Hay Bale Gardening - PDF document

1 Hay Bale Gardening Janean Thompson,
Hay Bale Gardening Janean Thompson, Master Gardener Potter County AgriLife Extension Three interesting ways to

2 use hay bales. But how about a hay
use hay bales. But how about a hay bale garden ? A garden that: Is elevated on top of hay bales Is nearly weed

3 free Is fertile based Gives you con
free Is fertile based Gives you control of planting mix Is easy to maintain by nearly anyone A Simple Plan Of

4 Action Set up hay bales Water Add
Action Set up hay bales Water Add fertilizer Add soil Plant Grow Enjoy Harvest! Not just vegetables â€

5 “ flowers flourish in bales, too. E
“ flowers flourish in bales, too. Every hay bale garden is as unique as the person who creates it. Initial Set U

6 p of Hay Bale Garden: Arrange hay bale
p of Hay Bale Garden: Arrange hay bales in their permanent position as the bales are too heavy to move once

7 watering has begun. • Fo
watering has begun. • For 3 days, water each bale until it runs through – approximately 10 gallons p

8 er bale. Days 1 through 3 Procedur
er bale. Days 1 through 3 Procedure: Days 4 to 6 • On Day 4 sprinkle ½ cup fertilizer (20 - 20 - 20 or ammo

9 nium sulfate – 21% N) on top and wa
nium sulfate – 21% N) on top and water in well. Repeat on days 5 and 6. Hay bales set up in desired layout and

10 water/ fertilization is started. Gar
water/ fertilization is started. Garden is guarded by “Kit” the watchcat . Heavy watering along with fertili

11 zation is the secret to hay bale gard
zation is the secret to hay bale garden SUCCESS! • On Day 7 water well and allow the bales to set til

12 l day 9. Days 7 through 8 Day 9
l day 9. Days 7 through 8 Day 9 • On Day 9 top bales with a mix of garden soil and good compost. Water in.

13 • Add more soil if some melts into ba
• Add more soil if some melts into bales. Day 10 • Day 10 - Plant seed or small seedlings and The

14 Fun Begins!! Start seeds using the se
Fun Begins!! Start seeds using the seed packet information on spacing. With seed or transplant, elevated beds make g

15 ardening far less physical. Plants per
ardening far less physical. Plants per bale: • Each bale can hold two tomato plants, four pepper plants or two squa

16 sh plants. • All vegetables require
sh plants. • All vegetables require different spacing. I use the square foot gardening spacing guide (seed packet d

17 irections for spacing). Some examples w
irections for spacing). Some examples would be six to eight cucumbers, two yellow squash or 10 - 12 bean seeds per bale

18 . • Lettuce could be spaced 6 inches
. • Lettuce could be spaced 6 inches apart or thinned after sprouting for larger heads. What is a hay bale garden?

19 A garden that is: Elevated Hay
A garden that is: Elevated Hay bale set ups make it easy for the less mobile and for youngsters to garden! Ele

20 vation has many advantages: • Less B
vation has many advantages: • Less Bending • Easier access • Better vision (insects, crops, stray weeds) â€

21 ¢ Flexible layout – Anything goes!
¢ Flexible layout – Anything goes! • Unusual and interesting • Easily reached by kids or those with physical

22 limitations. • Neat and orderly â€
limitations. • Neat and orderly – few weeds! What is a hay bale garden? A garden that is: Nearly wee

23 d free Weeds are greatly reduced becau
d free Weeds are greatly reduced because the garden in elevated above soil level and the weeds that sprout are easily

24 be removed. Should sprouts of hay or w
be removed. Should sprouts of hay or wheat seed occur, they are easily sheared off. The major source of weeds is by

25 wind distribution. Elevation helps pr
wind distribution. Elevation helps prevent them. Virtually weed - free gardening IS Possible In this case, th

26 e gardener chose to leave the wheat spr
e gardener chose to leave the wheat sprouts on the outer edges. What is a hay bale garden? A garden that is:

27 Fertile base A simple set up that incl
Fertile base A simple set up that includes heavy fertilization yields: • The base (hay bales) is rich and will help

28 plants flourish. • Eliminates the
plants flourish. • Eliminates the need for any additional fertilization. • Facilitates easy water retention and

29 dispersal. • Flowers, vegetables,
dispersal. • Flowers, vegetables, herbs, berries, melons – any garden will be exceptional. Fertilizer and ex

30 tensive watering create a near perfect
tensive watering create a near perfect growing medium. What is a hay bale garden? A garden that has: Cont

31 rolled planting mix With your choice
rolled planting mix With your choice of soil mixes, you control the soil content • In this case, rich compost an

32 d garden soil were combined • The
d garden soil were combined • The mix had good tilth, lots of organic components, a good balance of open texture a

33 nd richness. • Water absorption was
nd richness. • Water absorption was good (important) Planting mix is applied on bales approx. 6 inches thick. Thi

34 s allows seedlings soil enough to grow
s allows seedlings soil enough to grow and expend roots into the bales. What is a hay bale garden? A garden

35 that is: Easy to maintain by nearly a
that is: Easy to maintain by nearly anyone Sacramento, CA Slow Food Nation event where all ages participated in

36 hay bale gardening. With seed or tra
hay bale gardening. With seed or transplant, elevation of beds makes gardening far less physical. Cool stuff: T

37 rellises are easily created for even bet
rellises are easily created for even better use of garden space. Bamboo Cucumber Trellis Bamboo hoop Squash Trellis

38 Trellises, buckets, hoops…your garden
Trellises, buckets, hoops…your garden becomes whatever you want it to be. Tiny seedlings and transplants take roo

39 t and the garden begins to grow. Gar
t and the garden begins to grow. Gardening with hay bales is: Easy Fun Less Physically demanding! Inexpensiv