I agree,the bales are hard to separate and handle. I can get old hay for free, big round bales. Separating them is a pain though.

I ran a bale through my Simplicity shredder/chipper. Made a really nice product but it was not fun to do. I am intending to run just some bales through the manure spreader to see how well it beats the straw up. I can put the stuff through several times to really break up the stalks. Not really sure the diesel fuel is worth the effort but I won't know until I try.

Lloyd

I'll be dipped, I was just about to start a thread with this very question! I am currently shredding my fall leaves and piling them in a chicken wire bin, with the intention to use the leaves as mulch in my veggie garden next year. However, while layering my compost bins, I am quickly using up my leaves, and it appears that I am not going to have enough for use as mulch. I also like the idea of having the "rare" summer browns available to use for next year's compost.

Anyway, with that said, I was reading up on using straw for mulch, and I like the light color it has. It really makes the plants stand out. But, I do not like the length of it, and I do no like the idea of using a massive layer. If I were to use either my mulching vac or an electric leaf shredder, I would think I could shred it, bring the size/consistency down a lot. If I did so, would it be ok then to use a 2 or 3" layer? I just don't like the idea of a super thick layer, which would cause problems for sowing seeds, checking seedlings, and I would imagine rodents would LOVE it.

Joe

Rodents may love it you are right. It's an experiment of mine this year. :) I don't like the looks of all that long stringy straw all over the beds out front especially so I have shred it. The more I ran it through my leaf blower/vac the more it shred. But it's easier to do if the straw is dry. It's a beech to do if it's wet! lol

We'll see how it goes but should be so much easier to spread out. Any extra can save for compost or adding later in the winter for more mulch.

Rodents shouldn't be too much trouble if you wait until the ground is crusty frozen on top. They will have found winter homes by then.

To effectively block the light unwanted plant growth needs a mulch, not using some other kind of barrier, needs to be 3 to 4 inches thick at a minimum. If something like newspaper, or cardboard, is used less material will be needed since it is not that material that blocks access to light.
Shredding straw would make that material more dense on the soil, but will also mean much more is necesssary to cover the same area. It can also create large amounts of dust that may well require the use of a dust mask.

I have almost an unlimited supply of straw. I mulched my asparagus and strawberries with it late in the summer. I think it would be easier to place up around the plants if it were shredded and in smaller pieces. I'd never used a leaf vac/shredder before but have been using my MILs on her leaves and I love it. Its easy and mulches the leaves nicely. Might try it on some straw, too.

Listen to Kimmser ! Beware of dust ! I have COPD, not from smoking, but from chronic bronchitis due to allergies. I have used antihistamines on an as needed basis, or so I thought, but now it appears I should have been taking them daily my entire life. And I should have been wearing a dust mask when I mowed the lawn, shredded leaves, shredded hay & straw & many other activities. Please protect your lungs from unneccesary dust. COPD is NO FUN at all.

mommyandme2, I know about the COPD, my hubby has severe COPD from the service. No fun at all!

I have used a product called "Mainely mulch" which is basically shredded salt marsh hay. It was a nice product and very easy to work with, but expensive. I have also used lots of straw and hay (mostly free!) as mulch over the years, and never found it difficult to work with unshredded. I picked up many bags of partially decomposed hay at the town compost site this summer, and used it to mulch all the veggies and the annuals (after testing it on a small plot first). It was very easy to work with, even mulching in between the tall Zinnias that were avg. 6 inches apart.

Personally, I am always looking for the most efficient and greenest way to do things in gardening, and for the most part don't think it's worth the time, fuel, $$, mess, or risk to health to shred organic materials. Shredded leaves, straw etc. ARE really nice, but so is partially decomposed straw or leaf mold.

PS. I never mulch seedlings and small plants! There are zillions of slugs in my yard, so I diligently use the natural iron phosphate slug pellets for seedlings, and then apply mulch once the plants are well-established, at least 1 foot tall.

The straw that pulls apart as flakes or clumps can be used to mulch tomatoes rather nicely. Just line up the thick pieces & spread a bit on top of them for a uniform look. Works great to put over UCG from St*rbucks. Plus lasts longer than one growing season that way. Beware of hiding places for slugs. Use Sluggo.

Ooops I just googled Mainely Mulch and it's not salt marsh hay, but chopped up hay and straw that is sterilized to kill the weed seeds. So apparently it as weed free as salt marsh hay.

I didn't have any problem with weed sprouting in the partially decomposed hay I picked up at the town compost site, I figure the hay must have stayed moist enough to rot out the seeds.