Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Straw, Hay and Grass Clippings
Straw and hay aren't the most aesthetically pleasing, but they are fairly good mulch
types if you can find a source. You may not want to use straw or hay from ryegrass as it has
toxins in it, nor from grass that has been sprayed with pesticides, which is common in
many countries. The difference between straw and hay is that straw is just stalks from har-
vested grain, while hay is finer and has seeds, so hay will often actually produce extra
weeds. You can deal with this by composting it in a hot compost to kill the weed seeds, but
make sure you get all the seeds into a hot enough part of the compost pile.
Grass clippings aren't the best mulch to use in the garden in abundance because they can
get so tightly packed together that they inhibit air circulation. Besides, they're far too im-
portant for the soil below your grass plants than to remove them and bring them into the
flower or vegetable garden as mulch. They don't cause thatch or any other lawn problems,
but they provide many benefits so please let grass clippings lie in place.
If you have left a little bit too much time between cuts and you simply have too many
clippings, add them to the compost pile. Just make sure they're thoroughly integrated into
the pile, because if they are left in a big clump, they may promote anaerobic decomposi-
tion.
