Why Put Hay on Grass Seed?

Straw can protect newly planted grass seeds

Although "straw" and "hay" are often used interchangeably, they are actually two entirely different things. During the process of sowing seeds, straw is a popular selection in protecting newly planted grass seed. Also, there are various types of straw available, but the most popular one is wheat straw.

Function

Straw can help to protect new grass seeds by retaining moisture in the soil.

Types

There are various types of straw including pine straw, straw generated from alfalfa plants and wheat straw. Wheat straw is the most popular type used for protecting grass seed.

Benefits

Some of the benefits of using straw besides retaining moisture in the soil is to prevent erosion before the grass has a chance to grow.

Potential

Although there are benefits in using straw as mulch, it sometimes contains weed seeds. Weeds can pose a threat to new seed growth as the grass seed and weeds will compete for nutrients in the soil.

Considerations

Although straw is extremely popular, there are other types of mulch available to assist in retaining moisture in the soil. Check with your local lawn and garden center for additional recommendations.

References

• "The Home Depot: Lawns 1-2-3;" Jeff Day; 2007
• Natural Resource Conservation Service