How to Make Mini Hay Bales from Lawn Grass Clippings
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to make use of your fresh grass clippings and yard waste, turning them into mini hay bales is a fantastic idea. Not only is it a great way to recycle lawn clippings for fall decorations, but it’s also a good hay source for small animals like miniature horses, miniature donkeys, chickens, and even guinea pigs.
Yield: 4 mini bales
Cost: 5
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Equipment
Lawn mower or a riding mower.
Lawn rake or grass catcher on the mower.
Two pails or other containers. We use square kitty litter pails.
A dry area for curing the grass
Optional: A pine straw baler (for small-scale hay baling)
Materials
- Fresh grass clippings from your yard free from fertilizers and pesticides
Instructions
- Collect Fresh Grass Clippings. Use your lawn mower or riding mower to cut your grass. Rake the grass or use a grass catcher attached to your mower to collect fresh grass clippings. Regular mowing helps ensure smaller pieces, which are easier to handle and dry.Fresh grass clippings from your yard
- Avoid gathering wet grass as this can lead to mold in your hay bales. If you have a mixture of timothy or orchard grass in your yard, that’s even better as it creates a more diverse food source for animals.
- Dry the Grass Clippings. Spread the fresh lawn clippings in a thin layer across a dry, sunny area. This allows the clippings to dry thoroughly, turning them into dry clippings suitable for bales. Depending on your climate, this may take a few days.
- For the best results, be sure to choose a day or two when there’s no rain in the forecast.
- Let the grass dry one day. Then flip the clippings to ensure even drying. We use a rake to get the grass in rows on the second day.
- Pack and Compress the Clippings. Once your clippings have dried, it’s time to make your mini bales. Put two pieces of binder twine in the bottom of one pail with enough hanging out the top to tie together later.
- We use two square kitty litter pails. Pack the pail with the twine in the bottom of it with the dry grass. We use the empty pail to compress the clippings. You can also use your hands or feet to compress the clippings tightly into the container. The tighter you pack the clippings, the more stable your hay bale will be.
- Secure with Twin. Tie the twine ends together around the baled clippings. Remove the tightly packed grass from the container. Double check that the twine is secure so that the hay bale doesn’t fall apart.
- Store the Hay Bales. Store the hay bales in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent moisture buildup, which could cause mold.
- Hay bales can last a long time if stored properly, making them a great resource for both decorations and animal feed.
Notes
Making Mini Hay Bales Video Tutorial
See us making our mini hay bales on our YouTube Channel from our grass clippings.
