One ingenious idea is to cut the bale with a hacksaw and then use your hand as a lever to force it apart into individual flakes (sections that make up a bale). Hay bales dotting fields offer a scenic sign of fall. If you prefer old school fall decor, you cant go wrong with a hay-stuffed scarecrow. In addition to adding a natural element, pinecones can also add a sense of mystery and whimsy. Once your bale has served its purpose, it can be broken up in your compost pile or strewn to protect your planting beds during winter. This will add a bit of color and light to your hay bale, and its safe to place outside. The first step to keeping your decorative hay bales clean is to remove any dirt or debris that might have collected on them during their storage. bale To preserve its nutritional value, put up no more than youll feed within a year of harvest. Take one end of the string and tie an overhand loop knot. Baled dry as a popcorn fart . WebPlace one in the front of your yard or near the driveway. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_26',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Once all your plants have been planted, cover the bale lightly with soil to seal in moisture and allow evaporation to occur. How To Store Hay To Make It Last - Hobby Farms Labor is a valuable resource so producers are always looking for the most effective and efficient way to remove net wrap from bales being fed. Hay, small bales falling apart - Tractor Talk Forum - Yesterday's Tractors Jump to forum order in days for posts Alternatively, you can stack two bales on top of each other and add another layer perpendicular to the first layer. Use a can of paint that is labeled for outdoor use to ensure it will withstand rain and sun exposure. Furthermore, bales stored outside are subject to water pooling at the bottom of a net wrap bale. Fall 4. They will usually accept your hay donations free of charge and will recycle it into mulch for your gardens the following year. Finally, hay bales can provide a perfect place for pests to hide from predators and lay eggs, especially if the hay bale is in a damp or dark area. When used with compost, they can help increase your gardens soil fertility over time as well. According to Farm to Stable, seller of straw bales on Amazon, a 4-pound wheat straw bale will cover approximately 6 to 8 square feet, 2 inches deep. Unwrapping a bale wrapped in net wrap can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating. At the same time, hay shortages have become a way of life. You can use a space heater, a heat lamp, or a hair dryer to warm the area. These can vary based on the type of building, number of units, business model and other factors. Keep your hay bales from falling apart with these tips: First, wrap them in colorful twinkle lights to outline their shape or spiral around the center of the bale. Once its in the ground, water and fertilize regularly to help the bale decompose and become a nutrient-rich, warm soil for plants to thrive. If you have tips and tricks to removing net wrap efficiently, I would appreciate hearing them. summer editorial intern. If you dont have any blossoms, you can also try adding pinecones to your hay bale. They go so well with pumpkins, squash, mums, dried corn stalks, and more, as shown in this photo. 5 out of 5 stars (1,966) $ 8.00. Hay bales can heal up to ten hearts for livestock mobs that eat them. You might need four to five coats of paint to get a good, even coverage. 4. hay Talk about curb appeal, the hay bale in front of this entryway leads guests into the home in such an inviting way. These add a natural touch and are easy to find at your local craft store. The hay comes from Imperial Valley east of San Diego.This time of year it is very hot. Protect valuable hay from the elements by storing it under cover in a building that doesnt leak and has good ventilation. She had some When it comes to decorating your yard or front porch for the fall season, one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to spruce up the look is with hay bales. Net wrap is widely used as a hay binding material, but it does come with its disadvantages. This quick, easy DIY project should only take a few minutes. Also a vote for re-bales. Another great way to keep a hay bale dry is to wrap it with plastic twine, which resists weathering, insects and rodents. Decorative hay bales are the perfect way to give your outdoor space a rustic, countryside cottage feel. By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). Be sure to use a vacuum cleaner or sweep the area thoroughly before putting them outside for the season. Sold as pack of 3, 6, 12, 24 or 100 pieces, Dimensions of each piece is 2.5 x 1 inches. You can also find straw bales of various sizes, shapes, and styles on Amazon. In general, bales can cost as low as $5 at local hardware stores and the price goes up from there. Another great decorative option for hay bales is to stack corn stalks. You can also make your hay stacks more decorative by using colorful twinkle lights. How to Keep Decorative Hay Bales From Falling Apart Will you be using hay in your fall decor. Shortly after, a track hoe began loading the pile of hay on the road into a truck. Crews used machinery to pull apart the load of hay to help stop the fire, which continued to smoke. There are a variety of bugs that are drawn to hay bales, including beetles and moths. It is important to be mindful of potential fire hazards when utilizing straw bales, and best practices and precautions should be taken to help ensure fire safety. A tedder and rake is often the same piece of equipment. For a more whimsical approach, you can line your hay bale with flowers. Current research being conducted at the Cottonwood Field Station is looking at the impact of net wrap accumulation in the rumen when hay is ground with net wrap. That is the question. Youll want to cut or tear away the strings and/or netting so the hay can expand and be able to absorb water. To truly understand why I love hay bales so much, youll need to take a walk down memory lane with me. It was the perfect home for Zach to grow up in. Can I Install a Smart Thermostat in My Apartment. You can use small or large bales, but be sure to secure them to the ground with stakes to prevent them from falling apart if the maze gets too rowdy. Its also a potential source of fire, putting your barn in jeopardy should it ignite. Its important to monitor hay bales regularly to ensure they remain in good shape and are not being exposed to more water or animals than they can handle. This will ensure that the paint stays on the bale and doesnt seep through. Keep these things in mind when you plan how much youre going to grow and package. the straw bale doubles as a seat for slipping shoes on and off. You can purchase a lot of glitter in the form of small confetti or even sand. Materials you can use to help insulate hay from wet soil or concrete and provide some ventilation include telephone poles, wooden pallets and tires. During these two weeks, keep the bale damp by soaking it again every couple of days. If you want to take a straw bale planter to the next level, you can actually plant an entire garden within straw bales. Yes, you can put lights on hay bales! Keep Them Clean. Depending on the quality of the hay, mold can create mycotoxins that are harmful to horses and livestock and can lead to respiratory, digestive, immunity, performance, weight, and other health issues. 4. Homeowners Insurance Four-plexes are an increasingly [], by unlimitedapartments on 6 hours ago - 0 Comments, Whether you are getting a new cat or kitten, or just trying to introduce your current kitty to a new one, it is important to take a lot of time and care. If fully outdoors, cover stacks of square bales (large or small) with tarps, securing the tarps with strong tie-downs. How to Decorate the Backyard for Halloween for Cheap, BobVila.com: 5 Things to Do With Straw Bales, 9 drought-tolerant plants for any outdoor space, How to Decorate a Yard With Hay for Fall Season. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. This will add a natural element to your homes decor, and it can be decorated with leaves, flowers and other elements to match your theme. Yes, there are insects in hay. COVERING BALES Covering bales offers some promise for reducing weather-related losses for bales stored outside. Olivia Amundson, South Dakota State University extension cow-calf specialist, explains in a recent SDSU Livestock Newsletter the advantages and drawbacks to using net wrap. Decorative Straw Bales: 8 Hay Bale Decorating Ideas - Bob Vila WebJun 8, 2019 - Explore Shelley Cruz's board "Hay bale decorations", followed by 237 people on Pinterest. 9 Easy-to-Make Garden Luminaries 5 Things to Do With Apple Crates How To: Make a Terrarium. Since the size of hay bales varies greatly, youll need to factor that into determining how much area the bale you purchase will cover. In addition to these insects, other pests such as ants, spiders, mites, ticks, and parasites can also infest hay. Probably was very short when they cut it. Stan. 2023 South Dakota Board of Regents. This makes the soil more fertile, allowing it to better support the growth of plants. One key to the quick decomposition of the straw and the conditioning is that the bales must be compressed. I feed them in the morning. These natural decorations are a great way to incorporate fall colors and seasonal themes, but you need to make sure they stay safe. If a bale is being fed in a bale feeder some simple tips can assist you in removing the net wrap quickly and efficiently. Hay Bales Remove the top one-third of the bale and use it as a string. Water it well to saturate the fertilizer. With a bit of creativity, decorating bales of hay can be a fun way to celebrate the season!. To bale or not to bale. Luckily, you dont have to take your set apart all the way to move it. Store hay where its accessible. They can be moved in the spring, if we dont want the hay cage to be there permanently. If hay bales are wrapped in plastic or a tarp, they can potentially last up to a year, depending on weather conditions and what type of hay is stored. For example, they can be used as mulch in your garden, as animal bedding to help keep your animals warm in the colder months, or as compost material to help return nutrients to the soil. Arrange them around the bale -- one on top and one or two flanking the bottom. Straw is a by-product of cereal grain harvesting, such as wheat, barley and oats, and is made up of the stems and stalks after the grain is removed. This can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy, and it will provide a hands-free experience for them. All the same, decorating with a big bale of hay-like stuff and a glorious pot of mums has become tradition along the back roads and rural streets of America. A straw bale planter like the one shown here will add a touch of nature to any front stoop; and when the seasons over, you can toss the whole works into your compost pile or break down the bale into mulch for winterizing your larger plant beds. Once the paint has dried, wrap the bale with twine to keep it from getting wet. don't know why though. WebAdd some extra fall flare to your front porch by attaching wispy branches over entryway. Hay Different types of wraps have different life spans and can affect the longevity of the hay inside. Hay bales should also be inspected periodically for wetness, and any wet bales should be immediately taken down and discarded. It has little nutritional value but provides bedding for animals like rabbits and chickens. Depending on the occasion, there are several different ways to decorate bales of hay. Once Halloween is over and you are done using hay bales in your decorations, you will want to think about the best way to dispose of them. For your yard, you can create a fun fall display by placing a large hay bale in the front of your home or near the mailbox. Is Straw Mixed With Horse Manure Good for a Garden? bales This can be done in a garage or storage shed with an unheated, dry environment. From the farm: How the Amish live without electricity You can do this by slathering them with a light coat of spray paint. Attach four pieces of black perforated pipe to each side of the bale, using wire or rope to secure the pipe. If youre using straw bales to decorate your home, you may want to keep them dry to prevent mold and mildew from growing on them. Stack a few into a corner shape, scatter one in front and fill the middle with a wagon or cart that's full of winter squash, pumpkins and gourds. When it comes to keeping a bale of straw standing upright, you have a few options. Modern View Forum powered by phpBB 2001, 2005 phpBB Group. . Add two or three large, hollowed-out pumpkins and drop small pots of mums down inside each one. Daughter keeps her two horses at my place. A simple way to make hay stacks more stable is to stagger the rows of bales. When you rake the straw away next spring, your grass will grow lush and green. How do I plan on doing that? Creating a creepy pathway to your house with a few rows of hay bales is easy and fun. Once you have that figured out, use a piece of string to outline the area of the bale you want to cut away. hay, straw and bedding bales safely They may also require a pet deposit [], Moving can be a stressful time. How net wrap is removed depends largely on how the hay is being fed. Hay is a traditional fall decoration, but it can be difficult to dispose of in the right manner without creating more waste than you need. That may look like a bale of hay decking your neighbor's porch come October, but chances are it's actually straw. For about $5 to $10 you can pick up a bale of straw at your local hardware store or nursery. The nutrient-rich material will decompose in the spring, just as leaves do, so its a great way to recycle your leftover hay for next year. Because feed changes upset some animals digestive systems, its advisable to put up enough of the same type of hay to last a season. Net wrap can help shed more water compared to twine or plastic string. Leftover hay bales can be put to a variety of uses. WebBale grazing proponents note that the system will only work with feed testing and good planning. Simple tips can help producers who feed bales in feeders to remove net wrap. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. I can get the real deal for $10 a piece when I would basically be spending at least $20 at a craft store for the same effect. You can create furniture out of hay bales, making chairs, sofas, tables and more. Might be rebaled from big rounds, or big squares. Add a coffee table and side tablesperfect for resting a glass of ice tea or lemonadeusing pallets or cinder blocks to complete the harvest scene. Ultimately, the length of time wrapped hay can be stored depends on the type of wrap and the maintenance of the storage conditions. Its even more stressful if you have kids who are upset because their favorite swing set is being taken apart! Crews used machinery to pull apart the load of hay to help stop the fire, which continued to smoke. If youre looking for ways to add a bit of flair to your hay bales, consider adding lights. Jim. The first thing to do is choose your pumpkin: Look for a large fresh pumpkin, or pick up a faux orange pumpkin ($31, Funkins ). ere are some guidelines:h Put bales out in fall, when weather is still nice and there is no snow to plow through. By following these steps, [], by unlimitedapartments on 7 hours ago - 0 Comments, Many people want to keep pets, but some rental properties dont allow them. By 10:15 a.m., a pile of hay that was pulled onto the highway was still smoldering, along with hay bales still stacked on the truck. Its a more nutritional food source than straw and is most often used to feed horses, cows, goats and sheep. Line the Keep Them Dry. However, dry hay is flammable, so its best to avoid storing it in these areas if you dont have a fireplace or other heating source available. You can also use lights to create patterns, like stars or a spiral of text, to give your bales an extra decorative touch. Decorating a bale of hay is a fun way to add a festive touch to the season. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. For starters, local craft stores sell decorative hay bales that are a quarter of the size for about $5 or so. Twine should be snug and spaced 6 to 10 inches apart. Last, I go cheap with the decorations I put on the hay bales to make the overall cost of the project reasonable. The uneven surface allows better air circulation. Common insects found in hay include mites, thrips, beetles, caterpillars, and leafhoppers, as well as various species of worms. For example, wet hay bales can easily become moldy, which can cause respiratory problems in animals and in humans who inhale the mold spores. Work slowly and carefully to make sure you stick to the shape and size you outlined.