The Bales of Straw Needed for Ground Cover calculators computes the number of regular square-bales of straw needed to cover an area such as a field or garden. The common bales are 2 string square bales of 14"x18"x"36" inches weighing between 40lbs and 60 lbs. To input acreage or square area for straw, CLICK HERE.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (L) Length of Area Covered
- (W) Width of the Area Covered
Bales of Straw (BN) : The calculator computes the number of bales of straw needed to cover the area for seed growth, and the approximate cost based on the most recent pricing survey for straw (see below). The calculator also returns the approximate pounds of grass seed need for Bermuda Grass, Tall Fescue or Mix. Pasture covered in oat straw for new grass. The End Result
Cost of Straw
vCalc does a regular survey on commodity prices including agriculture products. Here is the most recent market price for straw:
- Date: 4/5/24
- State: PA
- Region: New Holland
- Cost of 2 string (40lb to 60lb) bale of Straw: $3.62 USD
Lawn Calculators
For a video on how to use this calculator, CLICK HERE.
Considerations
When planting grass, it is often recommended to cover the seed with straw to protect the seed and encourage the growth of the grass and retention of moisture. This answers the question, "How much straw do I need to cover grass seed?"
- This formula uses 300 ft2 as the average area covered by one bale of straw or hay. The number of square feet covered was computed in a larger application of 20 bales and averaged out.
- This formula mentions hay. However, straw is better than hay for ground coverage that is trying to encourage undergrowth in applications such as new grass seed. Straw is often a little cheaper than hay. For those who don't know the difference, straw is the remains (stalks) after the grain has been harvested (e.g. wheat and oat straw). Hay is grass that is allowed to grow high and cut before it goes to seed. Hay has significant forage value (nutritional value) for animals like cows and horses where straw typically does not.
- Coverage for planted grass seed is different than coverage as mulch for weed suppression. If you are using straw as mulch (e.g. in a vegetable garden) you will need to make it deeper than covering grass seed. This should make sense. We want the grass to come up and grow in this application, but we want to stifle weeds when mulching. To compute how much straw is needed for mulching, CLICK HERE.
- Square bales are actually rectangular, roughly in the shape of a right parallelepiped (box). This formula returns the number of square bales of straw needed. Straw is typically not processed into the large round bales. That treatment is typically reserved for hay.
- Type of Grass is a very important consideration. Some grasses do much better or will not survive in different climates. The graphic shows different types of grasses including: Bahai, Bermuda, Centipede, Bluegrass, Kentucky 31, Rye-grass, Shade Mix, St.Augustine, Sun and Shade Mix, Tall Fescue, Zoysia. It also shows which parts of the country where they are commonly used.
See Also