Straw
bales make gardening a bundle of fun
Metro — They say beauty is in the
eye of the beholder. For example, take that old straw bale that you didnÕt end
up using last season. Did you know that you can use it as a planter? ItÕs 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 youÕre
through with it.
Creating
a straw bale planter is a fun summer project and definitely worth a try. The
first thing youÕll 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 GardenerÕs 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 wonÕt
have to remove and dispose of it at the end of the season. Like the straw bale,
WeedBlock Biodegradable Mulch can be composted because itÕs 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
JobeÕs¨ 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!