It’s mostly Bermuda grass around the gardens and yes, it’s invasive. I usually wait for a good rain then dig it out rhizome by rhizome. This is about the same as crab grass and quack grass. I’ve found that it benefits the soil by breaking it up and I find so many worms when I decide to dig it out. It’s not really a heavy feeder, it’s just unsightly to some of us.
Hi Tonya! Yes, I plant the onion sets with just the root sticking in the soil and then mulch right up close to help support the plant. I may add mulch as they grow because I don’t want the tops of the bulbs to become green. This give them plenty of moisture and because the bulb is not pushing against the soil it will grow bigger.
Hello! I am trying to get a garden just like yours and let the microbes do all the work by keeping them happy. I'm curious about the ground cover around the garden. Do you know what kind of grass it is? It looks green all year. And why doesn't it creep into your garden? I have a big problem with quack grass. I will apply a heavy mulch. But the quack grass finds a way through. Thanks!
The soil on my land is very gravelly. Seems like I have more little rocks than dirt. Will this method still work for me as you describe, or would I need to do something extra? Thank you for these videos, I'm learning a lot!
Regina, if the rocks as small enough that they don’t inhibit your ability to sow seeds and set plants then you should be good the apply a heavy mulch and see good results. As the hay breaks down it will naturally become more soil around the gravel.
How big are the rolls of hay you get there? I have used smaller bales because I could lift and move them without equipment. Thank you for sharing your method! 🌱
They range in size depending upon the baler that was used. Some weigh in at 150 lbs to maybe 350 lbs. I usually stand them on end and simply unwrap the layers.
I don’t know of a good way to get hay where I live but I have a lot of deciduous trees surrounding my home. Would leaf mulch work in place of hay? I have been keeping a no till garden for 3 years now but I see how mulch could decrease a lot of the need to water as frequently
Hi Randi, While leaves help retain moisture they typically raise the acidity level of the soil and they don’t contribute the necessary nutrients to your soil. You should have a friend with a pickup truck. Go out around some farms and find a few round bales.
What about straw? I can get some from Rural King, also Lowe's has some. I need to ask if they're sprayed. I can also look for unsprayed hay. I learned about gardening with hay and straw from Ruth Stout's book, how to have a Geeen Thumb Without An Aching Back. This is my second year of gardening. Last year I didn't plant much, I spent a lot of last spring and summer pulling out Japanese barberry from the front bed, now it's my kitchen garden... Then planted a few things... I'm going to watch your other videos now! Thanks for this! 😁
Hi Tara, You want hay, not straw. Check with some neighboring farms for old rotten bales that they can’t use. The glyphosates from herbicide should be washed out of them and they’re perfect for your garden.
Mario, If you like me have Bermuda grass it’s there whether you mulch or not. I wait until the soil is nice and wet after a rain and dig it out. And you must stay vigilant and dig out what ever sprouts through the season.
Grass, especially Bermuda loves hay mulch. It can be a nuisance but can be managed by first remove the stolens and rhizomes from the garden and then maintaining a clear perimeter around the garden.
Hi Maggie, Straw will contribute very little to the soil web. It’s just hollow grass that has few nutrients and beneficial bacteria. Hay has everything your garden needs.
Hey Ken, If you’re dealing with hard packed clay then I would till it well then immediately cover with hay. That’s the only instance in which I recommend tilling and you’ll do it only once in the life of the garden. Cliff
Hi Judy! Yes, with several of my gardens I started with clay soil. In this case I did start with tilling and immediately spread the hay. The worms will move in and your soil will improve season after season.
Hi, I love your videos, and am eager to try it for myself. How long can one typically use the same hay on a bed before fresh mulch needs to be added? And do you just leave it on all year long? Thanks !!
Hi Marco. After you apply the hay the microbes and worms will break that down into rich soil. I reapply the hay all through the season, keep it 6 to 8” deep. The gardens all get a nice blanket of hay for the winter.
@@jarheadfarm6811 That makes sense, great. Thank you so much for your quick reply. Does this breaking down proces then makes the addition of compost or other soil enhancers completely obsolete? Furthermore, could a piece of (poor) soil also be a starting point instead of a piece of grassland? Forgive me the beginners questions, but I'm eager to learn from your experience. Thanks again!
Hey Marco, Yes, the hay gives the soil everything it needs to grow excellent vegetables. A recent soil test by Cornell University reflected 99% N, and 100% potassium and phosphate just from hay mulch. You can begin with poor soil. If it’s hard packed you can hurry the process by breaking the soil and then covering with the mulch.
@@jarheadfarm6811 Wow that sounds amazing. So you're not making compost yourself? Why is this not a more widespread method you reckon? Everywhere I look it's all about creating compost. Yours seems to be the least labour intensive with the best result. And do the regular plants and trees in your garden also get the hay bed? Anyway, as with everything, I'll just have to try and experience for myself :D. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I mulch ornamentals, berries, fruit trees. Why is this practice not widespread? Well we’ve got several generations behind us that think if it’s not complicated then it won’t work. They’ve spent an enormous amount of time and money on hoop houses, raised beds, soil amendments, etc. There are a lot of cottage people out there who may feel a little foolish when they see how easy it is. They don’t particularly like me or my videos. 🤣
Betty, squash bugs are best controlled by a kaolin spray. Start spraying as the plants emerge and the bugs will find something else to munch on. We’ll be doing a new video soon about identifying, collecting, and processing kaolin clay.
Do you stake your tomatoes? I would like to try this but concerned about grazon in the hay. I live in east texas.The farmers spray their fields. Just take a chance on old hay, 3 yrs old perhaps?
You’re right to be cautious. Garzón is the most effective herbicide and can continue to work on plants and soil for 5 to 7 years. Your best bet it to use old rotting bales that weren’t spray with this stuff. 2 4-d dissipates after just a few years.
And as far as tomatoes I use cages made from a roll of wire fence. Tomatoes sprawling on the ground will be a buffet for all the beetles and ground dwelling insects and you’ll be disappointed with the yield.
Hey Man, use hay. It is packed full of everything your garden needs. Straw is just hollow grass stems that can conserve moisture and discourage weeds but contributes little in the way of nutrients.
@@jarheadfarm6811I just asked the same question, and just saw this reply. I will look for hay! I did put straw down on top of the kitchen scraps and leaves that I saved and collected, the soil looks great. However, I didn't put enough straw down, so the soil was affected by the lot of rain that we got. Oops.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I love it. Shear simplicity
Always simplicity and mother nature shall prevail !
It’s mostly Bermuda grass around the gardens and yes, it’s invasive.
I usually wait for a good rain then dig it out rhizome by rhizome. This is about the same as crab grass and quack grass. I’ve found that it benefits the soil by breaking it up and I find so many worms when I decide to dig it out. It’s not really a heavy feeder, it’s just unsightly to some of us.
Thank you!
Thank you ai appreciate your response.
❤❤
Looks great
Thank you
🐝🐝🐝😊😊
Also, do you choose bales from a particular cutting so as not to introduce grass seeds?
I know they often do several cuttings during the season. 😉
Hay does have some seeds in it. First or second cutting won’t matter when it’s put on nice and thick.
Do a video showing how you plant your onions with the mulch. I was always told to never put mulch around the onion...what do you do?
Hi Tonya!
Yes, I plant the onion sets with just the root sticking in the soil and then mulch right up close to help support the plant. I may add mulch as they grow because I don’t want the tops of the bulbs to become green. This give them plenty of moisture and because the bulb is not pushing against the soil it will grow bigger.
Great video Cliff! How many months does it take on average for the hay to break down the grass to be able to plant? Thank you!
Hello! I am trying to get a garden just like yours and let the microbes do all the work by keeping them happy. I'm curious about the ground cover around the garden. Do you know what kind of grass it is? It looks green all year. And why doesn't it creep into your garden? I have a big problem with quack grass. I will apply a heavy mulch. But the quack grass finds a way through. Thanks!
The soil on my land is very gravelly. Seems like I have more little rocks than dirt. Will this method still work for me as you describe, or would I need to do something extra? Thank you for these videos, I'm learning a lot!
Regina, if the rocks as small enough that they don’t inhibit your ability to sow seeds and set plants then you should be good the apply a heavy mulch and see good results. As the hay breaks down it will naturally become more soil around the gravel.
@@jarheadfarm6811 thank you. I look forward to trying this. 🙂
How big are the rolls of hay you get there? I have used smaller bales because I could lift and move them without equipment. Thank you for sharing your method! 🌱
They range in size depending upon the baler that was used. Some weigh in at 150 lbs to maybe 350 lbs. I usually stand them on end and simply unwrap the layers.
Awesome video dude thank you
Probably missed so.signing
you covered in straw in Jan
When did u palnt ? The same year?
Hi Dave. I use hay, not straw, and yes I covered in January and started setting out plants in mid-April.
Thank you
I don’t know of a good way to get hay where I live but I have a lot of deciduous trees surrounding my home. Would leaf mulch work in place of hay? I have been keeping a no till garden for 3 years now but I see how mulch could decrease a lot of the need to water as frequently
Hi Randi,
While leaves help retain moisture they typically raise the acidity level of the soil and they don’t contribute the necessary nutrients to your soil. You should have a friend with a pickup truck. Go out around some farms and find a few round bales.
What about straw? I can get some from Rural King, also Lowe's has some. I need to ask if they're sprayed. I can also look for unsprayed hay.
I learned about gardening with hay and straw from Ruth Stout's book, how to have a Geeen Thumb Without An Aching Back. This is my second year of gardening. Last year I didn't plant much, I spent a lot of last spring and summer pulling out Japanese barberry from the front bed, now it's my kitchen garden... Then planted a few things...
I'm going to watch your other videos now! Thanks for this! 😁
Any suggestions for other mulch, I tried to buy straw here yesterday (after watching your interview video) and it was $26 for a small bale 😮
Hi Tara,
You want hay, not straw. Check with some neighboring farms for old rotten bales that they can’t use. The glyphosates from herbicide should be washed out of them and they’re perfect for your garden.
@@jarheadfarm6811 thank you so much ☺️
How do you manager the mulch of there Is Bermuda grass?
Mario,
If you like me have Bermuda grass it’s there whether you mulch or not. I wait until the soil is nice and wet after a rain and dig it out. And you must stay vigilant and dig out what ever sprouts through the season.
How do you keep the grass out?
Grass, especially Bermuda loves hay mulch. It can be a nuisance but can be managed by first remove the stolens and rhizomes from the garden and then maintaining a clear perimeter around the garden.
How big of a garden will a roll of hay cover?
Should cover 10’ x 20’ at depth of 8”.
@@jarheadfarm6811 thanks
Would compressed EZ straw from tractor supply work?
Hi Maggie,
Straw will contribute very little to the soil web. It’s just hollow grass that has few nutrients and beneficial bacteria. Hay has everything your garden needs.
@jarheadfarm6811 thank you for sharing your wisdom! 🙏
God bless you today and always 🙏🤗
Would this work with clay soil ? I live in SE Tennessee and the soil is clay.
Hey Ken,
If you’re dealing with hard packed clay then I would till it well then immediately cover with hay. That’s the only instance in which I recommend tilling and you’ll do it only once in the life of the garden.
Cliff
Can I do this if my soil is a lot of clay
Hi Judy! Yes, with several of my gardens I started with clay soil. In this case I did start with tilling and immediately spread the hay.
The worms will move in and your soil will improve season after season.
Hi, I love your videos, and am eager to try it for myself. How long can one typically use the same hay on a bed before fresh mulch needs to be added? And do you just leave it on all year long? Thanks !!
Hi Marco.
After you apply the hay the microbes and worms will break that down into rich soil. I reapply the hay all through the season, keep it 6 to 8” deep. The gardens all get a nice blanket of hay for the winter.
@@jarheadfarm6811 That makes sense, great. Thank you so much for your quick reply. Does this breaking down proces then makes the addition of compost or other soil enhancers completely obsolete? Furthermore, could a piece of (poor) soil also be a starting point instead of a piece of grassland? Forgive me the beginners questions, but I'm eager to learn from your experience. Thanks again!
Hey Marco,
Yes, the hay gives the soil everything it needs to grow excellent vegetables. A recent soil test by Cornell University reflected 99% N, and 100% potassium and phosphate just from hay mulch.
You can begin with poor soil. If it’s hard packed you can hurry the process by breaking the soil and then covering with the mulch.
@@jarheadfarm6811 Wow that sounds amazing. So you're not making compost yourself? Why is this not a more widespread method you reckon? Everywhere I look it's all about creating compost. Yours seems to be the least labour intensive with the best result. And do the regular plants and trees in your garden also get the hay bed? Anyway, as with everything, I'll just have to try and experience for myself :D. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I mulch ornamentals, berries, fruit trees.
Why is this practice not widespread? Well we’ve got several generations behind us that think if it’s not complicated then it won’t work. They’ve spent an enormous amount of time and money on hoop houses, raised beds, soil amendments, etc.
There are a lot of cottage people out there who may feel a little foolish when they see how easy it is. They don’t particularly like me or my videos. 🤣
How do you grow potatoes?
Pretty much the same way. If you mulch deep enough there’s no need for hilling.
Does the hay help eliminate squash bugs?
Betty, squash bugs are best controlled by a kaolin spray. Start spraying as the plants emerge and the bugs will find something else to munch on. We’ll be doing a new video soon about identifying, collecting, and processing kaolin clay.
@@jarheadfarm6811 Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I look forward to another gardening lesson from you.
Do you stake your tomatoes?
I would like to try this but concerned about grazon in the hay. I live in east texas.The farmers spray their fields. Just take a chance on old hay, 3 yrs old perhaps?
You’re right to be cautious. Garzón is the most effective herbicide and can continue to work on plants and soil for 5 to 7 years. Your best bet it to use old rotting bales that weren’t spray with this stuff. 2 4-d dissipates after just a few years.
And as far as tomatoes I use cages made from a roll of wire fence. Tomatoes sprawling on the ground will be a buffet for all the beetles and ground dwelling insects and you’ll be disappointed with the yield.
Is it actual hay or will straw work?
Hey Man, use hay. It is packed full of everything your garden needs. Straw is just hollow grass stems that can conserve moisture and discourage weeds but contributes little in the way of nutrients.
@ Thank you my good sir! 🙌🏻
Can straw be used instead of hay. Or is hay better to use.
Hey Kim! Straw has little nutritional value for the soil so use hay.
@@jarheadfarm6811 thank you!
@@jarheadfarm6811I just asked the same question, and just saw this reply. I will look for hay!
I did put straw down on top of the kitchen scraps and leaves that I saved and collected, the soil looks great. However, I didn't put enough straw down, so the soil was affected by the lot of rain that we got. Oops.
can you use leaves instead of hay?
Leaves, especially oak leaves tend to mat together and keep natural rain water from penetrating besides actually raising acidity in the soil.
@@jarheadfarm6811 WHAT IF YOU MOW THE LEAVES SMALLER?
Frank. That will certainly them breakdown sooner.