FAQ
There's no such thing as a stupid question (for the most part), and working in the green industry we've heard it all. We have compiled questions from over the years that we frequently hear, and did our best to address them in short videos below. If you still have a question that wasn't answered below, please feel free to reach out to us at (800) 83-STRAW, or send us an email at [email protected]!
QUICKSTRAW
How much pinestraw comes in a bag?
Quickstraw covers 100 square ft at 2-3” in depth which compares to 2 standard square bales. Remember that bales are made by hand so there is no industry standard size. Using 100 square feet as your guide is the best way to plan!
How mANY BAGS DO I NEED?
Simply measure out the square footage of your bed space and divide by 100! That is the easiest way to estimate how many bags you will need. If you have used bales in the past, just divide your prior bale count by 2.
HOW MANY BAGS COME ON A PALLET/TRAILER?
Quickstraw is conveniently stacked on a pallet with 35 bags per pallet. Each pallet contains roughly 3,500 square feet of coverage, or 70 standard bales. We can fit 26 pallets in a trailer for a total of 910 bags. Remember that you don’t have to order a full truck, we can put you in touch with a distributor near you to help with smaller quantities.
How LONG IS THE SHELF LIFE?
Quickstraw has an impressive shelf like. If protected from the elements, Quickstraw will keep its color for years! Just do your best to keep it out of the sun and rain. We do provide UV protective hoodies and perforated bags in case you need to store it outside.
IS QUICKSTRAW TREATED WITH ANY CHEMICALS?
All of our pine straw products, including Quickstraw are 100% natural. They are not treated with any chemicals. Our wheat straw bags are treated with an organic tackifier which is a sticking agent that is not harmful to humans, plants, or animals.
HOW TO SPREAD QUICKSTRAW
Quickstraw is easy to spread. The first step is to tear the bag along the perforations on the back. After that just pull it out one handful at a time. It gets easier with each handful. We suggest that you target 2-3” in depth to prevent seeing any old ground cover beneath the fresh Quickstraw!
WHERE CAN I FIND A BAG?
The quickest way to find Quickstraw is to visit our website and visit our retailer map. If you can’t find what you need there, feel free to reach out and we’ll put you in touch with the appropriate vendor, distributor, or an online source for Quickstraw!
Where DO WE SHIP QUICKSTRAW?
We have the ability to ship Quickstraw anywhere in the country (and beyond). If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot Quickstraw in Canada!
WHOLESALE
WHO BUYS PINE STRAW?
We currently serve hundreds of retailers and landscapers across the United States. Give us a call if you want to partner with the largest, fastest growing, most innovative pine straw company in the world.
HOW MANY BALES/ROLLS COME ON A TRAILER?
Our trailers very in size. Most bale trailers carry 1260, 1386, 1449 or 1540 bales. Our roll trailers carry 570, 630 or 710 rolls.
WHAT ARE THE TURNAROUND TIMES?
We strive to deliver to our customers within 24-72 hours depending on the season. With holding yards in many southeastern metropolitan areas, we have the ability to ship what you need, when you need it.
HOW IS IT SHIPPED?
Bales and rolls are floor stacked and shipped in dry van trailers. Our lower volume customers unload these trailers upon arrival, whereas our higher volume customers are provided with a dropped trailer for onsite storage. When the trailer is empty, we simply swap it out with a new one.
Longleaf vs. Slash
There are two types of pine straw. Slash pine straw is brown in color with an 8-10 inch needle. Long Leaf pine straw is red in color with a 12-16 inch needle. Long Leaf is typically considered a premium product because it holds its color much longer than slash and it covers more square footage.
INSTALL
TUCKING/BLOWING/ROLLING
This is how you spread and clean up pine straw like a pro! After installing the pine straw, go back and blow it at a 45* angle. This will “roll” the straw in a cleanly rolled edge. After this, you can take it one step farther by tucking it into place with a flat edged shovel. This will make sure the pine straw stays in place and looks neat and clean.
Pricing for installation
Pricing depends on where you are located. We prefer to price on a per square ft basis, rather than by the bale. This helps you budget and prevents surprises. We want to make sure you get exactly what you pay for. Call us anytime for a quote.
Mulch installation
Swift Straw also offers mulch installations. Many of our customers prefer us over other companies because we install by hand and not with a blow truck. This gives us more control over quality and coverage. We can also provide installation only services if you want to source the mulch yourself at a cheaper price and let us install it.
GENERAL
WHAT IS PINE STRAW?
Pine straw is simply the needles that fall from a pine tree. Who would have guessed that it would become the best ground cover product for any landscape?
WHAT IS PINE STRAW USED FOR?
Pine straw is most commonly used as a ground cover mulch and landscape beautification component. It is also used for gardening nesting and erosion control. Due to its acidity, pine straw is also a natural pre-emergent! It contains just enough acidity to keep those weeds down without the use of traditional pre-emergent chemicals.
WHY PINE STRAW OVER MULCH?
Not only is pine straw a more aesthetically pleasing product, it is also less expensive than mulch. Pine straw is easier to manage, install and it doesn’t float away like mulch with heavy rain.
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST ON THE GROUND?
Depending on foot traffic and exposure to the elements, pine straw lasts between 6 and 10 months. In order for your landscape to look its best, we suggest using pine straw 1-2 times per year.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY PINE STRAW?
In order for your landscape to look its best, we suggest using pine straw 1-2 times per year, with approximately 6 months between each installation. We recommend an early season application while the color is still fresh and vibrant. This means that your second application would be late summer giving you a fresh look going into the holiday season.