[Trillium]

Hay contains a lot of legume seeds which will quickly sprout and takeover the plot if not kept in check. It's extra work when you don't need it.

[Ivor Backache]

Petshop straw will be more expensive. They also get it from the farmer and repackage it. I should be able to find a source for bales, after all the Vale of Clwyd is a huge farming area. There does deem to be a move away from wheat/barley to sweetcorn.
You don't use hay because it rots too easily- straw should last the season.
There's only one way to find out about plastic straw -try it.

[sclarke624]

Its just that straw used to be a waste product but today there is no such thing in farming.  Also you don't see many straw bales, they are all big round ones. Try taking one of those in the car!

I know they are more expensive to buy from a pet shop I must of misunderstood you I thought you were saying you were having trouble finding some and putting big bales if found in your car.

[MoreWhisky]

Hi yorkie , i need a bale that wold fit in a car for my 30m of strawbs.

Do you know any farms around York as everyone i go to has only got hay 

[jazzbyrd]

Straw from Pet Shops is usually shredded is this okay to use under strawberries ? Can the straw be left where it is after the cropping season is over ? or does it need to be removed?

Jazz

[Yorkie]

Hi MW, now you've asked a good question there 

Ermmmm 

I don't think I've spoken to anyone who has obtained straw for their lotty.  We don't supply it on site.  I don't know whether Brunswick use straw and, if so, would be able to tell you their supplier?

[Rangerkris]

Im told there is a bale of straw in the store at work thats been there in the dry for some time hehehehe it might shrink very soon. i only have a small strawberry path this year.

[SnooziSuzi]

Straw from Pet Shops is usually shredded is this okay to use under strawberries ? Can the straw be left where it is after the cropping season is over ? or does it need to be removed?

Jazz

Yes, I think pet shop straw is shredded as before I got my barley straw from a farmer I used to buy this and it was certainly softer as a result of the shredding, but it flies away at the slightest gust whereas farm straw doesn't from experience.

[Sal1610]

I get straw from an animal foodstuff place - Smith's at Cottingham near Hull - mainly they sell petfood and food for livestock (I get my chicken food from there) but they also sell straw in sacks or bales. Might be worth checking out any agricultural foodstuff places near you? There's a farm on the A 1079 just south of York that sells animal feed and pet food, they might sell straw. If I have time on the way to work tomorrow I'll pop in and ask

Sal

[mickwood]

When is the best time to put the straw down? I've got about a dozen strawberry plants, should I cover the ground between them with straw??