Which is better mulch hay or straw?
Hay tends to lay flat and pack down, so it decomposes fairly quickly. It also has more of a sponge effect than straw does, which means that in heavy rainfalls, it buffers or slows down the amount of rain that soaks into the soil to help prevent erosion and leeching of nutrients.
What’s best for the garden hay or straw?
Which is better straw or hay?
Hay is harvested while it is still a live, healthy plant. Straw is the dead stalks of plants after the valuable parts of the plants have been harvested. Hay provides a good nutritional value for animals who are going to be eating it, while straw provides little nutrition.
What is the best hay for garden mulch?
Is straw A good mulch?
Do horses eat straw?
Do horses eat straw? Although straw is often not the most palatable source of fibre, most horses will eat it, particularly if they are on a restricted diet. It can easily be mixed in with hay and soaked or steamed if necessary.
Can you use moldy hay in garden?
But! 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!
Is hay OK for chickens?
While not common, providing hay for chickens can be a good thing. It’s an inexpensive way to provide food and a little entertainment to these animals. A hay bale in a chicken run gives birds the opportunity to search for a variety of tasty treats.
Do horses eat hay?
Many pleasure and trail horses don’t need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn’t enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse’s calories should always come from roughage. Horses are meant to eat roughage, and their digestive system is designed to use the nutrition in grassy stalks.
Is it OK to use old hay for mulch?
It does indeed break down, but unless you have a very wet environment it shouldn’t get moldy. Instead, it will start to compost, creating a rich layer of nutrients for your plants. This is especially good for seeds and starter plants.
Should I put hay in my garden?
Hay will not give you a dry layer of cover that is pleasing to look at, but it is a great mulch for growing flowers and vegetables, and you’ll get a fantastic yield. To start a garden, with seeds or starters, first create a thick layer of hay, up to eight inches (20 cm.), right over your garden soil.
What is the best mulch to use in a vegetable garden?
Compost. Compost is perfect for vegetable gardeners because it both improves soil quality and structure and keeps roots safe and insulated. It’s a nutrient-rich mixture of decomposing organic matter, from table scraps to grass clippings, and you can make it all by yourself.
Can horses eat strawberries?
Almost any fruits, and many vegetables, are safe treats for healthy horses. Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas.
Can horses eat wheat?
Wheat can be fed to horses provided it is introduced gradually and balanced correctly with roughage. This applies to all grains. Heat-treated (cracked or soaked) wheat is preferable because it is more easily digested. If wheat is heat-treated, up to 4 kg per day per horse can be fed in the ration.
What do farmers do with old hay?
Spoiled hay has the added benefit of breaking down slowly over the summer and adding organic matter to the soil. It can also be used for winter mulch to cover tender plants and protect them from the effects of cold winds or freezing temperatures.
Which is better mulch hay or straw?
Hay tends to lay flat and pack down, so it decomposes fairly quickly. It also has more of a sponge effect than straw does, which means that in heavy rainfalls, it buffers or slows down the amount of rain that soaks into the soil to help prevent erosion and leeching of nutrients.
Will chickens freeze to death?
Can Chickens Freeze to Death? It’s natural to worry that your chickens are going to freeze to death when it’s bitter cold outside. The answer is yes, chickens can freeze to death, but it’s rarely simply due to the cold.
What is warmer hay or straw?
Straw—Not Hay—for Outdoor Cat Shelters
An outdoor cat house filled with straw—not hay—will keep your feline friends warm and cozy during the winter. The difference between straw and hay may seem mundane, but it can actually make a world of difference for cats.
What is a horse’s favorite food?
Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.
Can humans eat hay?
What is this? Can humans eat hay? Drying out grass in the form of hay does not break down the cellulose. Therefore, similarly to grass, hay is not edible for humans.
Why is my hay molding?
With wet weather and high humidity, normal drying in storage may not occur and hay can retain elevated levels of moisture allowing mold growth. Mold will grow on hay without preservative at moisture levels above 14% to 15%.