Straw bale gardening is a concept of using bales as natural boxes for growing plants. They are an ideal solution for people without hard soil (or no soil at all) who prefer avoiding plastic waste. You can use bales like ‘raised beds’ in your yard so that you don’t need some additional soil.
Keep in mind that you need bales of straw, not hay (it is dried grass)! Straw is a bulk of stalks of wheat or barley remained after the harvest. Before starting, you should condition bales, place them in a sunny location, and keep them well-watered, so that you can use them as a growing medium.
Some benefits of straw bale gardening
- No soil needed
Straw bale gardening is especially useful for gardeners that have poor or no soil at all. As the bales act as completely natural containers for your plants you can grow about anywhere you want. No need for tilling or cultivating your beds any longer. - Longer growing period
The decomposing straw creates warmth giving you a head start in spring and a longer growing period into fall, providing you up to a month of extra growing time. - Natural raised beds
If you find stooping difficult, or you’re just a fan of raised beds, straw bales provide an excellent ready-made container for your fruit and vegetables. Unlike raised beds, with straw bale gardening the bale itself forms the frame so no messing around with wood and nails. - Suited for small spaces
Even if you only have access to a balcony or flat roof area, you can still find a corner for a bale or two. - Less weeding & no soil-borne diseases
Because they’re new to your garden, straw bales are far less likely to be packed with weed seeds than ordinary garden soil. Soil-borne diseases are far less of a risk too. Providing you avoid hay (see below for more details), you’ll find few weeds grow in your bales. Any that sneak in can be readily pulled out because the straw is much looser than heavy garden soil, so no need for a weed eater.
How to build a straw bale garden
Straw bale gardening is a rewarding experience and a great way to grow vegetables and herbs. As we’ve mentioned, it’s easier on your body, inexpensive, and they work great for growing vegetables. But before you rush out and grab your first straw bales, there are a few tips you should keep in mind.
- Don’t make the mistake of using a hay bale for your straw bale garden. Hay bales will have tons of seeds, making weeding a huge challenge for your garden.
- Make sure you have a spot in your yard with full sun. This will help your vegetables grow.
- Avoid planting very tall plants, like sunflowers, in your straw bale garden. The bales will be fairly heavy once watered, but tall plants can easily topple a straw bale in a high wind situation.
Setting up a straw bale garden is pretty simple.
First, place your straw bales where you want them and make sure that the sheared side is facing up. One side of the bale should look folded over, the other should look sheared off. Once you’ve set your bales up where you want them, spread an all-purpose fertilizer over the tops of your bales.
Once you’ve spread fertilizer, give your bales a thorough watering, allowing the fertilizer to seep into the bales. Repeat the process of adding fertilizer and watering for several days. Once this process has ended, add a 3 inch later of potting soil and compost to the tops of the bales.
Now you’re ready to plant!
Follow planting guidelines for your vegetables, ensuring that you aren’t planting too close together or improperly. Once planted, regularly water your straw bale garden. This could mean every day, especially if you have hot summers. Moisture will readily escape the bales, allowing them to dry out easily.