Using hay in compost piles has two distinct advantages. First, it gives you plenty of brown materials in the middle of the summer growing season, when most of the freely available ingredients are green. Also, composting with hay bales allows you to construct a completely green compost bin that eventually turns into compost itself.
Can I use hay to make compost?
Many farm wastes (manure, hay, silage, sawdust) can be composted with minimal pre-treatment. Other wastes that become available from time to time (woody wastes) may need to be chopped up because they are too coarse.
Does hay break down in compost?
Some people even build their compost bins out of hay bales! The bales gradually decompose into the compost heap itself. Composting hay will add a few seeds to your bin, and you may end up with a lot of green, growing wheat plants during the summer months.
Is straw or hay better for compost?
As hay decomposes, it adds many more nutrients to the soil than does straw. I also prefer to work with hay finding it much less stiff. I use it as mulch and as I build lasagna gardening beds. Alfalfa hay is particularly rich and I use it often.
Does hay make good fertilizer?
“Hay as fertilizer provides a full nutrient package rather than just NPK,” Gerrish said. Gerrish noted that in much of the U.S., hay can be bought at a lower price than most farmers would pay to produce and harvest it on their land. This includes the value of all the nitrogen (N) and minerals contained in that hay.
What do farmers do with old hay?
Leftover, weather-worn bales of hay can be used to fertilize pastures. Age, mold, moisture take toll. Bales can be used as fertilizer.
How long does it take a bale of hay to decompose?
After 2 years, the bale will have almost completely decomposed and you will then happily throw it on your other garden beds as a really healthy mulch and start over with new bales.
How long does it take for hay to compost?
It will take two to four months for plant material in a compost pile to decompose if it is turned regularly. Otherwise it may take six months or more.
Does hay decompose into soil?
Water is important for decomposition, and leaving your hay compost exposed to rain can facilitate the process. However, the bottom layer must not be fully saturated. Therefore, be sure that your compost pile can drain. If your hay is too wet, it will turn.
How do you compost hay fast?
If there is one secret to making fast compost, it is finely shredding the carbon rich ingredients such as fallen leaves, hay, straw, paper and cardboard. Shredding increases the surface area that the compost microbes have to work on and provides a more even distribution of air and moisture among the materials.
What can you do with leftover hay?
Donate to a plant nursery – Even if you don't have your own garden, donating your leftover hay bales to a local plant nursery is a great way to get rid of them. Also, most places are happy to accept your donations free of charge.
Can you compost moldy hay?
You don't have to line the bottom of your hutches to help compost beneath it. Moldy/wet hay can also be used in the garden, the compost bin, and even act as a planter!
What does hay do to soil?
Aside from well-aged compost, hay is arguably the best mulch for a vegetable garden. Like straw, it's a good insulator, effective against weeds, and breaks down quickly to enrich the soil. Alfalfa hay is especially good, because as a legume, it provides nitrogen to your soil.
Does hay decompose into soil?
Water is important for decomposition, and leaving your hay compost exposed to rain can facilitate the process. However, the bottom layer must not be fully saturated. Therefore, be sure that your compost pile can drain. If your hay is too wet, it will turn.
Can hay straw go in compost bin?
Yes! Yes, straw can be composted – but only as long as it isn't contaminated with anything on the “don't compost!” list.
Can you put moldy hay in compost?
Moldy/wet hay can also be used in the garden, the compost bin, and even act as a planter!
How do you compost hay fast?
If there is one secret to making fast compost, it is finely shredding the carbon rich ingredients such as fallen leaves, hay, straw, paper and cardboard. Shredding increases the surface area that the compost microbes have to work on and provides a more even distribution of air and moisture among the materials.
Why turn compost pile?
Additionally, turning the pile will ensure that all of the compost is exposed to high temperatures in the centre of the pile to kill pathogens and weed seeds, and make sure that the final product is homogeneous.
Why do you mix compost?
Compost ingredients must be thoroughly mixed to ensure effective composting. How well the compost is blended in the mixing process will strongly influence how rapidly the composting occurs as well as the quality of the final product. It will also make management of the pile easier and ensure the product is of a consistent quality.
Why does compost need to be heated?
Heating occurs due to the rapid increase in biological activity in the pile and the consumption of available food by the microbes.
How to determine moisture content of compost?
Another way of determining the moisture content of your compost is to assess it by hand. Ideally compost should appear wet, but when a handful is taken and squeezed hard, moisture should be visible but not run out of your hand. At 50 to 60 per cent moisture content, the compost will hold its form after squeezing, and resist crumbling (Figure 2).
How is aeration maintained?
Aeration is maintained by physically turning the pile, and also ensuring that the feedstock contains a mix of small particles and larger air trapping particles. Wastes such as manure can have high moisture contents, and if not well-mixed can impede air flow. Such material should be mixed with structured wastes such as straw or woodchips.
What is the most cost effective composting method?
While there are numerous composting methods available, the most simple and cost effective for farmers is the 'Turned Windrow' method.
What percentage of oxygen is in a pile?
Oxygen percentages of greater than 10 per cent inside the pile are adequate but when levels drop to around 5 per cent, the activity of the microbes will slow. In oxygen-deprived piles, anaerobic microbes will begin to dominate and unlike the aerobic microbes, these can produce foul smells.
Is Purchased Compost Safe?
And what about purchasing compost? A lot of that compost contains materials that may be contaminated with aminopyralid or other herbicides. If an animal eats hay that was grown in a sprayed field, its manure will hurt your gardens — and most hay fields are being sprayed. That also means if you sweep up the hay from your local feed story to throw into your compost piles, you run a terrible risk.
How long does aminopyralid stay in the soil?
Aminopyralid stays in the soil for a long time, too. Estimates range from 2 to 5+ years. The poison is taken up into the grass and passes through the animal's digestive systems without losing its plant-killing power. If you add straw or hay to your gardens or compost pile, it can kill your plants.
Is manure and compost a high risk addition to gardens?
What a shame that some of the very best organic amendments you can buy – manure and compost – are now a high-risk addition to your gardens. I’m seeing more and more people post about this problem and it’s very good to observe other gardeners take up the warning.
Does Grazon kill grass?
Grazon is a "selective" herbicide. It kills broad-leafed plants... but it doesn't kill grasses. Hay farmers love it for that reason—but gardeners are paying a steep price. -Advertisement-. I was devastated after losing my gardens so I started sharing my story far and wide – including in Mother Earth News.
Who is David Goodman?
David Goodman (David The Good) is a gardening expert and the author of five books available on Amazon, including Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting, Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening, Push the Zone: The Good Guide to Growing Tropical Plants Outside the Tropics and Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening. Find new inspiration every day at his popular gardening website. Read all of David's MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.
Can you grow corn in Canada every year?
Here in eastern ont Canada we have a problem with corn growers using atrazine ,so they can grow corn every year,instead of doing companion planting like they used to do.
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All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Guidelines, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on their byline link at the top of the page.
What is the steamed plant material that is leftover from distillation called?
The next step is to send the liquid to a separator. The steamed plant material which is leftover from the distillation process is called the mint hay compost. Like most compost , it’s dark brownish black in color and rich in organic materials.
What is mint hay?
Mint hay compost is a byproduct of the peppermint and spearmint oil industry. The most common method for commercially extracting the essential oils from mint is by steam distillation. This process starts with the fall harvest of mint plants. Commercial mint crops are harvested in much the same way as grass and legume hay, hence the name mint hay.
How deep should mint compost be?
Using mint compost is similar to other types of organic mulching products. Spread evenly to a depth of 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm.) in weeded beds around plants and at the base of trees. Did you find this helpful?
Why is mint hay compost so popular?
Here are a few reasons why it has become popular: Mint hay compost is 100% natural. It adds organic material to growing beds and can be used for soil amendment. Mint compost has a pH of 6.8. As a byproduct, using mint compost promotes sustainable agriculture.
How is mint hay harvested?
Commercial mint crops are harvested in much the same way as grass and legume hay, hence the name mint hay. Mature plants are cut by machine and allowed to air dry in the fields for several days. After drying, mint hay is chopped and taken to a distillery.
What is mint mulch?
Mint mulch, also called mint hay compost, is an innovative product that is gaining in popularity in regions where it is available. Gardeners are using mint compost for the many benefits it offers. Let’s take a look at what it is and how to make mint compost.
How long does mint hay take to vaporize?
At the distillery, the chopped mint hay is steam distilled to a temperature of 212 F. (100 C.) for ninety minutes. The steam vaporizes the essential oils. This steam mixture is sent to a condenser to cool and return to a liquid state.
How to grow flowers in hay bales?
To garden in the hay bales, place them in the desired location and condition them. Saturate the bales with water and keep them moist for the first three days. Sprinkle the tops with 1/2 cup of urea (46-0-0) for the next three days, keeping the bales moist. On the following three days, reduce the urea to 1/8 cup and continue to water the bales. During this process the centers of the bales begin to heat up and decompose. Keep them moist and wait until the temperature drops and they feel comfortable to your hands. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of soil over the bales and plant seeds or seedlings as usual.
How to keep bales of hay moist?
Saturate the bales with water and keep them moist for the first three days. Sprinkle the tops with 1/2 cup of urea (46-0-0) for the next three days, keeping the bales moist. On the following three days, reduce the urea to 1/8 cup and continue to water the bales.
How to keep hay from falling on the ground?
Mulch. Spread spoiled hay under your flowers and vegetables as an organic mulch. Mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture and keep s veggies from lying on the ground. It also prevents soil splash back from falling rain, leaving produce fresh and clean, even after a downpour.
What to put in compost bin?
Spoiled hay is a natural for adding to the compost bin. Add heaping mounds of it layered with green matter, such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peels and cores, and other fresh kitchen wastes to start the composting process. Moisten the pile and turn it every few days to keep the process going.
What is spoiled hay?
Spoiled hay may have passed its prime for feeding livestock, but that doesn't mean it's ready for the landfill. Spoiled hay is nothing more than old hay that has dried and begun to decay, which means it qualifies as organic matter. Nearly any gardener can tell you that decaying organic matter is a gold mine when it comes ...
How to break down hay?
Chop or shred spoiled hay and add it to your garden soil in the fall as an organic soil a mendment. Work it into the soil with a garden tiller or hand tools and let nature take its course in breaking down the bits of hay. Organic matter improves soil by increasing aeration, improving drainage and adding nutrients. Although hay takes time to break down, chopping or shredding it speeds the process.
Can you use spoiled hay in your garden?
Nearly any gardener can tell you that decaying organic matter is a gold mine when it comes to the garden. There are a host of ways to use spoiled hay in your garden to improve your soil or protect your plants.
What is the most widely grown vegetable garden?
Tomato plants are the most widely grown of all backyard vegetable garden plants. And they are also one of the most easily diseased. Tomato plants carry a high risk of spreading disease when added to a compost pile.
What animals can be attracted to decomposition?
Many can slow the decomposition process down, while others attract rodents, raccoons and other unwanted pests.
What is my garden?
This Is My Garden is a website dedicated to spreading the love and knowledge of gardening around the world. We publish two new garden articles each week. This article may contain affiliate links.
Can compost kill pathogens?
Most backyard compost pile s never reach a high enough temperature to kill pathogens and spore s.
Can you keep compost bins healthy?
But by simply avoiding placing some of these “trouble-causing” materials in your compost bins, you can keep your pile healthy and thriving.
Should you remove seed cores before placing in compost pile?
Seed cores should be removed before placing in the pile compost pile .
Can you put grease in a pile?
Adding fat, or greasy foods with heavy cooking oil to a pile is like putting a welcome mat out for pests. Raccoon, mice, and yes, even rats are easily attracted to piles that are greasy and fatty. In addition, all of that fat and grease can cause extremely foul odors.
