Organic gardeners spend a significant amount of time and money combating weeds and improving the soil. An alternative method of building raised beds all but eradicates the need to till the earth or hoe weed seedlings. Gardeners can plant vegetables directly into straw bales, which act as a sort of natural container. At the end of the season, gardeners can leave the bales in place to break down naturally, enriching the soil for an in-ground planting the following season.
Benefits of a Straw Bale Garden
New homeowners commonly face property with compacted soil. In new developments, builders strip top soil for resale, and replace rich loam with cheap backfill, often comprised of clay and gravel. The landscape of many new developments consists of this hardpan soil topped with sod. Rather than struggling to amend such depleted soil for the first few seasons, gardeners can prime the soil with raised beds comprised of straw bales.
A hay bale garden can provide a solution for gardeners with back problems or other physical limitations. The elevation of a garden planted on top of hay bales reduces the need to stoop and bend to care for plants or pull weeds. Gardeners can even stack two straw bales on top of one another to make caring for plants as easy as extending one’s arms out.
Obtaining Straw Bales for Organic Gardens
Gardeners can use straw bales from oat or wheat straw, depending on what is available in the area. Pine straw bales are too acidic for most garden plants, so save pine straw for mulching in-ground acid loving plants.
Although straw bales are readily available from most garden and home improvement centers, it’s unlikely that these bales came from organic farms. If there are any small organic farms in the area, ask the farmer about organic straw sources. Otherwise, proceed with conventionally grown straw bales and use organic fertilization and pest control methods.
Planting a Straw Bale Garden
Place the straw bales in their permanent site before preparing them for planting, as the bales get very heavy when waterlogged. Sprinkle a cup of blood meal on each bale, and water the bale thoroughly. This helps the bale begin to decompose, and provides a more soil-like environment for plant roots.
Use a trowel to pry apart a planting crevice in the bale for garden transplants, or plant seeds directly into the bales. Spread a two-inch layer of compost on top of the bale to help the new plants or seedlings stay moist while they become established.
The number of plants per bale depends on the mature size of the plant. Gardeners can plant up to four small vegetables, such as peppers, per bale. Limit large plants like tomatoes to two per bale. Vines are particularly suited to straw bale culture, as the bales keep the plants away from ground dwelling pests.
Caring for a Straw Bale Garden
Although the straw bales may begin to sprout as they decompose, these plants aren’t vigorous and are easily removed with garden shears. Because the drainage provided by straw bale culture is excellent, gardeners may wish to fertilize frequently with weak compost or manure tea with each watering.
At the end of the season, leave the bales in place to enrich the soil, or add the remains to the compost bin. Gardeners achieve best results by starting with fresh bales each season.
Source:
Jamie McIntosh - Jamie has written hundreds of garden articles for the web, and is your guide to Flowers on About.com.
