In 40 years of gardening I’ve had it happen to me twice (maybe three) times.
The good news is that it’s NOT grass.
What is Straw?
Straw is a by-product of growing grain. It’s usually the stems of either wheat, oats, rye or barley. So those sprouts that look like grass are one of those grains.
Why Does It Have Seed In It?
Seed of grain in bales of straw can be a result of it not being harvested properly. Or perhaps the grain head on the harvest machine was not set right.
Another reason can be the use of older combines that leave grain in the field that are then picked up by the baler (machine) collecting the straw.
There are probably other reasons that are beyond the farmer’s control.
Know Your Source If Possible
If you buy straw from various sources and/or big box stores you have no way of knowing the origin. There’s no way to even take an educated guess at what your chances are of getting seed-free straw.
I’ve gotten my (wheat) straw from the same family for 40 years. They know what they’re doing when it comes to proper harvesting, but in spite of that I’ve had seed sprout in the garden at least 2 or 3 times over 40 years.
What To Do When It Sprouts
It pulled out easily and I took out a little each day until it was all gone.
As long as you don’t let it form seed you can just pull it and leave it on top of the bed to decay.
Another Way to Handle Things
I’ve read that folks who raise rabbits often cut these clumps which encourages more growth. Each time they cut — that’s free rabbit food.
And while it continues to grow the roots mine nutrients from the soil.
Will Covering Them Kill Them?
In a recent comment left on this post, friend and reader Susan also asked if covering the clumps would kill them.
Probably would if the mulch was deep enough to smother it. The main thing you don’t want to chance is having it continue to grow and set seed. My preference would be to pull it.
How About Using Pine Straw?
I had a brief email conversation with Susan right after she left her questions which included “should I consider using pine straw this summer rather than straw from Lowe’s?”
Pine straw makes an excellent mulch. When Bill was alive he would go to a forested area and rake up as many pine tags (a/k/a pine needles or pine straw) as could fit in the back of the truck. Over the years they’ve always been my favorite mulch.
Final Thought
If anyone has more questions about straw mulch (or any other kind of mulch) feel free to ask.
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FAQs
(And possibly a few weed seeds now and then.) So if you see what looks like green grass coming up at various places where you have your straw (mulch), it's the newly sprouted seeds of grain. They'll be easy to pull out and not a big problem if you do it in right away. And that will be the end of them.
Why is my straw growing grass? ›
Straw is a by-product of growing grain. It's usually the stems of either wheat, oats, rye or barley. So those sprouts that look like grass are one of those grains.
Will seeds sprout through straw mulch? ›
– **Vegetable Seeds and Straw**: Similar to mulch, straw can be a challenge for smaller seeds. Larger seeds like beans or squash may have a better chance. Again, waiting until seedlings have established before applying straw is a good practice.
How to get rid of wheat straw grass? ›
Expert Response. If your grassy weeds are wheat plants, they should die-off relatively soon in the coming growing season once regular mowing of the lawn resumes. Your presumption that mowing should kill it off is correct, as few grasses tolerate the routine mowing that turfgrass does.
Should you rake up straw after grass grows? ›
Straw can blow around and detract from the look of the new lawn until mowed for the first time. You'll need to rake off the unsightly straw after the grass grows, but you will also risk damaging young grass blades and roots if you do.
How do you get rid of straw like grass? ›
The most effective way to combat a fungal infection is to apply a fungicide. You will need to call in a lawn care professional to do this as the most effective fungicides are for professional use only. After a fungicide has been applied you will see a dramatic green up of the lawn in just a couple of weeks.
Will grass grow through mulch? ›
Our experience tells us that mulch must be applied with a certain level of thickness and vigilance to prevent grass from growing through it. If the layer of mulch is too thin or has deteriorated over time, sunlight and air may reach the soil surface, facilitating the germination of grass seeds present in the soil.
How to get rid of grass that looks like wheat? ›
Seed heads are generally challenging to cut cleanly, and only super sharp mower blades can do a neat job. Hence, ensure the mower blades are sharp before you work on your lawn. We also recommend maintaining a height of 3 to 3½ inches for mower blades to eliminate the seed heads.
What kills grass in wheat? ›
Hoelon, containing the active ingredient diclofop-methyl, can be applied in wheat to control annual ryegrass. Hoelon does not control broadleaf weeds, wild garlic, or annual bluegrass.
Will straw bales sprout? ›
As a result, these bales usually contain timothy and alfalfa seeds, which can sprout into plants when wet. If you use hay bales, chances are good you'll end up growing hay rather than vegetables.
Using straw to cover newly seeded areas is not recommended. Some straw may contain weeds and unwanted plant seeds that can invade your lawn. We recommend putting down a thin layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil™ evenly over the prepared area. Next, spread grass seed and lightly rake into soil.
Should you till straw into your garden? ›
Straw Mulch Increases Nutrients in the Soil
As straw rots, it releases nutrients, feeding the plants growing in it. Straw actually makes your garden better.
Do you water grass seed after straw? ›
Before watering the new grass seed for the first time, you need to protect it from evaporation. Spread straw mulch all over the seeded area before watering.
How do I keep my straw from blowing off grass seed? ›
Straw is still ideal for helping your grass seeds germinate and take root, but, like the grass seed, it is also prone to blowing away. The solution is a straw erosion netting that helps to keep everything in place.
How to get rid of hay grass in yard? ›
Hay should be easy to pull, roots and all, if you go after it while it is small and tender. The only alternative is to remove the existing lawn, hay and all, and start over again. Best wishes with your lawn!
Will grass seed grow on top of straw? ›
Using straw to cover newly seeded areas is not recommended. Some straw may contain weeds and unwanted plant seeds that can invade your lawn. We recommend putting down a thin layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil™ evenly over the prepared area. Next, spread grass seed and lightly rake into soil.
Why is my grass yellow and straw like? ›
Too little water and too much water can cause your grass to turn yellow. Water helps the flow of nutrients get into the roots of your grass, so if there's too little or too much of it, this can stop them from reaching your roots effectively. This can then cause yellowing.
