Hay instead of straw for strawberries

[redser]

Hi,
Is there any reason why I shouldn't use hay for mulching instead of straw? Somebody can give me a bale if I want it and it could be useful next season for strawberries.
Thanks!

[chris]

I guess straw might last a bit longer as it's thicker/walled?

If it's free, I'd take it anyway and use it - it'd be a good mulch at least. Anything like that can be used anyway

[redser]

Thanks a lot Chris. Hayberries next summer it is so

[alldigging]

More seeds in it apparently that might cause you problems.

I think if it's free you have to have a go with it.

[redser]

Cheers. I think I will

[Mikey]

I wouldn't use it for mulching personally, to start with its full of seed heads, both crop and weeds, you would be allowing these to potentially grow in you strawberry bed. Its also a lot finer than straw so compacts down very easily, your strawberries would be sat in a wet bed in no time at all.

Straw is just the stalks of the grass no seed heads, its course and thick, and thus great for bedding, and perfect mulch for strawberries as it holds the fruit off the wet ground.

Upto you, but I'd pass personally.

[chris]

Ah, I didn't know about seed in it, learn something new every day. Perhpas that's why my garden is all weedy, as I bought hay instead of straw once, and chucked it in my borders

[Kaiya]

Straw is the stalks of cereal grains (e.g. barley) rather than meadow grass, hence why the heads are missing.

[PyreneesPlot]

And keep some back for baking a ham or leg of lamb in. Divine.

[redser]

Thanks again, great info. I'll pass on it for the strawberries so.

[Kleftiwallah]

Noooooo Don't! I used hay last year and it turned into a smelly soggy mass and an ideal home for slugs and woodlice, the slugs made holes in the berries then the woodlice moved in. As soon as the rain hits it just slumps into a mass allowing the berries to touch the ground. With straw the berries are supported away from the dirty ground and the slugs..

Cheers, Tony.

[redser]

Thanks Tony. I'm going to hit the guy who offered it to me for almost ruining next year's crop

[alldigging]

Thanks Tony. I'm going to hit the guy who offered it to me for almost ruining next year's crop

Take it. Compost it. It'll be useful for something. If only filling flowerpots on sticks with hay to then catch earwigs.

[Two_Sheds]

Somebody can give me a bale

Pass it onto someone who has rabbits or guinea pigs

[Kestrel]

Take it. Compost it.

Remember that the seeds will be in the compost.

I would soak it as a whole bale 2 or 3 times, leave it for a week or two to start decomposing, then plant courgettes or tomatoes - or even strawberries into it. Just fill a planting hole in the top with compost and plant straight into that.