Straw is a versatile tool in both flower and kitchen gardens. The most common use of straw is, of course, mulching, but that is far from the only one. These stalks also have numerous other uses in the garden. You should also know these methods, as a single bale of straw can usually be used in many different ways. How can garden lovers use straw in the garden?
The best thing about straw is that it can be recycled into something completely new. The low initial investment in straw is more than justified by the many practical uses and easy recycling. Read on and discover cool tips and tricks for your outdoor space!
What is straw?
The dried stalks that remain after harvesting grains such as wheat or oats are called straw. After the grains have been extracted, the dried stalks are wrapped into bales. The ideal straw bale is free of weeds and seeds.
Straw and hay are very similar, but there is one key difference: hay grown for animal feed contains seeds. These seeds can grow and produce weeds when used as mulch. High-quality straw does not contain many seeds. Check the straw bale for weeds before purchasing - weeds in the straw can spread weeds throughout the garden, which is bad. If you need good quality straw, it's worth asking - you can usually get good advice from local farmers, nurseries and garden centers.
Using straw in the garden: mulch and its benefits
Straw mulch not only reduces the likelihood of weeds sprouting, but also helps stabilize soil moisture and temperature fluctuations. A good cover of straw mulch will keep the plants cooler and reduce stress during the hotter times of the day that are coming soon. Plus, you don't need to water as frequently because the straw slows down evaporation from the soil. The soil can retain moisture better when it is consistently saturated. Regulating humidity throughout the day is key to preventing physiological problems such as fruit cracking and even blossom end rot in tomatoes.
Diseases spread by rain spray can be reduced with a thick layer of straw mulch. When rain hits bare ground, dirt and debris are thrown into the air, where they can land on leaves and spread fungi and germs. Using organic mulch such as straw can significantly reduce the spread of disease in garden plants by slowing the speed of raindrops and reducing soil splashing.
As these stalks decompose, nitrogen in the soil can be temporarily depleted. A balanced, organic fertilizer, compost, worm castings or well-rotted manure added to the soil before mulching can easily prevent this.
Which plants benefit from straw mulch?
Placing a layer of straw mulch on the growing pumpkins, melons and zucchini will keep them from getting dirty. Strawberries also benefit greatly from this. You can also use this mulch for the following vegetables: rhubarb, cabbage, peppers, celeryand tomatoes.
Enrich compost heaps
You can also incorporate straw into your compost to reuse in the garden. The straws are great for composting, regardless of whether you use straw bales to build your compost bin. In other words, straw is a carbon source and a “brown” substance. To create balanced compost and provide nutrition for the organisms that convert the waste into rich soil fertilizer, it is necessary to use brown carbon sources along with “green” materials such as food scraps or grass clippings. The ratio of straw to green material in a compost pile should be 2:1. The straws not only add weight to the compost pile, but also ensure that air is trapped. Because of their high fertility and rapid decomposition, they are a popular material for earthworms.
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Design garden paths and paths
You can use straw to keep your garden path free of weeds. Like mulch, stalks are a cost-effective and efficient way to line garden paths and paths, whether you're just starting out or have a long way to go. The advantages over heavier materials such as bricks, stones or pavers are low cost, biodegradability and lack of durability. Plus, it's easy to revive. When you use straw aisles in your garden or on paths near plants, they keep the soil moist and allow water to pass through, allowing you to water plants whose roots are near or beneath them.
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Protect seedlings
Straw can be used to screen newly seeded areas or cover crops, especially when applied over large areas. After sowing, cover the area with a thin layer of straw. A well-fluffed, watered straw is sufficient, but if you can chop it up first, that's even better. The straw not only protects the seeds from birds, but also helps retain moisture.
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