I recently bought straw from this store. I specifically asked if it had any seed in it because I would be using it for mulching my garden. The person at the time told me that straw doesn't have seed, hay does.... and confirmed that because of that, I want straw. They told me the stuff in the garbage bag is the best because it's already pre-chopped up, therefore it would be easy to spread. I just put it down on my garden about a week ago and all of a sudden I'm getting a ton of grass type plants coming up. I am positive that this is coming from the straw because it is only happening in the areas where I spread the straw, and it's even happening in some areas where I put down a weed barrier under the straw first.
When crops like wheat, barley, and oats are harvested for their seed, the stalks are left behind. These stalks--which have been drained of most of their nutrients during the process of seed production--are harvested and baled to create straw.
I don't expect my straw to be pristine, but as you can see in the picture of my garden there was a lot of seed in there! I called hoping to get a refund or at least an apology but all I got was an crabby woman named Sandy telling me that she has been harvesting straw and hay her whole life and in her opinion there is supposed to be seeds in both. I tried to tell her that hay has seeds, straw is not supposed to have seeds, as they should have already been harvested. But she stubbornly stood her ground and did not even offer an apology. I really just wanted to warn her of the condition of her straw so she could get rid of it.... or at least make sure she isn't selling it for mulch!
I have been mulching with straw for the past six years and this is the first time this has happened to me. I doubt that she will warn anyone of the quality of the straw... so I felt obligated to put this out there. read more