

Straw Bale Gardening Is Easier Than You Think—Here's What to Know

Yes, you can garden even if you have no soil!

Terrible garden soil? Or even no soil? No problem. Yes, you can garden! Straw bale gardening uses a bale as the medium in which you plant. You won't have to dig in rocky or hard soil, and it creates cheap, raised beds. At the end of the season, you can compost the bales, so it’s the ultimate in sustainable gardening. It's ideal for vegetable gardens, but you also can grow ornamental flowers.

But two things to remember: Place your bales somewhere you can access water because you can’t let them dry out. You don't want to be hauling water all day long. It’s also not the most attractive sight as the straw begins to decompose and turn a semi-funky gray (so it's probably not best to place these in your front yard!).

Here’s what else you need to know about straw bale gardening.

What do I need to build my straw bale garden?

Get a bale of straw (not hay, which contains grass and weed seeds) at your local hardware or farm supply store; organic is best so it won't contain herbicides that may linger and kill the plants you do want. They’re usually about $10 to $15. You also may want to get a couple of metal stakes to drive into the ground at either end of the bale for stability. Also, start this process a few weeks before you plan to plant because it takes some time and prep work.

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How do I choose a spot for my straw bale garden?

If you plan to grow veggies, choose a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. Put down some landscape fabric or cardboard first, then place your bales; that will help control weeds. Don’t forget that the bales will kill any lawn underneath them so this is a commitment! You also won’t be able to move wet, heavy bales after you start watering them.

Starting a straw bale garden takes several steps.

Place the bale so the twine is on the side of the bales, parallel to the ground. Water the bales thoroughly, and keep them wet for three days. On day four, sprinkle a ½ cup of urea (46-0-0), a type of high nitrogen fertilizer (here's how to understand fertilizer numbers and letters), on top of the bale, and water it in. Or use bone meal, fish meal or compost if you want to go organic. But do be prepared because the organic products often are, well, rather stinky and can attract pets (or even wildlife).

Continue to add fertilizer and water it in for a total of three days, then cut the fertilizer amount in half on days seven through nine, still watering. On day 10, stop adding fertilizer, but keep watering. The bale will feel warm to the touch because decomposition is occurring inside. Once the bale feels cool in a few days, begin planting. Don't do it too soon or the heat may kill seedlings or prevent seeds from sprouting.

What grows well in a straw bale garden?

Essentially, you can give anything a try, but typically, the veggies that do the best are bush tomatoes, bush beans, and vines such as squash or cantaloupe. Strawberries also do well. Tall plants, such as corn, don’t do great because they're shallow-rooted and can topple over. Annual flowers, such as marigolds or petunias, can be planted on the ends to dress up your bale.

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How do I plant in my straw bale garden?

Once your bales are ready, dig out holes about six inches deep in the bales with a trowel or small tree saw. Add potting soil, and plant your seeds or seedlings as you would in ground, and top with soil. Or spread potting soil along the top of each bale, then dig a shallow hole and plant. Generally, you’ll fit two or three plants per bale. Just like a traditional garden, don't overcrowd your plants, which makes them more susceptible to disease.

How do I care for my straw bale garden?

Keep your bales watered; they dry out really fast! A soaker hose is a convenient option. Feed your plants every other week at first, then weekly as they mature. Compost tea or liquid fish emulsion is a good choice (but again, it can be smelly). At the end of the season, compost your bales or save for one more year. Two years usually is the most you can get out of bales before they completely decompose into a big heap.

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