In addition, hay bales can help to retain moisture, allowing your plants to access water more easily. 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). Also, straw bales are often treated with fire retardant chemicals, but care should be taken when using such treatments, as many are toxic. Cover a large, round hay bale with black plastic. Awesome Hay Bale Fall Decor Ideas 2 I assume the Cambridge quotation to be correct: in my old edition (1848), the distinction is between weavers and lace-makers and journeymen bricklayers; and making velvet is considered to be the production of a commodity, but building a house only doing a service. hay That is the question. A mother of two with a degree in communications and a long history in management, Goetz spends her spare time hiking, camping and blogging. Hay, small bales falling apart discussion in the Tractor Talk forum at Yesterday's Tractors. You can also add some wrought iron to your hay bale decorations. Net wrap is widely used as a hay binding material, but it does come with its disadvantages. These can vary based on the type of building, number of units, business model and other factors. The problem is handling the hay. Attach four pieces of black perforated pipe to each side of the bale, using wire or rope to secure the pipe. Modern View Forum powered by phpBB 2001, 2005 phpBB Group. Stack a bale of hay in a section of your yard and sprinkle your pine straw around it. Step 1: Prepare Your Pumpkin. Fall Additionally, if high-quality hay is being stored, it has the potential to last up to 2-3 years. To preserve its nutritional value, put up no more than youll feed within a year of harvest. Take the other end and pull it through the loop and pull tightly, tie and secure (Figure 1.3). horse people are really fussy with hay. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Keeping decorative hay bales clean is an important part of keeping them safe and functional for your yard or garden. If youre looking for ways to add a bit of flair to your hay bales, consider adding lights. Baled dry as a popcorn fart . From the farm: How the Amish live without electricity If youre planning a big event, you can use larger lights, such as floodlights or spotlights, and angle them to light the entire area. If using bale forks to lift the bale into the feeder, the forks should enter the lower half of the bale at approximately a twenty-degree angle, this allows the bale to be lifted above the feeder without slipping off the forks. Hay bales should also be inspected periodically for wetness, and any wet bales should be immediately taken down and discarded. Pair the hay with red tulle, faux evergreens and a few small Christmas ornaments to create a rustic, yet festive, holiday decoration. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help your felines get used to each other. 3. (13,133) $4.75. I feed them in the morning. Keep Them Tight. Store hay where its accessible. Theyre a great way to add a farmhouse vibe without breaking the bank! Web7. Just be sure to place them a few feet apart and at least 5 feet from the branches to ensure comfortable pathway access. Cozy outdoor benches made with bales one quilt and a few throw pillows. The one shown here is propped on top of a trio of bales, fringed with faux fall leaves. That means you can have a lot of fun without threshing your wallet. They come in all shapes and sizes, Wrap Them Up. Bales stored outside are also susceptible to water pooling at the bottom of the bale. Re-bailed, cut too short, or left out too long and was too dry when it was bailed. Decorative hay bales are a classic, rustic addition to your fall decor. Tips For Handling And Storing Wet Hay Go the extra mile this year and set a few straw bales together to form a planter in the garden. How to Keep Decorative Hay Bales From Falling Apart For safety, be sure to use large bales and secure them to each other and the ground using sturdy stakes. Webcan rot, causing bales to fall apart. It has little nutritional value but provides bedding for animals like rabbits and chickens. For example, stack three square bales together in a row, then two bales, and finally a single bale. It has a higher nutrient content and is often used as animal feed. It protects the building from many different catastrophic events. You can also make your hay stacks more decorative by using colorful twinkle lights. Once Thanksgiving has passed, recycle your straw into compost for the garden or bedding for outdoor pets. Be sure to use a vacuum cleaner or sweep the area thoroughly before putting them outside for the season. How to Set Up a Fall Decoration With Hay and Mums are the twines tight? Storing net wrap bales under a roof allows for snow and ice to stay off of bales, yet, if not stored under a roof, snow and ice become a burden to removing net wrap. Keep these things in mind when you plan how much youre going to grow and package. One of the biggest concerns with removing net wrap is that bales can easily fall apart when unwrapped. https://www.hobbyfarms.com/how-to-store-hay-to-make-it-last-2 Decorative Straw Bales: 8 Hay Bale Decorating Ideas - Bob Vila In addition to the plastic wrapping, you can use a spray paint to help protect them from the elements. Registration is open for the South Dakota Winter Forage Meeting Feb. 28 in Madison, South Dakota. 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. It should be noted that straw bale buildings often incorporate fireproofing measures, such as improving the compaction of the straw bales and laying metal screens over them, which can reduce the risk of fire. 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. Because feed changes upset some animals digestive systems, its advisable to put up enough of the same type of hay to last a season. The hay comes from Imperial Valley east of San Diego.This time of year it is very hot. But for whatever reason, we struggled to nail down the right blend of size, weight and twine tension last summer. Neglecting to meet this obligation can lead to dangerous conditions that can cause injuries. 3. Decorative hay bales are also a great source of natural insulation for homes and barns. After two weeks, the bale should be composted enough to begin planting. You can also place it over a bed of soil to help retain moisture. I'm guessing like some of the others that it was just put up when hot and dry. With a bit of creativity, decorating bales of hay can be a fun way to celebrate the season!. This can help prevent the hay from becoming wet and decaying over time, which can be harmful to your pets and plants. Sue Weaver lives in the Arkansas Ozarks with her husband and a fine array of animal friends including goats, sheep, horses, chickens, a donkey, a llama and a pet razorback hog. Hay bale decorations Spread a generous amount of balanced, all-purpose fertilizer over the entire surface of the bale. Or, use a fire-safe solar path light or exterior Christmas lights to add illumination and shadows along the path. And stack new hay behind older bales so you can feed the older hay first. By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). If you are having a party or event, you could even paint the bales to match your color scheme. Organization is key to make sure hay doesnt go to waste. Less dry matter is lost from net-wrapped bales compared to those wrapped with twine. They may also require a pet deposit [], Moving can be a stressful time. 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. You can also store hay in a dry garage or storage shed. Hay bale gardening is great for those with poor soil or limited space, or even people who have physical limitations that make gardening at ground level a challenge. Let the following ideas inspire your next hay bale DIY project. One key to the quick decomposition of the straw and the conditioning is that the bales must be compressed. Fall Once the top one-third is three-fourths of the way removed, take the unraveled one-third and wrap it around the body of the bale. Theyre a great way to add a farmhouse vibe without When you harvest quality hay, its dollar-wise to preserve it so it lasts. But, once those straw bales have been used for Halloween and Thanksgiving festivities, they can be repurposed for winter holiday decor, too. For example, wet hay bales can easily become moldy, which can cause respiratory problems in animals and in humans who inhale the mold spores. Adding pallet forks will allow you to move standard pallets, logs, and other debris. Register today for SD Winter Forage Meeting, Range Roundup: Precision Agriculture Range Project With Producer Participation, New Forage Association to Host Kick-Off Meeting in January, Summary of Forage Binding Survey and Current Net Wrap Research. You can also wrap a tarp around it to protect it from rain and snow. Youll want to break up the bale and mix it with compost during this time as well. Youll want to cut or tear away the strings and/or netting so the hay can expand and be able to absorb water. WebThe best way to preserve hay bales for decorations is to cover them with a tarp or other waterproof covering to protect them from excess moisture and sunlight. RELATED: 3 Essential Fall Lawn Maintenance Tasks. Use a can of paint that is labeled for outdoor use to ensure it will withstand rain and sun exposure. For a more whimsical approach, you can line your hay bale with flowers. Fall is, of course, the most popular time of year for decorating with hay bales. Dont stack any higher than 1.5x the width of the base. If you have been injured because of a defect in your apartment complex, you may be able to sue your landlord for breach of the warranty of [], by unlimitedapartments on 3 hours ago - 0 Comments, Apartment owners need to be aware of their insurance needs. A hay tedder is a tractor attachment or piece of machinery that aerates the hay. Fall Another way to add dimension and texture to your hay stacks is by adding pieces of branches. The wire or twine should be a bit thicker than the flakes so that they dont break apart in transit. 4. How to Decorate a Yard With Hay for Fall Season. In addition, they are cheap and easy to assemble. This can be done in a garage or storage shed with an unheated, dry environment. Whether you want to use them as an accent, or youre looking for ways to keep them in good shape, there are several steps to follow to ensure that your hay bales dont fall apart. bales Managing baled hay around rain events | Farm Online | ACT Keep the hay away from trucks, machinery, or any type of heat source and fire accelerants, like gasoline, kerosene, oil and aerosol cans. Hay is a staple in the fall, providing a natural look that can be used for decorating a variety of spaces. The bales are fairly heavy, but the flakes just fall apart. 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. Web7. Different types of wraps have different life spans and can affect the longevity of the hay inside. Several varieties of blossoms will work for this decorative touch, although you may prefer to choose flowers that match your fall decor theme. Cutting a hole in a straw bale is a fairly straightforward task, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you get a nice, clean cut. Winded with a wire to protect the straws from falling apart. WebEarth-friendly, biodegradable straw is bound with durable, rust-resistant, galvanized wire that can easily be clipped to spread straw on plant beds and landscaping. This will help them last longer and prevent them from falling apart. Its a more nutritional food source than straw and is most often used to feed horses, cows, goats and sheep. Net wrap that is left behind can accumulate in the rumen, causing plastic disease, which affects cattle health and performance. With the big expense out of the way, its time to go cheap and head to the Dollar Tree for the rest of your decorations. This will help prevent the hay from falling apart and making your decor look messy. Then, twine is wrapped around the bale before its ejected from the baler. Once the string is secured tightly around the entire bale, remove the rest of the net wrap. In addition to covering the hay bale with a tarp, you can also use a chemical spray to preserve the hay and help ward off insects and other pests. Furthermore, bales stored outside are subject to water pooling at the bottom of a net wrap bale. A more intimate option is to create a temporary straw bale sofa that you can enjoy all season long (see photo at the top of the page). Square bales weigh 40 to 60 pounds. They can also speed up the growth time of baby horses and llamas by 90 seconds. Required fields are marked *. Probably over 100 degrees. King grew up on a beef farm in Big Bend, Wis., where her 4-H experiences included showing both beef and dairy cattle. Dry matter loss is less for net wrap when compared with twine and twine generally has a shorter storage period. How to Cut, Bale, and Store Hay (with Pictures) - wikiHow Pick a pumpkin from a patch or farmers market to ensure you are getting the freshest. If you have tips and tricks to removing net wrap efficiently, I would appreciate hearing them. If you want to plant a flower, you can tuck a few petunias or other moisture-loving annuals into the side of the bales. If you want to take a straw bale planter to the next level, you can actually plant an entire garden within straw bales. This inner layer provides protection from moisture, rodents, and insects, while allowing the baled material to breath. Dont stack hay higher than you can safely move itthis is especially important when stacking large round bales. Be sure to check that the lights are safe for use outside, and dont burn them or let them get too hot. Start by keeping them dry. This is especially true if you are storing your hay in a barn or shed where the ground is uneven. A few squirts of paint can be enough to cover the hay, but youll need a couple layers to achieve an even coverage. You can find these at a garden center and then tie them together with twine or wire mesh to make a cute centerpiece for your home. How do you connect your phone to a JVC radio? Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. When preparing to place the bale in the feeder, tilt the forks to a thirty-degree angle and find the starting point of your net wrap; the part that was previously tucked in the top portion. As long as the hay contains fewer than 10 insects per cubic foot, it is considered safe to use. Additionally, once the hay bale becomes wet and begins to break down, it is no longer suitable for animal feed. For starters, local craft stores sell decorative hay bales that are a quarter of the size for about $5 or so. They have been known to reach temperatures higher than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, which has the potential to start a wildfire if conditions are right. Hay bales dotting fields offer a scenic sign of fall. Shortly after, a track hoe began loading the pile of hay on the road into a truck. Download Bale of straw decoration stock photos. 4. 2. Take the other end and pull it through the loop, then pull tightly, then tie and secure. To keep your hay from getting damp, place it end to end or on a slightly sloping hill. Pick up a flake it just falls apart, and end up using a fork t pick it up off the floor. Common insects found in hay include mites, thrips, beetles, caterpillars, and leafhoppers, as well as various species of worms. Using net wrap is more productive and efficient than sisal twine and looks better, too. Straw bale prices can vary greatly depending on the source, your location, and more. It was the perfect home for Zach to grow up in. Amazon.com: Meyer Imports Mini Hay Bales - Small - (Pack of 12) Once secured, take remaining net wrap off of bale. Daughter keeps her two horses at my place. A hay bale is also a great place to set up a table for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. Depending on the occasion, there are several different ways to decorate bales of hay. Unwrapping a bale wrapped in net wrap can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating. Horse owners often like square bales, because theyre easier to feed in stalls and theres less waste. How to Keep Decorative Hay Bales From Falling Apart. It will be crystal clear once I explain it to you. Hay bales can also be used for decoration for any season, such as for creating a snowman for the winter or animals for the summer. Hay South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties, and USDA cooperating. 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. Theyre a classic symbol of fall, but they also make great additions to other seasons and occasions. You can even use a hay bale to create a Halloween maze in your backyard. to Cut, Bale, and Store Hay 3. Hay bales are versatile, and can be used in a variety of ways. Another great decorative option for hay bales is to stack corn stalks. King grew up on a beef farm in Big Bend, Wis., where her 4-H experiences included showing both beef and dairy cattle. 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. This quick, easy DIY project should only take a few minutes. The first step in painting a bale is to dry it thoroughly before applying the paint. Once found, start unraveling the net wrap. Figure 1. Oh how I miss those Pampered Chef parties! Dont arrange them in a row with the twine sides touching, creating a water-absorbing valley between bales. The hay can get very wet, so this method helps to keep them dry and prevent them from getting moldy or damaged. 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. Once secured, take remaining net wrap off of bale. This will help them blend together better and add a sense of coziness to your home. Straw bales are highly flammable, and when they catch fire they can burn intensely. If youre planning a party or event, you can use LED lighting to create a festive atmosphere. How to Introduce Cats in a Small Apartment, How to Move a Swing Set Without Taking It Apart, How Fleas Travel From One Apartment to Another, How to Change the Shower Head in an Apartment, How to Get a Water Softener For an Apartment. Simple tips can help producers who feed bales in feeders to remove net wrap. Hay Bale Fall Decorations | Easy Outdoor Fall Decorating Idea Take one end of the string and tie an overhand loop knot. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Jim. Decorating a bale of hay is a fun way to add a festive touch to the season. Once the string is secured tightly around the entire bale, remove the rest of the net wrap (Figure 1.4). by unlimitedapartments on 1 hour ago - 0 Comments, A landlord is obligated to provide a safe and habitable living space for tenants. Continue to do this until the hay is saturated and warm to the touch. First, youll need to choose a spot that gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day, and make sure the bale is placed on level ground. If you have a lot of leftover hay from your yard, consider donating it to a plant nursery or a local compost center. The inner wrap is usually made of a breathable plastic material, such as plastic sheeting or breathable shrink wrap. When using hay bales in your decor, there are a few things you can do to keep them from falling apart. They go so well with pumpkins, squash, mums, dried corn stalks, and more, as shown in this photo. For large square stacks: Start with the widest bales and try to use narrow ones as you stack. You can use a space heater, a heat lamp, or a hair dryer to warm the area. 3. In general, bales can cost as low as $5 at local hardware stores and the price goes up from there.