rotted hay

Brad Buchanan · May 3, 2020

Hey folks.

I haven't been on in a while but I have a kinda tractor related question.

I have a large pile of hay that I cleared away from around a bale ring last spring. It consists of mostly hay which was trampled down and has reduced in volume by about 1/2 over the last year. I would like to use it to start some grass seed but I don't know if it might be too acidic due to the cow urine and droppings.

Also I would like to mix it with some other matter to make it easier to work. It is dry and crumbly and sort of turns to powder in your hand.

I have about 10 yards of the stuff.

Any suggestions?

Brad Buchanan

Bob Harvey · May 3, 2020

Mix it with manure - to any measure you are comfortable with, then let it 'cook' for a while. HTH

larbear · May 3, 2020

Right to think about the acid. I can't see it being too much, it isn't straight manure. Work it in with dirt, it can only help the soil. I don't think it would hurt straw berries for that matter.

Bruce from Can. · May 3, 2020

I like to pile that kinda stuff into a windrow about 6 feet high in the spring . Then roll it over and stir it up a few times through out the summer. It will heat and ferment and rot down if you keep stirring it, giving it Oxygen. Then make a big pile, and leave it over winter, by spring it is just nice like potting soil.

kcm.MN · May 3, 2020

I'm doing essentially what Bruce said and making my own garden soil for next year.

You mention that you want to mix it with other material. So I see no reason why you can't use it for starting grass seed this year.

If you still have any doubts, try taking a small sample of your material and seeing if you can start some grass seed in a small flower pot, or even in a zip-lock bag. If the seed sprouts in a week, then your mix will be fine on the yard.

Traditional Farmer · May 4, 2020

With piles of hay/manure like that I usually just load it in the manure spreader add some lime to the load and spread it where ever I need it.

MJMJ · May 4, 2020

If you haven't been turning it like Bruce mentioned, then it's only composted and like powder on the surface. Dig in a bit and you'll see it's a wet rotten mess underneath. If you turn it once a month or so with the loader, it'll be really nice next spring.

Brad Buchanan · May 4, 2020

Thanks for all the help, guys. I think I will try it just as it is for the grass... The worst it can do is not grow.

Brad

rotted hay

Brad Buchanan

Member

Bob Harvey

Well-known Member

larbear

Member

Bruce from Can.

Well-known Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

MJMJ

Well-known Member

Brad Buchanan

Member

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