Fall Mulching 
There are several mulches that work well for winterizing plants in Minnesota. Straw, hay and leaves are the most commonly used materials. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, as outlined below.
Straw
| Definition |
| Straw is the stems of plants (usually wheat or oats) that have been baled after the seed heads have been harvested. |
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| Advantages |
| Straw is lightweight, does not compact readily, provides good insulation and has very few seeds. |
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| Disadvantages |
| Straw can shift with the wind and is extremely slow to break down, even in a compost pile. |
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| Characteristics |
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Straw is a light, golden yellow color. |
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A dry bale should weigh between 25 and 40 pounds, depending on how tightly it was baled. |
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Shaken out for mulching, a bale will cover 35-50 square feet 4-6 inches deep. |
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For plants, straw has little or no nutritional value unless it has been thoroughly composted. |
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Hay
| Definition |
| Hay is actually whole plants: leaves, stems and all. It has been cut, allowed to dry and baled. Ideally, hay is harvested just before the flower/seed heads mature. The type of hay usually available at Bachman’s is canary grass. |
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| Advantages |
| Hay stays in place, provides insulation and will degrade in less than a season. |
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| Disadvantages |
| Hay can have quite a few weed seeds and tends to mat down. |
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| Characteristics |
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Hay is dull green in color. |
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An average bale of hay will be heavier than straw, usually between 35 and 60 pounds, depending on how tightly it was baled and its moisture content. |
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Shaken out for mulching, a bale will cover approximately 35-50 square feet 4-6 inches deep. |
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Like straw, hay doesn't have much nutritional value for your plants unless it has been composted. |
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Leaves
| Definition |
| Many of us are fortunate enough to have leaves for fall mulching that fall right into our yards! |
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| Advantages & Disadvantages |
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Leaves from most deciduous trees do a good job and the price is right. |
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Larger leaves tend to matt and work better if shredded, i.e., running them over several times with a mulching lawn mower. |
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Avoid using black walnut leaves. |
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Shredded leaves work well as a summer mulch, too. They can be left in the garden to decompose if pulled away from the crowns of the plants. |
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Related Bachman's Information
Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Centers
Your local garden expert since 1885.
bachmans.com | ©Bachman's 2012
Select source information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension, www.extension.umn.edu.
Last Updated: March 2012
