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Straw Bales Make Gardening a Bundle of Fun 05/01/2008
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, take that old straw bale that you didn't end up using last season. Did you know that you can use it as a planter?
It's true, some beautiful looking plants have come from straw bale containers. Gardeners who use this method say that plants grown in straw bales appear to require less water. In addition, the container can be turned into compost when you're through with it.
Creating a straw bale planter is a fun summer project and definitely worth a try. The first thing you'll need, of course, is an old straw bale and some plants. Try tomatoes, peppers, squash or even cucumbers.
Choose where you want to put your planter and then place the straw bale short side up. Dig out the center of the bale and line it with an eco-friendly material like burlap or Easy Gardener's new WeedBlock® Biodegradable Mulch to hold potting soil in place.
Next, fill the area with potting soil or compost and place your chosen plant in the center. Gently pat soil to firm. If birds or wind are prone to spread weed seed in your area, cover the soil around the plant with another layer of WeedBlock Biodegradable Mulch. It offers the same performance as traditional landscape fabrics, however, it is made from recycled paper and contains no chemicals that would harm the environment and is OMRI listed.
WeedBlock Biodegradable Mulch is also ideal for vegetable gardens and flower beds as it adds nutrients and builds up soil to prevent erosion. You won't have to remove and dispose of it at the end of the season. Like the straw bale, WeedBlock Biodegradable Mulch can be composted because it's made from 100 percent post-consumer waste. You can find out more by visiting www.easygardener.com or calling 1-800-327-9462.
Keep your plants in the straw bale flourishing by feeding with easy-to-use fertilizer spikes. Be true to the environment and choose an organic spike like the new Jobe's® Organics® Fertilizer Spikes. These spikes will deliver nutrients to plants because they work near the plant roots. The naturally slow-release organic nutrients in the spikes ensure hearty plants and improve long-term soil quality by promoting beneficial microbial activity.
Finally, be sure to properly water the plants in your new straw bale planter. If you follow all of these steps, you should have some great results - or at least a bundle of fun trying it out!
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