Spring is around the corner and the time to make decisions about things like soil, mulch, and fertilizer is upon us! At The Straw Barn, we recommend using straw for your ground cover and mulch this planting season. Straw mulch can be used to insulate your plants, keep in moisture, and keep away pesky weeds this season.
Insulation
Straw is a well-known insulator. That is why many farmers use it as livestock bedding to keep their horses, pigs, and other animals warm in the cold winter months. Just as it keeps animals warm, straw can protect your plants from frost. The weather can be unpredictable in the southeast, especially in the springtime. If you plant flowers or vegetables in your garden before the last frost, straw is a great way to protect them from those last few days of harsh winter weather.
Moisture
Have you ever wondered why people use straw as mulch around their strawberry plants? Since strawberries are perennials, they can survive for multiple years if cared for properly. Many people use straw as mulch around their perennials to keep in moisture during cold, dry winters or if they live in a dry climate with little rain. You can use straw to lock in moisture around any plants or vegetables that need it this season.
Weeds
Weeds are a gardener’s worst nightmare and a constant chore if you have a flower or vegetable garden to tend. Using straw as mulch is a great way to deter weeds in your garden beds this season and you won’t need to use as much weed killer—if any at all depending on how dense your straw is and how often you weed by hand. Since the straw mulch blocks a lot of the sunlight, it creates an environment where even weeds struggle to grow. Finally, your gardening prayers have been answered!
Straw has many uses, both in and outside the garden. We hope these tips help you in your spring planning and wish you a bountiful harvest! Contact the Straw Barn at (615) 427-9799 for info about our straw—we’ll even help you load or if you order enough we can deliver.