Go BottomHay instead of straw
 | trbomax
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 133 Starvation Lake, Mi 
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2009-03-27 161473
Ive got several round bales of first cut grass hay in the back of the barn that are going on 3 yrs old. These are too old to feed,even though they are dry and clean. Question is,is there any reason why I cant use them over a new lawn instead of straw?
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 | greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky 
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2009-03-27 161475
I have to clean up hay and straw around feeders and pens every winter. I spread it out to compost on my pasture. Come spring, grass grows right up through the straw. The hay on the other hand, smothers the grass. Not permanently, but it must decompose a couple of months longer before eventually promoting growth. I personally wouldn't use it on a lawn.
Besides. If you unroll a few layers, you might get down to something still suitable for livestock.
//greg// ....
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 | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan 
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2009-03-28 161478
Unless you're just looking for a reason to use the hay, you really don't have to use a straw. Straw is sued to diffuse rain to reduce washouts on slopes, and help retain moisture. I get clients that insist, nay demand, straw go over a new lawn--mostly cityslicker types that saw it on a home improvement show or on the Web. They change their mind when a. the hear the extra cost and b. the mess when it blows around onto the neighbors' yards. ....
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| trbomax
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 133 Starvation Lake, Mi
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2009-03-28 161491
Up here in Mancelona, its all blow sand. If we dont straw it,we cant keep it damp,and there is still a fair ammount of luck involved with weather.I guess I'll just pitch the hay and buy straw!On the other hand , what if I ran it thru a chipper first? Would that break it up enough to be ok? ....
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| greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2009-03-28 161499
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//greg// ....
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| earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2009-03-29 161502
Mancelona, MI?
If you shred it, you will be defeating your original purpose. IMHO it will be like spreading cow dung (minus running it through the dung maker) which will suffocate any growth. If anything I would compost it. Heap it and let it decompose on its own, then ammend the soil with it.
Another thought: straw doesn't have much seed---hay however does. Do you really want hay for a lawn? ....
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-03-30 161523
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Greg that makes sense as straw is dry or dead when baled where as hay was not when cut. ....
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| trbomax
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 133 Starvation Lake, Mi
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2009-03-30 161551
Its bone dry,been off the ground in my barn for 2 yrs!I bought this at $30/bale,I guess I'll fined someone that will use it and buy straw!
Yes Mancelona , Mi,starvation lake, to be exact. ....
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 | AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2009-04-01 161596
It's nutritional value has dropped by about 67% over three years. For feed any buyer would be better off buying new. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-04-01 161627
Have no doubt your hay is dry. Only tying to help point out the difference between hay and straw. It has been told to me this shows way past the baling. But a very simple question, can you not use hay just at a lower amount than straw? In our area we don't use straw on fresh seeding lawns or if so very very very seldom. Use a good bit of hay or straw in bays to control water in new ditches to prevent erosion. ....
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| trbomax
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 133 Starvation Lake, Mi
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2009-04-11 161953
I know its way down on nutritional value,but I thought it was only about 20%/yr.Anyway thats why I was just going to use it on the new grass.Sounds like a bad idea though,so straw it is. ....
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