peter bochek n

jksatte yep you were wrong they have been amazing for me

She is! You can find out more about it at lawnanddriveway.com

Hi! I asked about mice with the straw bale gardening too. Vicky said she doesn't have a problem because she has cats and a dog to help keep the critters under control. I would think the critters could be a problem if left unchecked. -Mary

"Silt fence" fabric is a thing.

Silt fence yea that stuff the have down from the swale to catch silt

I know I am replying late, but maybe you can use the info for spring...the only reason your bales would get moldy is if you over water them. That is why you want to make sure your bales stay damp, not wet. Just like a regular garden, but since straw bales act like a mulch and hold in the water, you do not have to water near as much as a regular garden. Do not get ditch hay at all, though, or you will defeat (some) of the purpose of straw bale gardening, which is no weeding. Ditch hay will be full of weed seeds. And you don't want hay anyway, you want straw. Opt for wheat or oats. The black material is a commercial grade weed blocker. You can buy it at the garden center, or likely cheaper someplace online. Or do yourself a favor and forget about that expense altogether. breakdown cardboard boxes and use them, instead. They will block out the weeds as well as the commercial weed blocker, and they will compost back into the soil eventually. And the best part about it is, they didn't cost you a dime.

Sue Woods yes there's mold the heat kills the problem your concerned about all of my fruit bushes are growing in straw filled raised beds they are low to no water after just 1 year

Lori Benson 9

NOT hay...STRAW! :) There is a difference, and you need to make sure to convey what you need to the party you are buying it from. Hay is what they feed livestock, and it is full of seeds. You will end up growing a crop of grain if you use hay. Straw is the bottom portion of the plant that has no seeds on it and it is what they use for livestock bedding. I purchased organic straw locally from a farmer...check out craigslist in your area, lots of farmers sell it that way. Or, you can also contact a landscape company. Though usually cheaper to buy it direct. I paid $4.50 a bale from the farmer, $6.00 a bale when I bought it from a landscaper.

Our Baldwin Homestead they can but if you buy from local feed lots or farmers you can get a great deal. check out craigs list see if you have opportunities in your area

I imagine you can for the first year, but the straw would decompose by the second year, so I don't really see the point. Unless, of course, you are treating it as an annual.

Elizabeth Clark yes and no.... yes you can use straw. I recommend using the old straw like after the gardening season to plant your shrubs absolutely amazing!