Growing Through Obstacles - Mulch, Straw, and Shade (2024)

FAQs

Will seeds grow through straw mulch? ›

The seeds that have germinated, have done so in open areas where the mulch is thinner due to animals digging. Of course, that's not to say that seeds will never germinate on top of pine straw mulch – they can. But walk through a pine forest and there are very few weeds growing.

Most gardeners who use straw mulch used it for controlling weeds. With a deep enough application of straw most weeds can be prevented from growing. If you plan to use straw as your sole weed control, use at least six inches of fluffed up straw. That is enough to inhibit most common garden weeds.

Organic mulch [such as straw] will dissipate the velocity of the rain droplets minimizing the soil splashing, which prevents quite a bit of disease transmission in garden plants," says Fox. Developing melons, pumpkins, and squash stay cleaner when they rest on a bed of straw mulch. It's great for strawberries as well.

Yes, straw is a very good garden mulch that can be used in any season because of its wide-ranging benefits. Straw is light, clean, easy to work with, and composts (or breaks down) fairly easily. Here are some other critical benefits of straw garden mulch: Retains moisture longer in the soil.

It is crucial to not bury your seeds in thick wood chip mulch before they have had a chance to germinate. Small, tiny seeds will not sprout if they are buried in a thick layer of coarse wood chips. For surface sowing seeds, gently press down the soil to remove air pockets.

Inhibits Germination

Excessive straw can prevent grass seed germination.

Even though pine straw can be a great alternative to mulch for several reasons, it also comes with a few cons. Pine straw has a shorter lifespan compared to other mulch styles and will only last about six months before needing to be replaced, meaning you will need to have pine straw installation occur twice a year.

Straw: Straw makes great mulch for tomatoes. But stay away from hay, as it's full of seeds. Spread a 3-6” layer around tomatoes. Newspaper or Cardboard: Newspaper is best for blocking weeds.

In short, it comes down to personal preference. Pine straw mulch is cheaper and easier to transport as it does not require tools to spread. On the other hand, shredded mulch offers more options for color, better water retention, and stays in place better than pine straw.

Your garden is naturally filled with plants that may appeal to rodents. This, in combination with the presence of mulching materials, make your garden the ideal space for these pests. Mulches such as straw, wood chips, and leaves offer the mice and their relatives safety and cover.

Does straw mulch attract termites? ›

Pine straw can be more expensive than mulch and may blow away in strong winds. Mulch is thicker than pine straw and provides longer-lasting weed control and moisture retention. Mulch can attract termites and other pests; pine straw does not.

There are some species that tolerate excessive mulch better than others. Some of the worst effected plants are grassy plants (iris, daylilies, liriope, etc.), Indian Hawthorn, Azaleas and Loropetalum.

I've used a lot of moldy straw and hay (some hay so slimy it had almost liquefied) over the years with no ill effects on my plants. Of course the word of one gardener doesn't constitute hard proof of safety. The upside: straw takes a long time (and a lot of nitrogen) to decompose, so you're part-way there.

When correctly managed, straw is an asset to the soil. Straw improves the soil structure and makes the soil more porous. When straw is mixed into the soil, it is immediately attacked by fungi and bacteria. These micro-organisms need carbohydrates for their growth and use the straw as a carbon and energy source.

Remove straw in the spring when the soil temperature reaches 40°F and the first new leaves begin growing. Delaying mulch removal too long will delay harvest and decrease yield. However, removing it too early increases the risk of freeze and frost damage.

A good organic mulch helps self-sowers thrive

But in a garden filled with self-sowers, you'll need to modify your mulching methods. Spreading mulch in early spring is likely to smother tiny, emerging seedlings. So, I wait until after my second thinning to put down mulch.

You can also grow lettuce and green beans in straw bales, but the number of plants depends on the varieties. Check the seed package. Both lettuce and beans grow easily and quickly by direct sowing methods (planting seeds directly). Use your trowel to dig into the top of the straw bale.

If you're applying flower bed mulch or garden mulch to a planting bed you just seeded with flower seeds or vegetable plant seeds, wait for the plants to develop a bit before applying mulch. If you're planting live plants, you can add the mulch after you plant them.

Peachblow Farm seedless straw is winter rye that is planted in the fall and is cut in mid-June before pollination is complete therefore there are no viable seeds.