How to Kill Weed Seeds in Hay

Hay brings a lot to the garden. A thick layer of organic mulch such as hay or straw smothers weeds and keeps them from taking over walkways and the spaces between plants. It also holds in moisture so that your plants don’t dry out too quickly, and when tilled in at the end of the season, mulch adds nutrients as it lightens the soil. To make sure your hay doesn’t also bring along its own crop of weeds, treat the hay in the sun using a process called solarization before using it in or near your garden.

Hay bale
Clear plastic
Duct tape

Instructions

Solarization
- 1
  Place a bale of hay in a location near the garden where it will receive full sun every day.
- 2
  Soak the hay bale completely either by applying a lot of water from one side and letting it soak in or by soaking one side, then rolling the bale and soaking it on the other side as well.
- 3
  Wrap the wet bale in clear plastic. Roll the bale in the plastic so that all sides are covered.
- 4
  Tape the ends and seams of the plastic down with duct tape so that the bale is totally sealed inside.
- 5
  Leave the bale in place for at least two weeks to kill all the weed seeds it contains.
Soaking
- 6
  Place the hay bale in a convenient location near your garden. Leave the string on it.
- 7
  Water the hay until the bale is well-soaked. Leave it alone and allow any seeds in the bale to sprout until there’s an inch or two of green growing on it.
- 8
  Break the bale apart and spread the hay to kill any seeds that have sprouted.

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How to Kill Weed Seeds in Hay

Instructions

Solarization

Soaking