I am planning my strawberry garden for this spring. Would straw be a viable alternative to woven plastic matting for weed control? Would there be any disadvantage to using straw? Also, what are some other organic mulches that can be safely tilled under?
Thanks David B
Straw is excellent and what many commercial growers use in our area. I might be tempted to try red plastic for mulching. It worked well with tomatoes and supposedly promotes fruit production. Stay away from hay since hay has too many seeds in it.
I just read a little about that . Strawberries grown with red plastic mulch, smelled better, tasted sweeter, and yielded more fruit than with black plastic. USDA in South Carolina report. (Pacific Horticulture /January) Emilie
The fact that hay has more seeds in it seems to be moot, since heavy mulch keeps them from getting enough sun to sprout. I've used it for the last two years with excellent results in flower beds, having come to hate the rolls of plastic/black stuff I've tried. The red rolls for strawberries sound like they do more for that plant than just keep weeds down. neat.
Maybe with some types of hay, but leave an unbroken bale of seedy rye hay outside next summer and see how it grows.
That works fine to get rid of the weed seeds. Leave the bale out in the weather for a month or so on a pallet until it begins growing on one side and then turn it over until it begins growing on the other side. Then put it some place where it won't be rained on and let it dry. Store the bales and use them as mulch the following season. Very few weeds seeds survive to sprout the second year.
John
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