Straw Bale Gardening Is the Perfect Solution for Poor Soil Quality—Here's How to Do It

A straw bale garden uses straw as its primary growing medium, plus a small amount of soil or compost. This style of gardening involves conditioning the bales with fertilizer and water prior to planting, which activates a slow composting process that provides an ideal environment for growing plants.

Since the bales provide some height, straw bale gardens have many of the same benefits raised beds do—they're easier on gardeners' joints, provide better protection from pests and disease, require minimal weeding, and are a good option for gardeners with poor soil. But keep in mind that the bale garden beds will need to be rebuilt every season because the straw decomposes over time.

We spoke to leading experts to learn more about the method—ahead, they explain how to make and care for a straw bale garden, as well as what to plant in it.

What Is a Straw Bale Garden?

Straw bale gardening is similar to container gardening, but the bale is the container and the growing media, all in one. "The bale is initially treated with a nitrogen source, like fertilizer, and water so that within just a short time—usually about 12 days—the core of the bale has composted well enough that it will support the growth of plant roots," says Joel Karsten, pioneer of the  Straw Bale Gardens method.

How to Make a Straw Bale Garden

Making a straw bale garden is relatively straightforward. Choose a location where the bales will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Proper irrigation is a necessity for straw bale gardening, so it's also ideal to place the bales close to a water source.

1. Arrange the Straw Bales

Arrange the straw bales end-to-end in a row, with a maximum of four to five bales per row, says Karsten. Position the bales so the ends are touching and the bale-wrapping strings are on the sides (not on the ground). Face the sheared side of the bale upwards; the open stems make it easier to get water and nutrients into the bales.

2. Create a Trellis System

This part is optional, but it's useful if you plan to grow climbing plants. "Put a tall fence post into each end of the row, and then put a board (like a 2-by-4) from the top of one post to the other post," says Karsten. Then, stretch electric fencing wire between the two posts, starting 8 inches above the bales.

3. Condition the Bales

Condition the bales 12 days prior to planting anything in them, says Karsten. To do so, sprinkle a 1/2-cup of a high nitrogen fertilizer over each bale on the first, third, and fifth day. On days seven and nine, reduce to a 1/4-cup of the fertilizer. On day 10 add 1 cup of a balanced fertilizer to each bale. In addition to the fertilizer, add water to each bale every day, whether you're fertilizing or not.

On day 11, check the temperature in the center of the bales. "If it is above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, wait another day to plant," says Karsten. The bales should be about 99 degrees Fahrenheit before they're safe to plant in.

4. Add Your Plants

Once the bales are at the appropriate temperature, you can begin planting. To plant seedlings, dig holes directly into the bales, then place the seedlings into the holes at the appropriate depth. Fill the remaining space with growing medium. If planting seedlings, top the bales with 2 to 4 inches of growing medium and water well. Then, direct sow the seeds according to the planting depth indicated on the packet.

How to Care for a Straw Bale Garden

Tending to your straw bale garden may vary depending on the types of plants you're growing in it, but here are a few things to keep in mind.

Water

The bales should be closely monitored to ensure they don't dry out, so setting up a drip irrigation system is highly recommended. "The key with watering is to try to never apply more than a gallon of water to a bale anytime when you water," says Karsten. "This will saturate the bale without having any water run out. Any water that runs through and out is wasted water and that water will carry with it soluble nutrients from inside the bale."

Soil/Growing Medium

Quality potting soil can be used alone, or you can mix it with compost at a 1-to-1 ratio. If you're using home-grown compost, make sure it is free of weed seeds before topping the bales with it. "Do not use soil from your garden, as this will introduce weed seeds and possible disease spores or insects that we are intending to avoid," says Karsten.

Fertilizer

As your plants begin to grow, they will need additional fertilization. Balanced fertilizers, such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 are ideal. Evenly apply a 1/2 to 1 cup of fertilizer per bale each month and water in adequately. Or amend with organic fertilizers, like bone meal, fishmeal, blood meal, or compost.

What to Plant in a Straw Bale Garden

Many plants grow well in straw bale gardens, but highlights include tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, eggplant, lettuces, basil, and other herbs (with the exception of rosemary), says Karsten. For flowers, he recommends growing bulbs like dahlias, gladiolus, lilies, as well as dwarf varieties of sunflowers.

There are only a few crops to avoid, including corn, as the roots take up half a bale per stalk of corn. Also avoid growing perennials, like asparagus, which need a permanent home and straw bale gardens need to be re-built every season.

Pros and Cons of a Straw Bale Garden

Like any style of gardening, there are some benefits and drawbacks of straw bale gardens.

Pros

• Less bending over: Straw bales elevate the garden space, meaning less bending over to reach the ground level, making this gardening style comfortable and more accessible for individuals with limited mobility, says LayLa Burgess, urban horticulturist agent at Clemson University.
• More affordable: This type of garden is inexpensive to set up and maintain, as the straw bales are relatively affordable, averaging about $5 to $10 per bale, says Karsten.
• Promotes root growth: The warmth that comes from the bacteria production inside the bales keeps the roots of newly planted seeds and seedlings much warmer than soil temperatures at the same time of year, says Karsten.
• No weeding: The main reason people love straw bale gardening is because there is no weeding. "A gardener may go the entire summer without pulling a single weed from the vegetable garden when growing in bales," says Karsten.
• Less risk of pests and disease: Because there is less soil in a straw bale garden, your plants are less susceptible to pests and diseases that often originate from the soil.

Cons

• Has to be rebuilt: Over time, the straw bales will decompose so you will likely need to rebuild the garden every year, says Burgess.
• Can be hard to move: The straw bales themselves are lightweight but they hold water well, so they can be heavy and difficult to move once they're watered. Try to establish a layout you're happy with prior to planting.