Straw bale gardening is an interesting option for those who have either limited soil, limited space or have difficulty bending over. It should work well in Orlando. Do not use hay bales. Straw is the stem of the grain plant. The combines remove the grain and leave behind the dried out stem. This is baled up and mostly used as animal bedding. Hay is the entire grass plant including stems, leaves and some seed heads. It is cut down and baled up for use as animal feed. Hay usually contains ...»

Pat, I got straw bales (not loaded with weed seeds like hay bales) at Farm City on Atlanta Ave (one block East of Division off of E Kaley just East of I-$

4 - they were like $6.50 per bale - see my post of the garden I planted in them.

hmm...we only charge $4.50 and folks seem to think that is high..lol

Where do you find it?

Deborah X - read my post above - Farm City on Atlanta Ave, it is one block East of Division off of E Kaley - just East of the interstate 4 ramp - the bales I got were only like $6.50 per bale - real affordable!

Ken H, i called Farm City Straw Bales in Apopka and they said all they have is coastal hay. Hmmm. Not the same thing, huh?

Sherrie S - No - hay is not the same as straw. If they don't have any at Farm City in Orlando, have you asked them who may have straw? Not sure - they are the place I always go - I usually get them in the fall.

I just did a quick search for straw bales orlando - found pages of places to call. Palmer feed, etc are all close and in-town. I also see places that have pine straw for $3.50 a bale - never used pine straw - but I would think it could work as well - especially keeping the weeds out. Pine straw may not hold the water in as well however.

Get moving - spring planting season is almost over in Orlando!

Thank you Ken. I'm moving as fast as I can.