From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Fresno, CA

I'm already starting to plan next year since I will have some real seeds to work with next time around. I haven't been mulching. I was thinking about straw mulch next year because I read straw encourages a lot of spiders and I want a lot of insectivores on my patch. However today when I asked at a garden store about getting straw they said they don't carry it any more on account of low sales and it getting moldy. The qualified that with the fact they water everything so much. However I am probably going to be misting 8 times a day next year because of the high number of days over 100F. Is straw a bad idea when you're running misters? Will it get moldy too fast?

7/28/2009 9:12:59 PM

Georgia

I mulch heavy with straw and hay and have high humidy and temps.....weve had rain almost everyday havent had to use misters cause i dont got them ..lol. Its a weird subject but I do alright

7/28/2009 10:25:58 PM

Fresno, CA

Thanks. With your humidity it should be fine with misters here I would think. I just have to get my misting more fine next year.

7/28/2009 11:16:20 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Straw mulch works well to hide squash bugs. They love to breed in it. Found that out the hard way!

7/29/2009 5:40:53 PM

Fresno, CA

yikes. other options?

7/30/2009 12:16:10 AM

Winston Salem NC

some growers mulch with compost. That is what I have done this year.

7/30/2009 6:04:27 PM