Would straw be a good idea??

[JimmerG]

I was out yesterday digging the lottie, and cursing rather a lot has my heavy clay stuck to everything and wouldn't break up properly. I'm slowly improving it with my utterly outstanding home brew compost, but I can never make enough, and now Mrs G wants to nick it all for her flower borders!!

But she did mention that she could get hold of a bale of straw.... so would this help? If I spread it all over the place now and lightly dug it in, would the ground be useable in a few months time?? Are there any crops that HATE straw. I've heard about using it as a mulch - but surely the mearest of zephyrs would blow it away??

And is there any difference between straw and hay when it comes to allotments??

Thanks for your help

J

[greendean]

there is a product called strulch which is a mineralised straw mulch that can be dug into the soil as well to imporve structure.

the only thing i would say is that straw will not add any nutrients like manure or compost and maybe the straw takes too much out of the soil to decompose it. plus straw and hay will have weed and grass seeds in them so may add to your problems. it would be better if the straw was left to decompose and dig in autumn time

[lynda66]

you can use straw, but it will take nitrogen from the soil while it rots, so you would have to combat that, though you can grow peas and beans as they fix their own nitrogen ....... but better used as a mulch than incorporated, you can use it in compost and urinate on it to help it rot quicker

zazen mentioned gypsum is very good at breaking up clay, as is fine-ish grit, and basically as much compost/manure etc as you can get in there straw isn't too bad for seeds, but hay will have seeds in

i've had a straw mulch down for a while on a small bit of garden to try it, and once it's wet it doesn't seem to blow off especially if you put cardboard on top

you can use straw and grass clippings to earth up potatoes, apparently and spuds are also good for loosening the soil. ..... the rest is just digging and adding stuff

[SarzWix]

Clay soil generally has quite good nutrient content, the trick is breaking it up so that it's accessible. Straw is useful as a mulch, but as the other say, it can take nitrogen from the soil while it's decomposing, I sprinkle with chicken manure pellets to try and compensate. The best thing you can do for your soil, apart from adding home-made compost or manure, is add some horticultural grit or similar very small chippings - my pebble dash falling off has done wonders for my front garden

[lynda66]

thats the stuff horticultural ... grit lol, couldn't think of the word

[JimmerG]

Thanks everyone,

So much info in 40 mins!

I completely forgot about the nitrogen depleting effect of rotting matter. Sounds like something it might do at the end of the season.

One solution I've found - sharp sand from any of the B&Q type places is only £1.30 bag, a few of these spread around does a good job.

But you're right there's no susitute for a good load of manure - I've found a good farm, just got arrive at a time when Mr. Farmer is in!

[SarzWix]

I think it works out cheaper to buy the stuff for pebbledashing from a builders merchant than it is to buy the horticultural stuff, even cheaper if you have a pal that does it for a living and you can get all their sweepings for nothing

[greendean]

just a note about sand and chippings from diy and builders merchants is that often they have chemicals present that may leach into soil. better to buy proper horticultural grit and sand just to be safe

[Snadger]

This lady new a thing or three about straw!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html

[greendean]

phew that lady likes a bit of veg with her straw. me thinks my double digging days are over.