Hay for mulch ???
 

Anybody use hay for mulch ? How thick do you put it ? I usually use leaves but my neighbor was throwing away some halloween hay bales so I figure maybe using for mulch or cover the leaves so they don't blow away . It may be straw cause I see no weeds or seeds in it...

Weed seeds are the big gotcha. Straw is better than hay, but time will tell how many weed seeds you end up planting.

I know i am late responding but i would use it. Weeds may/may not be a problem but if thats all you have, use it. After the plants are done producing, take the hay off... do not work into the ground. In order for the soil to decompose the straw, nitrogen will have to be used which will deplete some of the N within the soil.

Some hay or straw is high is silica and is hard to break down if worked into the soil so thats another reason not to work it into the ground. If you arent planting in that area for some time, working it into the ground isnt bad but going from a fall/winter garden to spring garden, i wouldnt work it into the soil

i would fluf them and burn them, lots of good stuff with burnt potash.......till em in and let nature take over

I use it every year and put in on to where I can't see the soil. Really helps a lot with water retention and I don't have a problem with weeds. Also makes it really nice when it rains because I can walk between the plants on the hay. At the end of the season, I till it under to help the soil not get compacted and use black plastic to cover the garden until I'm ready to plant again. No weeds.

hey mulch for us was a horrible mistake we used it and are still fighting it went on a 2 month fall road trip came home needing to bail we ahd several garden boxes full of nothing but hey grass.

I normally use leaves with success but the winds of march always blows most of them away . That's why I was thinking put leaves and cover with the hay . I have 2 rows so I guess I'll experiment and see . One with both and one just hay . It looks like clean hay without johnson grass and other weeds and seeds .

I use rice hay. Would never use grass hay.