If you found this video helpful, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Wheat Straw Is The Best Mulch For Your Garden 1:14 2 Concerns Using Straw Mulch 1:52 Grazon Herbicide Aminopyralid Contamination 5:58 How To Use Straw As Mulch Safely 9:33 Herbicide Contamination Test Method 12:30 Adventures With Dale
The farmer might wait a few days depending on the weather to harvest the straw after harvesting the wheat but…once they cut it they will rake it and bake it in a day or two to prevent it from getting rained on and becoming moldy. They will also keep it under cover to prevent it from getting wet and molding so you should not count on it being exposed for a couple weeks “to sun and rain before they ship it”. All that said you are correct that it is unlikely to be sprayed with Grazon and even if it was it will be gone long before it contaminates anything you are growing. Your practice of exposing it to the sun and rain for a couple months is more than adequate and if you are planting in the straw bales the conditioning process you describe in your other video will definitely eliminate it if it ever existed! You are my favorite channel for gardening information especially since I am only a few hours drive away and our season is similar length although I don’t get the coastal weather as I am near Martinsville, Virginia on the NC/VA border 35 miles north of Greensboro. 👍 p.s. I am subscribed and notifications are on 🤗
I started using straws in my garden from last year and I am very happy. I have no issues except some seeds came out and I just have to pulled them out.
That's good news. Chances are, there will not be an issue. However, as these breakdown-resistant herbicides become more common, the chances of having a problem is increasing. It's a good idea to run a test just to be sure.
GOOD EVENING FROM UPSTATE SC, WE TRIED THE EXPENSIVE WASHED-CUT STRAW AND IT WAS LOADED WITH WEEDS. SO WE REMOVED ALL OF THE STRAW AND AFTER RESEARCHING PINE SHAVINGS WE ARE NOW USING THESE IN OUR GARDEN, CITRUS TREES ETC. AND NO WEEDS, MOISTURE IS HOLDING. SO FAR SO GOOD..
Aged straw is the way to go. It eliminates those problems with weed seed germination. You may still get a few seeds germinating here or there, but they pluck out easily, and then you just toss them on top and they break down quickly.
The heart of the matter is that the people who make and sell Grazon and similar finagled a legal loophole that put the responsibility for warning people about the danger not on them, but on the people who bought their products. Many of the people who bought Grazon or had their fields sprayed with it do not understand that their hay or straw can ruin a garden plot for years, or just do not care.
If a wheat crop has been sprayed with herbicides/peasticides it's staying out of my gardens...this includes straw. At the end of the day the old way of breaking ground and pulling weeds has always worked for me...I guess I just enjoy the work and I also know my food isn't cross contaminated. Which is the whole point of growing food at home.
The secret is out! I appreciate this information, I have been wanting to use straw for years now, but I didn't want to introduce grazon into my garden.
Happily I have a source of good straw. Used it last year to no ill effects and will use it again this year. I also put a layer of straw on top of my leaves compost pile where I am making leaf mold. Does a great job keeping the pile from drying. Live on the Texas Gulf Coast so our weather is extreme.
Hello! I am on the Texas Gulf Coast too! Are you around the Houston area? I am looking for a good source of wheat straw, so if you have found a good one that you have already tested, I would love to know where you get yours!
You never let me down🙏🏽💐. Thanks Anthony thinking about using this method but wasn’t sure where to start. Millennial Gardener Duhhh 😅 Nicely done🏆. Hey Dale 👋
Thank you for this video addressing the concerns that many of us have. I, unfortunately, used my wheat straw when I got it - to line the bottom and help fill my raised beds (before I heard about the weed killer use) and covered it with 1-2 feet of soil. So, I’m hoping it wasn’t contaminated or any residual insecticides have broken down. I had decent harvests of nightshades and legumes.
I have an unlimited supply of free pine straw for mulching. It is more acidic, but I have seen massive earthworms feeding on the decomped straw. I simply asked my neighbors who had pine trees in their yard if I could take it away, they were more than happy to get rid of it.
I bought my wheat straw last October. Let it sit out from then on. I tried conditioning it as instructed. They never heated up, stayed anaerobic, and nothing would grow in it. Eventually after 5 plantings of green beans, I finally got a set to grow in them. It is now 8 months later too. My bales are the same size as the day I bought them. I even added electroculture to the bales. It *seems* to help as the beans are actually growing. I also spread a thick layer of used coffee grounds on top to add in nitrogen to aid in the breakdown. Harvested straw bales sit in a dry pole barn. Note: I did have a bunch of mushrooms growing out of the bales. I planted my last set of green beans after those died off.
@@markskibo5159 Effectiveness of Grazon is about 1 to 3 years IF you don't do anything to mitigate it. Sunlight quickly degrades Grazon. But who wants to turn their soil daily? Soil microbes also break down Grazon (1-3 years) but if you can feed them to get them to increase their numbers, it might take a little less. One very effective way is to grow Wheat. Wheat takes up the Grazon pretty quickly. Won't hurt animals who eat the wheat and straw, but the feces certainly will. Using contaminated wheat straw - takes about 1 year (my experience) to break it down enough to plant. Had my straw bales outside for just over a year now and they are beginning to FINALLY break down. I planted roughly an 6 x 8 plot of wheat (red winter type). After harvest next year I can test by planting green beans again. I cannot find out if you can 'cook' the Grazon out (solar sterilization of just plain cooking dirt in a metal pot). Activated carbon/biochar might lock up the Grazon. Still not enough information available to know much. Just remember to BURN that wheat straw after you use it for wheat. Or toss it into a yard waste bin for disposal off your premises. Seems Grazon does not affect pillbugs. In fact the plants it kills FEEDS the darned things. My property literally has a plague of them. Looks like a moving carpet on the soil at night. Only thing that kills them quickly is Dawn dish soap in water using a sprayer. Direct contact is required unfortunately. I sanitized a bunch of potting soil to kill them, their eggs, and other baddies in that soil. Using that in some brand new wooden 1/2 barrels for the wife's flowers. Can't do that with the whole property though unless I want to burn my house down! lol I cooked the soil in metal pots to 200F, one batch at a time. I will be trying to use fall leaves instead of straw. Not sure that trees won't take it up...
If your farmers are anything like ours they'll spray wheat with glyphosate to dry it just prior to combining if it's not quite dry enough. I hope you can confirm they don't do that with your supply.
You're welcome. Chances are, you *won't* have an issue, but as herbicides become stronger and more resistant to the elements, it's becoming a growing problem. Eventually, there may be a contamination issue, so it's always a good idea to check with test plants.
I use chopped straw in the chicken coop and in the garden. Works great especially the thicker u put it on. I get an occasional sprout. Let it grow to around 5 inches tall and pull it out after watering. Great video, u sound like a well educated scientist!
What a great common sense video! It’s hay and manure that we really have to worry about! If you bought a reputable brand of composted cow manure, such as Black Cow, do you think they would have tested their product before selling it?
Hi there, Love your content! I'm over in Hampstead just north of you. Do you have any pointers to prepare the garden for the Tropical Storm force winds that are coming to up Thursday-Sunday? Also, do you know of any seed swaps in the area? I'm busy saving seeds and want to swap :)
This is my first year using wheat straw as mulch, and unfortunately I didn’t know any of this. The bale I got was left out for about a week before I could plant. But I used the straw and seeds (and there were a lot 😂). I’m fine with wheatgrass, but I’m concerned about the potential herbicides.
Hey! Great video! However, I’ve been using straw as mulch for 6 yrs here in Colorado & the straw seeds have lived inside the bales for more than 2 YEARS, let alone months. It’s been outside, exposed to the elements for 2 yrs as of Nov 2nd. What the “hay”!! 😂😂😂
I cover my bananas in straw every year. I place it in November, and I tear it down and use it as mulch in April. In April, I always get some germination, but it is extremely light. I'm talking about pulling 6-10 blades of grass a week. You stay on top of it, and after about a month, it's gone. Once the heat rolls in, it's toast. Here in the South, our sun and rain rips the seeds to shreds. It's impossible to block all germination, but this really does reduce it 98%.
@@TheMillennialGardenerStraw seeds will live on inside that bale for years. In addition straw has become dangerous to gardeners because farmers who have used Grazeon a systemic herbicide can be transferred from the sprayed straw to the garden crops. Moreover grazing animals ingesting the Grazeon infused grass/straw pass the Grazeon through their digestive system into their feces. Feces collected (mainly from dairy cattle) actually contaminate the manure composts with residual Grazeon herbicide activity are applied to fields or gardens to raise certain vegetables, flowers, or other broadleaf crops, potentially devastating damage can occur. This has been widely known and warned for over 5 years. Avoid straw for any gardening application. Many gardeners have suffered the damage of replacing soil in their raised beds because they didn't know if straw grass had been Grazeon treated (retailer/distributor didn't advise or know). so between the seeds and hazard of Grazeon contamination straw should be AVOIDED. You're passing bad info. A simple internet search would have informed you. content.ces.ncsu.edu › herbicide-carryover www.thesurvivalgardener.com/more-victims-of-satanic-grazon-herbicide/ thegrownetwork.com › rescue-garden-grazon-contamination
@@kathleenosullivan8601 when you aren't growing crops, it may sound stupid, till your area and plant cereal rye. But chop and drop before it produces seed. Let it flower before you chop but do not let the seed develop. If you plant it thick enough it will help to destroy your weed seed bank. It will also improve your soil and garden spot.
@@joeyl.rowland4153 hi, Joey! I’m the garden leader at a large (49 plots) community garden, so our straw is donated. I take what I can get. It’s always full of straw seed heads, but so far, no herbicides. We just pull straw seedlings all summer every year. I’m tempted to buy my own seed-free straw, but I don’t want to appear like I’m better than everyone else, ya know? But, thanks for your reply. 👨🌾👨🌾
I'm guessing it's heat/drought related? If so, I highly recommend investing in one of these, because it's a game-changer in the summer heat: th-cam.com/video/iifj4qDW9xM/w-d-xo.html
Hey, I've been watching your videos for awhile now. And you have some great informations on growing trees. I like to know where do you buy your weed straws. Thank you for your videos.
I buy wheat straw from farm supply stores. Big box stores rarely carry it, but a couple places within 30 mins of me that sell bulk chicken feed and things like that carry it. "Feed stores" are your best bet.
Great info that will help me. Question, I noticed in our fertilizer video that you covered your raised beds. Is that better than a cover crop? how about leaving them exposed for the winter? Thanks Ron
I usually use EZ straw however I was out, so I ordered another type of straw. I put it around newly planted tomatoes. Well it promptly killed my plants.
That stuff is nice, but it is astoundingly expensive. It would cost probably $500 for what I’d need. By comparison, what I bought was around $90. If you are concerned, always test the straw on a test plant.
I don’t have many leaves, here. There are few deciduous trees. Pine straw is plentiful, but it doesn’t work well in gardens, because it is hard to work with. Pine straw is good for landscaping.
It’s definitely *way* overblown. It is one of those Internet fears that somebody heard of someone having the problem, so now everyone has it 😆 It is easy to test for. Start a string bean seed.
Going to straw mulch this year for the first time. When adding fertilizer later in the season, do you fertilize on top of the straw and water in or move the straw, fertilize directly around the plant and replace the straw? Thanks in advance!
Great video as always! Can you clarify your preference for straw versus cedar mulch you recently did a video on. Which is better for what and how do you use each in your garden. I thought you used cedar mulch for spring/summer garden? Thanks!!!!
Thank you! When it comes to mulch, the most important thing is to always run a cost-benefit analysis. Each bale of that straw costs $7 at this current time, and those straw bales probably cover 3-4 times the area of a bag of mulch. That cedar mulch costs me about $3.60 a bag, so the straw is less than half the price. Now, I also need that straw to insulate my banana plants during the winter. Wood mulches will not work, so I *have to* buy the straw. Then, when I remove the straw in April, I reuse all that old, rotted straw around my fruit trees, and they *love* it. So, really, I'm getting two uses out of this straw. In my experience, straw provides the best weed suppression. Wood mulch doesn't work as well as straw, and I think that's because the straw interlocks itself like a thick carpet, and nothing can get through it. Cedar mulch is great because it has pest repellent properties, but it isn't as good for weed suppression and costs a lot more. The way I would advise anyone to mulch their yard and garden is to use the most inexpensive, all natural mulches they can that provide them adequate moisture retention and weed suppression around their yard. Then, use more expensive mulches like cedar *strategically* around pest-prone crops. For me, that's tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers and corn. So what you can do is use the inexpensive mulches everywhere, then top dress the areas with a layer of cedar on the pest-susceptible plants. It would be a waste of money mulching everywhere with cedar, because a lot of my plants aren't all that pest-prone. Citrus, persimmons, my avocado tree, etc. would see no benefit. It's all in planning and maximizing your hard-earned $.
Sadly, I believe the Grazon has closer to a 3 year impact, and many farmers spray it at harvest to dry out the grain. I work too hard to raise healthy produce, the risk just isn't worth it. I would rather compost pine chips, fall leaves, spent garden plants, chicken & rabbit manure, horse manure from horses that graze on untreated pasture most of the time/eat untreated orchard grass hay during winter. Also, the price of straw has jumped astronomically, at least here in the southwest. Perhaps the reason the wheat straw is suppressing the weeds so well for you is because the residue of the Grazon is still so prevalent.
Growing the legumes is the correct way to test for grazon. Affected plants may grow but will have curled disfigured leaves. I don't believe the 35 days. All the scientist I have seen report on it state that Grazon affects can last 3 years. It survives going through the stomach of animals and that is why it is in horse and cow manure. I would be hesitant buy any straw that states it is free of weed seeds, how do you suppose they prevent the weeds?
That’s because grasslands protect against oxidation. The tall grasses provide shade and block airflow. If you expose them to more sun and air, they will oxidize more quickly. Also, consider half-lives compound. Two half-lives mean strength has been reduced to 25%. Three half-lives is 12.5% strength. They compound quickly once they get going. Testing removes any fear, which is likely overblown to begin with. It makes no sense to spray cereal grains with that.
However cereal grains can be rotated onto fields that were previously planted with other things. Corn is also a member of the grass family... unaffected by Grazon. And cereal grains are often grown on fields fertilized by manure from cows fed with corn. Consider how many times a field might be sprayed before it is considered weed free. The half life for aminopyralid is much longer than 35 days... negative affects can actually last years! I inadvertantly brought 3 cubic yards of an herbicide contaminated "garden soil mix" to top off my vegetable garden. And that has played havoc with my vegetable garden for more than 3 years. The definition of pernicious: " having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual and subtle way." Three years later, I still have had some plants that produce and others that did not. Consistently in one area of my garden, I have had no production at all. Did the tomatoes, peppers and beans look normal & grow? Yes. Did they bloom, poorly, but yes. Did they produce... not at all. And this is in the sunniest area of my garden. I would not take the chance of bringing mulch or manure into my garden without doing a bio- assay first. Anyone who has experienced the damaging affects of this herbicide first hand is less likely to take a chance mulching with hay or straw. Buyer beware.
@@Katydidit So sorry you have had to deal with this! You are so right, the stuff is very destructive. I think producing your own compost and not having to bring in any outside compost, soil, hay & straw would be the safest method. This year there have been many people who have purchased organic potting soil that was affected. Some of these soils are made with compost or manure and apparently their suppliers did not inform them of the use of persistent herbicides.
The inside of your straw bales is also shaded and airflow blocked. Search youtube and you will find several gardeners and homesteaders on there that have been affected by grazon. There are also scientist speaking on the effects of grazon on TH-cam. Many gardners in the comments have been affected as well. I believe is it becoming much more of a problem than you realize.
@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for responding! I have a couple of small raised beds, so I had to mow down a part of the bale, so the pieces wouldn’t be so long. Not sure if I am making sense haha. If I break up the bale and throw down the straw, it’s quite long. Anyway, just curious if you had a method for preparing the straw for smaller beds or even containers.
Well, that might explain part of my container patio garden this summer. I used straw from under the chicken coop as filler. I was thinking that the hen donations would enrich the soil and the straw would help with maintaining moisture. ( And it was free!) Not sure where the straw came from, but I will ask. My peas, tomatoes and cucumbers were pitiful. My entire harvest from 3 large pots was less than half a cup. Now, on to the rest of the video!
Aminopyralid can be broken down only by a very small percent of soil organisms. I don't think that sun and water are enough. And for a bale of hay, the sun only strikes the outer surface of the bale. Although the half in one study, in possibly ideal conditions by soil organisms in a warm, moist, aerobic environment was 35 days, other research has shown persistence for 2 to 4 years in real world conditions. Some say that aminopyralids can survive hot composting. Note that the melting point of aminopyralid is about 325 degrees Fahrenheit. It is likely that the good results from bales of straw were good because the straw was not contaminated by aminopyralids.
If that were the case, the solution sitting in a sterile container out in the open would never degrade. Of course, that's impossible. Nothing on Earth can escape UV breakdown and oxidation.
Thanks! You'll pay an arm and a leg searching for those products. The bales are definitely the cheapest way to go. If you can find a good source in "bale-form," it's invaluable.
Do you chop up the wheat straw to use around your smaller plants? been using pea straw as it was the most accessible type of straw for me but I found it a bit bulky and hard to spread around my smaller vegetables. Maybe I need to run my mulching mower over it! Thanks for sharing,
I use the wheat straw around my fruit trees. I don't use it in the garden, because it's a little tough to spread around seedlings. I'm also experimenting with cedar mulch to see if it can keep pests off my plants. However, straw does make great garden mulch. That EZ Straw product is cut up, so it's perfect for gardens, but it's a bit pricey. If you don't mind the expense, it's a premium product.
Ah no. I ordered a month ago and quickly covered it in plastic drop sheet. Haha. I've still got a bit of summer left so I'm going to open it up and get it sorted. Thanks
For a small garden like mine is a little too messy to use straw mulch. I use it last season but wind just blown away most of it and it everywhere in the yard.
The key is to soak it down with water after placing the straw. If you place the straw on a calm day, soak it down very well, then let it sit, it will "interlock." It will form a mat over the course of a few days, and then it won't go anywhere. My straw at the bottom of my plants is like a carpet. A hurricane couldn't blow it away.
I hope my question isn’t too remedial. I’d like to grow organically and make my own compost- can I use bagged lawn clippings I find on the curb? I worry about grass having been exposed to roundup. I can’t tell whether or not it’s in there by sight. Is this something I should worry about? Is it an insignificant component? Thanks.
I wouldn’t randomly pick up & use other people’s bagged grass from their lawn. There are far too many people using all kinds of insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, as well as lawns being sprayed by professionals to warrant the grass clippings possibly toxic. Throw in dog & cat excrement and you have a nasty unknown mix. Grow your own, cut your own, you then know whats going in your garden.
You should cut the strings on your bales while you are 'aging' them otherwise the outer inch or two will protect all the interior contents of the bales. And there are several chemicals commercial farmers spray on wheat so you need to verify (via your bean plant test).
I don't want the bales cut. It is hurricane season and I live in a very windy climate. If I cut them, straw will wind up everywhere. It's important to keep them secured.
I think this was $6.99, up about a dollar since last year. This is enough straw to mulch every single fruit tree in my entire yard. $84 will mulch everything all season. If I were to buy that much wood mulch, it would be hundreds of dollars. One bale of straw covers the area of probably 3-4 bags of mulch. Maybe more.
In compost, it is protected from air and light, which is the cause of the breakdown. In straw, you can expose it to heavy air and light by seasoning it, so you have a fighting chance.
I bought compressed straw from Tractor supply. It killed everything it touched. The sprouted seeds r mostly grain doesn't bother me cause it's grain ,not a weed.
straw is a great mulch, but the issues are seeds...herbicides/insecticides....but if one can boil the straw to kill the seeds that will work, however the water will be full of the insecticides/herbicides and u can not dispose the water pouring it on the soil/ground...and will go down to the water table..if straw can be found as organic that will be super good.
I don't know the exact amount, but it's *a lot more.* I'd say each bale of straw covers 3 times the amount of space as one of the 2 cubic ft bags of mulch I typically buy. Last year, I basically mulched *all* of my bananas and in-ground figs in the front *and* backyard with 6 bales of straw. This year, I bought 12, so I bet this will mulch every single fruit tree in my entire yard and then some.
Very informative! I didnt know about that. I was going to use old hay and rabbit poop for a mulch! 😬 Glad you posted latest video. A huge thank you!!! Btw....Dale says good boys get zoomies too!! 🤗 Hes such a good boy !! 😊 Thank you.
There’s nothing wrong with old hay as long as you’re sure it is clean. If it is old, a lot of the seeds have probably rotted. I prefer straw, but quality hay is good.
It is weed barrier. I have the products I use linked in my Amazon Storefront in the video description. You can learn how to use it here: th-cam.com/video/XT1reOI1-5E/w-d-xo.html
Since that is a grazing grass, there is a high chance of herbicide contamination and seed contamination. I think wheat straw is a safer and more readily available alternative. If you have a cheap, local source that you're sure is safe, use it, but it's not something the masses can find.
No. I drive to local farm supply stores. I rent a U-Haul once a year and stock up. I showed the full truck in the video. Look for farm supply stores. They usually carry it.
I don't have a video specifically centering around that product. How I apply fertilizer is going to depend on the species of plant, because you can't fertilize a tomato the same way you'd fertilize lettuce. All my fertilizing videos are organized in a playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PL1gY7BoYBGIGp0XbmUDUVdDY-TNWg1mdw.html&si=Mj386h913BM6iHha
Why is it disastrous for the environment? No, I'm not worried at all. What is the alternative? Controlling weeds through years of mowing and herbicide use? The weed barrier takes all of that out of the equation. Buying food from grocery stores is disastrous for the environment. Anything you can do to grow your own food is superior.
It will do a lot to degrade herbicides, insecticides and kill weeds. Nothing is every 100%, so keep that in mind. If your concern is herbicide contamination, the *only way* to know for sure is to sow some test transplants and use the affected product on the seedlings and observing them for any ill effects.
Once the seed germinates, you can flip them over to snuff out the grass if you have the time. It may take several weeks to snuff out the grass entirely.
I posted the video now, because now is when I buy my straw. I don't do this in the summer. I always mulch my yard in the fall. It lasts all season long. Fall is the best time to mulch your yard, in my opinion, because seeds don't germinate in the cold. That means the seeds will be even less viable by the time spring rolls around. Now is a great time to buy your straw mulch. Let it sit, and place it in the late fall/early winter when it's nice and cool.
Spraying crops is very, very expensive and time consuming. Farmers don’t spray unless there is a cost benefit. What would be the point of spraying an herbicide at harvest?
@@TheMillennialGardener The farmer sadly does spray wheat and field corn with herbicide just days before harvest to make a better yield and to ripen at the same time. I filmed them spraying the corn three days before harvest across from our home. It was definitely herbicide because all the grasses and morning glories were brown on the ditch banks within the three day period. I noticed the same browning around the wheat fields too.
Sure. You can plant transplants directly into a *cured* bale of straw. But, to me, it's easier to just start them in a pot and then mulch the container with the potentially affected ingredients and waiting.
Yes, I strawbale garden. It’s great. You have to go through a conditioning process. Read the book by Joel Karston. I use the bales as raised beds. After they are spent, I add them to my raised beds. Creates beautiful soil. I use chopped straw for mulch. It’s great, with very few seeds. Blessings!
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If you found this video helpful, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience:
0:00 Wheat Straw Is The Best Mulch For Your Garden
1:14 2 Concerns Using Straw Mulch
1:52 Grazon Herbicide Aminopyralid Contamination
5:58 How To Use Straw As Mulch Safely
9:33 Herbicide Contamination Test Method
12:30 Adventures With Dale
thank you, again, very much
@@Jimgearhart3 you're welcome!
The farmer might wait a few days depending on the weather to harvest the straw after harvesting the wheat but…once they cut it they will rake it and bake it in a day or two to prevent it from getting rained on and becoming moldy. They will also keep it under cover to prevent it from getting wet and molding so you should not count on it being exposed for a couple weeks “to sun and rain before they ship it”. All that said you are correct that it is unlikely to be sprayed with Grazon and even if it was it will be gone long before it contaminates anything you are growing. Your practice of exposing it to the sun and rain for a couple months is more than adequate and if you are planting in the straw bales the conditioning process you describe in your other video will definitely eliminate it if it ever existed! You are my favorite channel for gardening information especially since I am only a few hours drive away and our season is similar length although I don’t get the coastal weather as I am near Martinsville, Virginia on the NC/VA border 35 miles north of Greensboro. 👍 p.s. I am subscribed and notifications are on 🤗
Used your method of testing my hay. It was GRAZON contaminated!
Thanks for saving my garden!
I started using straws in my garden from last year and I am very happy. I have no issues except some seeds came out and I just have to pulled them out.
That's good news. Chances are, there will not be an issue. However, as these breakdown-resistant herbicides become more common, the chances of having a problem is increasing. It's a good idea to run a test just to be sure.
GOOD EVENING FROM UPSTATE SC, WE TRIED THE EXPENSIVE WASHED-CUT STRAW AND IT WAS LOADED WITH WEEDS. SO WE REMOVED ALL OF THE STRAW AND AFTER RESEARCHING PINE SHAVINGS WE ARE NOW USING THESE IN OUR GARDEN, CITRUS TREES ETC. AND NO WEEDS, MOISTURE IS HOLDING. SO FAR SO GOOD..
Aged straw is the way to go. It eliminates those problems with weed seed germination. You may still get a few seeds germinating here or there, but they pluck out easily, and then you just toss them on top and they break down quickly.
These are great videos. So much information delivered quickly and succinctly. You delve into the details without getting bogged down.
I appreciate that! Thanks so much!
Dale is the real star of this great channel! You two are the best ever. Hoping that nasty Hurricane Ian goes easy over your area.
My favorite mulch is pine needles! It works like a charm.
An excellent video that made this topic clear, simple, and a lot less scary. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I appreciate you watching!
The heart of the matter is that the people who make and sell Grazon and similar finagled a legal loophole that put the responsibility for warning people about the danger not on them, but on the people who bought their products. Many of the people who bought Grazon or had their fields sprayed with it do not understand that their hay or straw can ruin a garden plot for years, or just do not care.
If a wheat crop has been sprayed with herbicides/peasticides it's staying out of my gardens...this includes straw. At the end of the day the old way of breaking ground and pulling weeds has always worked for me...I guess I just enjoy the work and I also know my food isn't cross contaminated. Which is the whole point of growing food at home.
Man I'm trying to go about my business and do my thing, but you keep on popping up cool videos over and over again🙂
I do straw bale gardening and have let my new bales over winter. Plant in next spring and it works. 2nd year bales I usually use as mulch.
The secret is out! I appreciate this information, I have been wanting to use straw for years now, but I didn't want to introduce grazon into my garden.
It’s easy to test, for sure. You’ll know in short order if you use bean seedlings to trial.
Happily I have a source of good straw. Used it last year to no ill effects and will use it again this year. I also put a layer of straw on top of my leaves compost pile where I am making leaf mold. Does a great job keeping the pile from drying. Live on the Texas Gulf Coast so our weather is extreme.
Having a trusted source of straw is amazing. Straw is great at pretty much everything, even starting grass seed!
Hello! I am on the Texas Gulf Coast too! Are you around the Houston area? I am looking for a good source of wheat straw, so if you have found a good one that you have already tested, I would love to know where you get yours!
Absolutely Terrific Video! greatly appreciate this information
Great explanation of Grazon, thank you!
You're welcome!
You never let me down🙏🏽💐. Thanks Anthony thinking about using this method but wasn’t sure where to start. Millennial Gardener Duhhh 😅 Nicely done🏆. Hey Dale 👋
Thank you for this video addressing the concerns that many of us have.
I, unfortunately, used my wheat straw when I got it - to line the bottom and help fill my raised beds (before I heard about the weed killer use) and covered it with 1-2 feet of soil. So, I’m hoping it wasn’t contaminated or any residual insecticides have broken down. I had decent harvests of nightshades and legumes.
I doubt it was. If you had good harvests, you're fine. By next year, it'll be completely decomposed, so next year's harvest should be even better.
I have an unlimited supply of free pine straw for mulching. It is more acidic, but I have seen massive earthworms feeding on the decomped straw. I simply asked my neighbors who had pine trees in their yard if I could take it away, they were more than happy to get rid of it.
I bought my wheat straw last October. Let it sit out from then on.
I tried conditioning it as instructed. They never heated up, stayed anaerobic, and nothing would grow in it. Eventually after 5 plantings of green beans, I finally got a set to grow in them.
It is now 8 months later too.
My bales are the same size as the day I bought them.
I even added electroculture to the bales. It *seems* to help as the beans are actually growing.
I also spread a thick layer of used coffee grounds on top to add in nitrogen to aid in the breakdown.
Harvested straw bales sit in a dry pole barn.
Note: I did have a bunch of mushrooms growing out of the bales. I planted my last set of green beans after those died off.
Grazon can last years!
@@markskibo5159 Effectiveness of Grazon is about 1 to 3 years IF you don't do anything to mitigate it.
Sunlight quickly degrades Grazon. But who wants to turn their soil daily?
Soil microbes also break down Grazon (1-3 years) but if you can feed them to get them to increase their numbers, it might take a little less.
One very effective way is to grow Wheat.
Wheat takes up the Grazon pretty quickly.
Won't hurt animals who eat the wheat and straw, but the feces certainly will.
Using contaminated wheat straw - takes about 1 year (my experience) to break it down enough to plant. Had my straw bales outside for just over a year now and they are beginning to FINALLY break down.
I planted roughly an 6 x 8 plot of wheat (red winter type).
After harvest next year I can test by planting green beans again.
I cannot find out if you can 'cook' the Grazon out (solar sterilization of just plain cooking dirt in a metal pot).
Activated carbon/biochar might lock up the Grazon.
Still not enough information available to know much.
Just remember to BURN that wheat straw after you use it for wheat. Or toss it into a yard waste bin for disposal off your premises.
Seems Grazon does not affect pillbugs. In fact the plants it kills FEEDS the darned things.
My property literally has a plague of them. Looks like a moving carpet on the soil at night.
Only thing that kills them quickly is Dawn dish soap in water using a sprayer. Direct contact is required unfortunately.
I sanitized a bunch of potting soil to kill them, their eggs, and other baddies in that soil.
Using that in some brand new wooden 1/2 barrels for the wife's flowers.
Can't do that with the whole property though unless I want to burn my house down! lol
I cooked the soil in metal pots to 200F, one batch at a time.
I will be trying to use fall leaves instead of straw.
Not sure that trees won't take it up...
I enjoyed the whole video but my favorite part was when you were walking your dog at the end.
You sound like such a gentle and sweet guy.
Dale's my best buddy. We're always together. I don't know what I'd do without the pup. He always gets his own segment at the end of every video.
Very informative!! I learned quite a bit. Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
If your farmers are anything like ours they'll spray wheat with glyphosate to dry it just prior to combining if it's not quite dry enough. I hope you can confirm they don't do that with your supply.
Thank you for this valuable information !
Very informative as always. I have this sort of mulch on my beds and didn´t really know of this issues. Thank you very much!
You're welcome. Chances are, you *won't* have an issue, but as herbicides become stronger and more resistant to the elements, it's becoming a growing problem. Eventually, there may be a contamination issue, so it's always a good idea to check with test plants.
I use chopped straw in the chicken coop and in the garden. Works great especially the thicker u put it on. I get an occasional sprout. Let it grow to around 5 inches tall and pull it out after watering. Great video, u sound like a well educated scientist!
I wish I would have seen this video long ago. I had so much trouble pulling wheat sprouts this year.
Great video! I love wheat straw, BUT I spent 30 min today out in my garden picking wheat sprouts ALL over my garden. Ugh! 🙄
It won’t happen in significance if you follow the method in the video. It kills almost all the seeds.
Wheat is actually a good cover crop :)
I use straw to insulate my in ground fig trees. Then in the spring I use the same straw as mulch in the vegetable garden. Works well.
I use straw to insulate my bananas. It works pretty well. It's a good insulator. It absorbs a lot of warmth.
What a great common sense video! It’s hay and manure that we really have to worry about! If you bought a reputable brand of composted cow manure, such as Black Cow, do you think they would have tested their product before selling it?
This was a big help thanks man!!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Hi there, Love your content! I'm over in Hampstead just north of you. Do you have any pointers to prepare the garden for the Tropical Storm force winds that are coming to up Thursday-Sunday? Also, do you know of any seed swaps in the area? I'm busy saving seeds and want to swap :)
This is my first year using wheat straw as mulch, and unfortunately I didn’t know any of this.
The bale I got was left out for about a week before I could plant.
But I used the straw and seeds (and there were a lot 😂). I’m fine with wheatgrass, but I’m concerned about the potential herbicides.
Hey! Great video! However, I’ve been using straw as mulch for 6 yrs here in Colorado & the straw seeds have lived inside the bales for more than 2 YEARS, let alone months. It’s been outside, exposed to the elements for 2 yrs as of Nov 2nd. What the “hay”!! 😂😂😂
I cover my bananas in straw every year. I place it in November, and I tear it down and use it as mulch in April. In April, I always get some germination, but it is extremely light. I'm talking about pulling 6-10 blades of grass a week. You stay on top of it, and after about a month, it's gone. Once the heat rolls in, it's toast. Here in the South, our sun and rain rips the seeds to shreds. It's impossible to block all germination, but this really does reduce it 98%.
@@TheMillennialGardener I put my straw down in april & I’m still pulling straw seedlings today!
@@TheMillennialGardenerStraw seeds will live on inside that bale for years. In addition straw has become dangerous to gardeners because farmers who have used Grazeon a systemic herbicide can be transferred from the sprayed straw to the garden crops. Moreover grazing animals ingesting the Grazeon infused grass/straw pass the Grazeon through their digestive system into their feces. Feces collected (mainly from dairy cattle) actually contaminate the manure composts with residual Grazeon herbicide activity are applied to fields or gardens to raise certain vegetables, flowers, or other broadleaf crops, potentially devastating damage can occur. This has been widely known and warned for over 5 years. Avoid straw for any gardening application. Many gardeners have suffered the damage of replacing soil in their raised beds because they didn't know if straw grass had been Grazeon treated (retailer/distributor didn't advise or know). so between the seeds and hazard of Grazeon contamination straw should be AVOIDED. You're passing bad info. A simple internet search would have informed you. content.ces.ncsu.edu › herbicide-carryover
www.thesurvivalgardener.com/more-victims-of-satanic-grazon-herbicide/
thegrownetwork.com › rescue-garden-grazon-contamination
@@kathleenosullivan8601 when you aren't growing crops, it may sound stupid, till your area and plant cereal rye. But chop and drop before it produces seed. Let it flower before you chop but do not let the seed develop. If you plant it thick enough it will help to destroy your weed seed bank. It will also improve your soil and garden spot.
@@joeyl.rowland4153 hi, Joey! I’m the garden leader at a large (49 plots) community garden, so our straw is donated. I take what I can get. It’s always full of straw seed heads, but so far, no herbicides. We just pull straw seedlings all summer every year. I’m tempted to buy my own seed-free straw, but I don’t want to appear like I’m better than everyone else, ya know? But, thanks for your reply. 👨🌾👨🌾
Great info..i had a horrible garden this yr..
I'm guessing it's heat/drought related? If so, I highly recommend investing in one of these, because it's a game-changer in the summer heat: th-cam.com/video/iifj4qDW9xM/w-d-xo.html
This is a great explanation, thank you!
You’re welcome!
Hey, I've been watching your videos for awhile now. And you have some great informations on growing trees.
I like to know where do you buy your weed straws.
Thank you for your videos.
I buy wheat straw from farm supply stores. Big box stores rarely carry it, but a couple places within 30 mins of me that sell bulk chicken feed and things like that carry it. "Feed stores" are your best bet.
As always, thank you for your information and videos
More great stuff! Thanks brotha!
You're welcome!
Sweet one! Hey darling Dale!😃🐕
Thanks! The Dalester sends his love!
Great info that will help me.
Question, I noticed in our fertilizer video that you covered your raised beds. Is that better than a cover crop? how about leaving them exposed for the winter?
Thanks
Ron
Great video! Thanks for posting this😊👍
You are welcome!
I usually use EZ straw however I was out, so I ordered another type of straw. I put it around newly planted tomatoes. Well it promptly killed my plants.
That stuff is nice, but it is astoundingly expensive. It would cost probably $500 for what I’d need. By comparison, what I bought was around $90. If you are concerned, always test the straw on a test plant.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it.
Love straw mulch, but leaves and pine shavings are so plentiful and inexpensive where I live. I think I may try this in the future.
I don’t have many leaves, here. There are few deciduous trees. Pine straw is plentiful, but it doesn’t work well in gardens, because it is hard to work with. Pine straw is good for landscaping.
Thank you so much for the information
You’re welcome!
Great information, thanks!
Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it ❤
Great information. Everyone has been freaking out
It’s definitely *way* overblown. It is one of those Internet fears that somebody heard of someone having the problem, so now everyone has it 😆 It is easy to test for. Start a string bean seed.
@@TheMillennialGardener some high profile TH-camrs had issues and now everyone running for the hills
Going to straw mulch this year for the first time. When adding fertilizer later in the season, do you fertilize on top of the straw and water in or move the straw, fertilize directly around the plant and replace the straw? Thanks in advance!
Great video as always! Can you clarify your preference for straw versus cedar mulch you recently did a video on. Which is better for what and how do you use each in your garden. I thought you used cedar mulch for spring/summer garden? Thanks!!!!
Thank you! When it comes to mulch, the most important thing is to always run a cost-benefit analysis. Each bale of that straw costs $7 at this current time, and those straw bales probably cover 3-4 times the area of a bag of mulch. That cedar mulch costs me about $3.60 a bag, so the straw is less than half the price. Now, I also need that straw to insulate my banana plants during the winter. Wood mulches will not work, so I *have to* buy the straw. Then, when I remove the straw in April, I reuse all that old, rotted straw around my fruit trees, and they *love* it. So, really, I'm getting two uses out of this straw.
In my experience, straw provides the best weed suppression. Wood mulch doesn't work as well as straw, and I think that's because the straw interlocks itself like a thick carpet, and nothing can get through it. Cedar mulch is great because it has pest repellent properties, but it isn't as good for weed suppression and costs a lot more.
The way I would advise anyone to mulch their yard and garden is to use the most inexpensive, all natural mulches they can that provide them adequate moisture retention and weed suppression around their yard. Then, use more expensive mulches like cedar *strategically* around pest-prone crops. For me, that's tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers and corn. So what you can do is use the inexpensive mulches everywhere, then top dress the areas with a layer of cedar on the pest-susceptible plants. It would be a waste of money mulching everywhere with cedar, because a lot of my plants aren't all that pest-prone. Citrus, persimmons, my avocado tree, etc. would see no benefit. It's all in planning and maximizing your hard-earned $.
@@TheMillennialGardener t 5
Fantastic video, thank you!!
You’re welcome!
Sadly, I believe the Grazon has closer to a 3 year impact, and many farmers spray it at harvest to dry out the grain. I work too hard to raise healthy produce, the risk just isn't worth it. I would rather compost pine chips, fall leaves, spent garden plants, chicken & rabbit manure, horse manure from horses that graze on untreated pasture most of the time/eat untreated orchard grass hay during winter. Also, the price of straw has jumped astronomically, at least here in the southwest. Perhaps the reason the wheat straw is suppressing the weeds so well for you is because the residue of the Grazon is still so prevalent.
like your style and idea more power stay always safe
Thank you! I appreciate you watching.
You're both cool I like both of you I'm not complaining
Growing the legumes is the correct way to test for grazon. Affected plants may grow but will have curled disfigured leaves. I don't believe the 35 days. All the scientist I have seen report on it state that Grazon affects can last 3 years. It survives going through the stomach of animals and that is why it is in horse and cow manure. I would be hesitant buy any straw that states it is free of weed seeds, how do you suppose they prevent the weeds?
That’s because grasslands protect against oxidation. The tall grasses provide shade and block airflow. If you expose them to more sun and air, they will oxidize more quickly. Also, consider half-lives compound. Two half-lives mean strength has been reduced to 25%. Three half-lives is 12.5% strength. They compound quickly once they get going. Testing removes any fear, which is likely overblown to begin with. It makes no sense to spray cereal grains with that.
However cereal grains can be rotated onto fields that were previously planted with other things. Corn is also a member of the grass family... unaffected by Grazon. And cereal grains are often grown on fields fertilized by manure from cows fed with corn. Consider how many times a field might be sprayed before it is considered weed free. The half life for aminopyralid is much longer than 35 days... negative affects can actually last years! I inadvertantly brought 3 cubic yards of an herbicide contaminated "garden soil mix" to top off my vegetable garden. And that has played havoc with my vegetable garden for more than 3 years. The definition of pernicious: " having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual and subtle way." Three years later, I still have had some plants that produce and others that did not. Consistently in one area of my garden, I have had no production at all. Did the tomatoes, peppers and beans look normal & grow? Yes. Did they bloom, poorly, but yes. Did they produce... not at all. And this is in the sunniest area of my garden. I would not take the chance of bringing mulch or manure into my garden without doing a bio- assay first. Anyone who has experienced the damaging affects of this herbicide first hand is less likely to take a chance mulching with hay or straw. Buyer beware.
@@Katydidit So sorry you have had to deal with this! You are so right, the stuff is very destructive. I think producing your own compost and not having to bring in any outside compost, soil, hay & straw would be the safest method. This year there have been many people who have purchased organic potting soil that was affected. Some of these soils are made with compost or manure and apparently their suppliers did not inform them of the use of persistent herbicides.
The inside of your straw bales is also shaded and airflow blocked. Search youtube and you will find several gardeners and homesteaders on there that have been affected by grazon. There are also scientist speaking on the effects of grazon on TH-cam. Many gardners in the comments have been affected as well. I believe is it becoming much more of a problem than you realize.
Thank you so much for this video. How do you prepare the straw to apply it over the garden? Do you mow it down?
What do you mean? It's already baled, so I just drop it where it needs to go and hose it down to stick.
@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for responding! I have a couple of small raised beds, so I had to mow down a part of the bale, so the pieces wouldn’t be so long. Not sure if I am making sense haha. If I break up the bale and throw down the straw, it’s quite long. Anyway, just curious if you had a method for preparing the straw for smaller beds or even containers.
Well, that might explain part of my container patio garden this summer. I used straw from under the chicken coop as filler. I was thinking that the hen donations would enrich the soil and the straw would help with maintaining moisture. ( And it was free!) Not sure where the straw came from, but I will ask. My peas, tomatoes and cucumbers were pitiful. My entire harvest from 3 large pots was less than half a cup. Now, on to the rest of the video!
I'm no expert, but I thought chicken manure was too hot to use fresh. I think maybe 6 months to one year for it to age.
THANX m8 for making this video .
You're welcome!
Farmers often spray glyphosate on wheat just prior to harvest . Best to use old straw
I learned a lot. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Aminopyralid can be broken down only by a very small percent of soil organisms. I don't think that sun and water are enough. And for a bale of hay, the sun only strikes the outer surface of the bale. Although the half in one study, in possibly ideal conditions by soil organisms in a warm, moist, aerobic environment was 35 days, other research has shown persistence for 2 to 4 years in real world conditions. Some say that aminopyralids can survive hot composting.
Note that the melting point of aminopyralid is about 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is likely that the good results from bales of straw were good because the straw was not contaminated by aminopyralids.
If that were the case, the solution sitting in a sterile container out in the open would never degrade. Of course, that's impossible. Nothing on Earth can escape UV breakdown and oxidation.
Nice summery of Grazon - I try to buy organic hay and straw when I can ❤
Thanks! You'll pay an arm and a leg searching for those products. The bales are definitely the cheapest way to go. If you can find a good source in "bale-form," it's invaluable.
I use pine shavings (horse bedding) as my mulch. My only complaint is that it is fluffy (tall) when putting around seedlings and greens.
Found sugar-cane straw works very well for me.
Thanks, great video!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
Yeah (let's get into it) you definitely watch self-sufficient me
I have avoided buying Black Kow compost for the reason you describe. How do I know the Kows did not eat grass or hay that had aminopyralid in it?
Do you chop up the wheat straw to use around your smaller plants? been using pea straw as it was the most accessible type of straw for me but I found it a bit bulky and hard to spread around my smaller vegetables. Maybe I need to run my mulching mower over it! Thanks for sharing,
I use the wheat straw around my fruit trees. I don't use it in the garden, because it's a little tough to spread around seedlings. I'm also experimenting with cedar mulch to see if it can keep pests off my plants. However, straw does make great garden mulch. That EZ Straw product is cut up, so it's perfect for gardens, but it's a bit pricey. If you don't mind the expense, it's a premium product.
Aminopylarrid can take literal years if you get contaminated hay or compost/manure before sensitive plants are not effected.
Ah no. I ordered a month ago and quickly covered it in plastic drop sheet. Haha. I've still got a bit of summer left so I'm going to open it up and get it sorted. Thanks
I have hay bails I used for archery target back stops which have been sitting outside for two years. I guess they're safe to use now, right?
For a small garden like mine is a little too messy to use straw mulch. I use it last season but wind just blown away most of it and it everywhere in the yard.
The key is to soak it down with water after placing the straw. If you place the straw on a calm day, soak it down very well, then let it sit, it will "interlock." It will form a mat over the course of a few days, and then it won't go anywhere. My straw at the bottom of my plants is like a carpet. A hurricane couldn't blow it away.
@@TheMillennialGardener aw… that is the secret!
I hope my question isn’t too remedial. I’d like to grow organically and make my own compost- can I use bagged lawn clippings I find on the curb? I worry about grass having been exposed to roundup. I can’t tell whether or not it’s in there by sight. Is this something I should worry about? Is it an insignificant component? Thanks.
I wouldn’t randomly pick up & use other people’s bagged grass from their lawn. There are far too many people using all kinds of insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, as well as lawns being sprayed by professionals to warrant the grass clippings possibly toxic. Throw in dog & cat excrement and you have a nasty unknown mix. Grow your own, cut your own, you then know whats going in your garden.
I also do this strong agree
Thanks for watching!
You should cut the strings on your bales while you are 'aging' them otherwise the outer inch or two will protect all the interior contents of the bales. And there are several chemicals commercial farmers spray on wheat so you need to verify (via your bean plant test).
I don't want the bales cut. It is hurricane season and I live in a very windy climate. If I cut them, straw will wind up everywhere. It's important to keep them secured.
Great video I like straw but here in TN it's 7 to 8 dollars a bale
I think this was $6.99, up about a dollar since last year. This is enough straw to mulch every single fruit tree in my entire yard. $84 will mulch everything all season. If I were to buy that much wood mulch, it would be hundreds of dollars. One bale of straw covers the area of probably 3-4 bags of mulch. Maybe more.
Grazon contamination is hell. I had to move 5 truckloads of 8 year old manure that was still heavily contaminated with grazon... Evil shit.
In compost, it is protected from air and light, which is the cause of the breakdown. In straw, you can expose it to heavy air and light by seasoning it, so you have a fighting chance.
@The Millennial Gardener Yeah I've learned to be way more cautious of manure and also test it with pole beans now
I bought compressed straw from Tractor supply. It killed everything it touched. The sprouted seeds r mostly grain doesn't bother me cause it's grain ,not a weed.
straw is a great mulch, but the issues are seeds...herbicides/insecticides....but if one can boil the straw to kill the seeds that will work, however the water will be full of the insecticides/herbicides and u can not dispose the water pouring it on the soil/ground...and will go down to the water table..if straw can be found as organic that will be super good.
You may want to watch the video first. There is no need to look for “organic straw.” It is unnecessary. It is easy to test for as shown.
@@TheMillennialGardener I did , but I do not agree with some points...but all is good...we learn to agree and disagree right?
Organic would definitely be the way to go
Any idea how much a bale of wheat straw covers compared to say a bag of mulch you get at your local garden center? Just curious
I don't know the exact amount, but it's *a lot more.* I'd say each bale of straw covers 3 times the amount of space as one of the 2 cubic ft bags of mulch I typically buy. Last year, I basically mulched *all* of my bananas and in-ground figs in the front *and* backyard with 6 bales of straw. This year, I bought 12, so I bet this will mulch every single fruit tree in my entire yard and then some.
💛
Thanks for watching!
I'm subscribed to him also
Very informative! I didnt know about that. I was going to use old hay and rabbit poop for a mulch! 😬 Glad you posted latest video. A huge thank you!!! Btw....Dale says good boys get zoomies too!! 🤗 Hes such a good boy !! 😊 Thank you.
There’s nothing wrong with old hay as long as you’re sure it is clean. If it is old, a lot of the seeds have probably rotted. I prefer straw, but quality hay is good.
I'm not sure if it was treated with that stuff. Its hay from my horses/ rabbits that fall to the stall floor. I dont know. 🤔
What material is the floor? (black tarp?) Thx a bunch
It is weed barrier. I have the products I use linked in my Amazon Storefront in the video description. You can learn how to use it here: th-cam.com/video/XT1reOI1-5E/w-d-xo.html
alfalfa bale - nitrogen, fast decomposting mulch
Since that is a grazing grass, there is a high chance of herbicide contamination and seed contamination. I think wheat straw is a safer and more readily available alternative. If you have a cheap, local source that you're sure is safe, use it, but it's not something the masses can find.
I have been looking for wheat straw and can’t find it locally. Do you use an online source?
No. I drive to local farm supply stores. I rent a U-Haul once a year and stock up. I showed the full truck in the video. Look for farm supply stores. They usually carry it.
Ok great! Thank you!
Trying to find your video on Jacks 20-20-20 . Can you give me the title of the episode? Hope you see this....
I don't have a video specifically centering around that product. How I apply fertilizer is going to depend on the species of plant, because you can't fertilize a tomato the same way you'd fertilize lettuce. All my fertilizing videos are organized in a playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PL1gY7BoYBGIGp0XbmUDUVdDY-TNWg1mdw.html&si=Mj386h913BM6iHha
Ok that's helpful. I know you use it in conjunction with other treatments
How to clean off the bad chemicals?
fire vid
Thank you!
❣️🇺🇲🗽 Brooklyn NY
Thanks for watching!
Looks like pan of rice crispy treats at 1st glance. ( Maybe with shredded wheat)
Weed mat is disastrous for the environment. Do you worry about what it might do as it breaks down?
Why is it disastrous for the environment? No, I'm not worried at all. What is the alternative? Controlling weeds through years of mowing and herbicide use? The weed barrier takes all of that out of the equation. Buying food from grocery stores is disastrous for the environment. Anything you can do to grow your own food is superior.
Where do you buy your wheat straw?
A local farm supply store called Hudson Hardware.
do you anything about LMF fig tree??
That is not a variety I have or am familiar with. I recommend looking it up on FigDatabase.
@@TheMillennialGardener sorry its called little miss figgy fig
So letting sit away from garden in full sun and rain for 3 months would mitigate most issues?
I do this with all store soil i buy already!
It will do a lot to degrade herbicides, insecticides and kill weeds. Nothing is every 100%, so keep that in mind. If your concern is herbicide contamination, the *only way* to know for sure is to sow some test transplants and use the affected product on the seedlings and observing them for any ill effects.
turn the bales on the side with stems up and it will rot much faster
Once the seed germinates, you can flip them over to snuff out the grass if you have the time. It may take several weeks to snuff out the grass entirely.
I wish you had sent this video out earlier because summer is over.
I posted the video now, because now is when I buy my straw. I don't do this in the summer. I always mulch my yard in the fall. It lasts all season long. Fall is the best time to mulch your yard, in my opinion, because seeds don't germinate in the cold. That means the seeds will be even less viable by the time spring rolls around. Now is a great time to buy your straw mulch. Let it sit, and place it in the late fall/early winter when it's nice and cool.
Isn't wheat usually sprayed with glyphosate at harvest?
Spraying crops is very, very expensive and time consuming. Farmers don’t spray unless there is a cost benefit. What would be the point of spraying an herbicide at harvest?
@@TheMillennialGardener it's used to dry the seed to make it all ready at the same time and get the harvest in before bad weather.
@@TheMillennialGardener The farmer sadly does spray wheat and field corn with herbicide just days before harvest to make a better yield and to ripen at the same time. I filmed them spraying the corn three days before harvest across from our home. It was definitely herbicide because all the grasses and morning glories were brown on the ditch banks within the three day period. I noticed the same browning around the wheat fields too.
👍🏾✨💚
My wheat straw contained seeds and sprouted all over my garden. 😂 I am thinking to raise wheat.
Couldn't you direct sow test plants into bales with a little soil?
Sure. You can plant transplants directly into a *cured* bale of straw. But, to me, it's easier to just start them in a pot and then mulch the container with the potentially affected ingredients and waiting.
Yes, I strawbale garden. It’s great. You have to go through a conditioning process. Read the book by Joel Karston.
I use the bales as raised beds. After they are spent, I add them to my raised beds. Creates beautiful soil.
I use chopped straw for mulch. It’s great, with very few seeds.
Blessings!