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 Post subject: straw vs. hay
PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 8:07 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 8:22 am
Posts: 15
Last year I stumbled on several hay bales that I used for mulch between my veg. garden rows. The downside was that it sprouted. I have a dumb question, what is the difference in hay and straw, because I'd really like to try the straw this year. Also, do I get it at a feed store, or are there better sources?


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 8:31 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 20, 2003 4:33 pm
Posts: 526
Location: parker county, texas
My favorite hay mulch is alfalfa. It costs a little more, but it's worth the extra dollars to me. You must have had hay that was cut after the grass started flowering. I've used straw, alfalfa hay, and coastal bermuda hay. I've never had any of it sprout.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 6:06 am 
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Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:18 pm
Posts: 1093
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
Hay is the entire stalk of grass, seeds and all. Straw is the stalk of a plant like wheat after the seed head has ben harvested.
Whatever you use, be sure of the source. Many growers use chemical herbicides which can leave a residue on your organic garden.
Tony M


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:57 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:12 pm
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Straw is usually a deep golden yellow and hay should be a dull deep green. When I am prepping a section to grow in the early spring several months before last frost, June 15, I will buy any fresh hay and turn it under. The earthworms love it and the have provides lots of nitrogen for the soil and it really loosens my clay soil up. I then mulch with straw or any extra hay on top of my row. During the growing season I mulch almost to the bottom leaves to keep my soil moist and my earthworms nice and cool. Good luck

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Zone 3-4, also growing in a grow dome,
willing to learn anything new.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:58 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:12 pm
Posts: 16
Straw is usually a deep golden yellow and hay should be a dull deep green. When I am prepping a section to grow in the early spring several months before last frost, June 15, I will buy any fresh hay and turn it under. The earthworms love it and the have provides lots of nitrogen for the soil and it really loosens my clay soil up. I then mulch with straw or any extra hay on top of my row. During the growing season I mulch almost to the bottom leaves to keep my soil moist and my earthworms nice and cool. Good luck

_________________
Zone 3-4, also growing in a grow dome,
willing to learn anything new.


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