Hay Bale Garden

Hay Bale Garden

Spring, 2022:

Use what you have. I happened to have 20+ year old hay in the almost 100 year old barn on my farm.  First, I dug up patches of Bermuda grass and sprayed it with grass killer.  I then laid down 3 layers of thick, free cardboard, salvaged from a local furniture store.  Finally, the hay bales were placed as the photo below shows.

I conditioned the bales using high nitrogen fertilizer according to the article, Hay Bale Gardening: The Ultimate Guide at http://www.haybalegarden.com/ 

Since the hay was very old, no weed or grass seeds germinated.  None.  All summer.

I was so pleased with my hay bale garden, I added length to each of the four rows, as is obvious in the photo above.  In the fall, I topped the hay in late with another bale or loose flakes to equal one bale in height.  I also conditioned these bales, with the hope they will be breaking down through winter.

I will no longer have access old hay in the future, since the old barn was torn down, but, hopefully the four 32 gallon trash cans will be full off compost at the beginning of the season, and the hay will be a good start to a lasagna garden in time.