> :tight to loose there is no real standard, and bales can be larger or
:> :smaller again no standard.
:> :
:> :the way i mulch i try to keep it all around 8"s thick and that
:> :determines how far a bale goes. buiscuits can vary in thickness also
:> :curently bales of sugar cane mulch gibing 4" to 5" that can't be
:> :seperated thinner.
:>
:> Thank for the advice Len.
:>
:> 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
:of 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?

 

Jeßus wrote:

How do you know this?  What are the signs?


Is what you you are using straw of hay?  The two are not the same, they come
form different sources, have different content and behave differently.

David

 


See my partial response in another post as it's got some relevance.

I've always had a great respect for earthworms.  I've never seen an
earthworm in hay (of any variety) or straw (of any variety but I think I've
probably only ever used wheaten straw) that I used fresh on beds as mulch
but the same cannot be said for the spoiled bales.  I figure earthworms know
what's good for them.

I assume that the positive effect on the plants could relate to what is in
effect the application of a slab of earthworms who have something to feed on
immediately the spoiled mulch is applied - they've already been feeding on
it, they don't need to go off and find food as they've already been feeding
and can stay there continuing to feed and thus doing the plant good.  That,
plus the commencement of the rotting process in the bales that is in effect
a composting process already well on its way and that also makes the plants
respond positively.

I don't really know why as I'm not as clinically observant as say Jackie
French is when she notices something.  I don't do the sorts of trials that
she does to see if there really is a difference, but then I'm also not
trying to sell books based on my experiences.  I just do what I find works
here in my garden.

Give it a try with one bale and you too might become a convert.


True, and we've discussed those differences that here before.  But I suspect
that many other posters aren't rural dweller so perhaps don't really know
the difference and they get what they can and at a price that they can
afford.  I do the same and I do know the difference.

 


:Jeßus wrote:
:> 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?
:
:Is what you you are using straw of hay?  The two are not the same, they come
:form different sources, have different content and behave differently.

Hmm... :)

Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities of
straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of hay or
straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large amount pretty soon
though.

I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which I've
found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants (especially
sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.

 


All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.