Hay and straw are commonly confused especially when both are dried and baled.
If this is something that you have been wondering for long, we got all the answers for you.
In this article
What is hay?
Source
Hay or hay bales are very important in animal herding and a common fixture in farmlands.
It is particularly significant in farmlands with long winter periods or during extended droughts.
Farmers with much hay also specialize in producing hay bales to be sold to other farmers.
However, it must be noted that hay bales contain a lot of moisture.
So much so that it makes them flammable.
This is the reason why plants made as hay should be completely dry or else they retain high moisture.
Another is that you could never be sure if hay bales contain 100% high nutrient plants.
In some instances, you might be introducing weed on your farm with it.
What is hay made of?
Hay is generally made of various plant combinations and turned into livestock feed.
Hay is not a generic feed.
Some are made of high carbohydrate plants for heavy-working animals such as horses and cows.
The plants that makeup hay are harvested when they are green.
Specifically, they are cut and dried into hay bales shortly after they grow from the seeds.
Hay in garden beds
Hay is also a good compost option forgarden beds.
What is straw?
In some areas, straws are actually considered as waste by-products of harvest.
It is also used as mulch particularly for strawberry farms.
It is also popular as fall or Halloween decoration and in makeshift houses/barns or thatched roofs.
It is also tapped as a bioenergy source.
What is straw made of?
Source
Straw is made of the dried stalks of cereals and grains after harvest.
The most common sources of straw are wheat, barley, oats, rice, and rye.
It can be bundled using twigs or wire and is stored for uses beyond livestock feed.
Where does straw come from?
Straw comes from the dried, hollow stems, stalks, seed heads of grains or cereals.
What is straw used for?
It has more practical uses compared to hay, though.
It is also used in construction specifically in making thatched roofs presumably for the same reason.
It is also processed as a source of biofuel.
Perhaps, the most popular use of straw is in making straw baskets and straw hats.
Types of straw
When it comes to straw, there are just a handful of types.
Straw for grass
Practically, straw in grass works like mulch.
They also keep the seeds intact by preventing them from being blown off by heavy winds and rain.
Difference between hay and straw
To be clear, hay and straw are both plant by-products.
On the other hand, hay is harvested fresh, balled into bales until they dry up.
Straws are used for other purposes while the hay is used as livestock feed.
Both are also used as mulch but straws are more common mulch than hay.
Should I use hay or straw in my garden?
Given what we have covered above, there is just one resolution to this question.
Is straw or hay cheaper?
Straw is way cheaper than hay.
The average straw bale only costs under $3 while the hay bale starts at $7 and above.
Does straw prevent weeds?
Leftover straw bale will cause weeds because of too much dampness.
But good straw bales will prevent weeds from emerging and block hidden weeds from even thriving.
This is because it holds moisture and dampness for a long time.
Conclusion
You see, there are fundamental differences between hay and straw.
Depending on how you will use them, it is easy to choose which one to use.
