HERDD hacks.

Feeling crafty? Our HERDD bags are actually pretty versatile. Here we round up HERDD hacks which are true to our values on reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill

Weed mat in the garden

  • Step 1

    3-ply paper HERDD bags give you biodegradable mat to suppress weeds as plants establish. Cut bags down both sides so it lies flat

  • Step 2

    Cut slits to allow the flattened bag to slide around the base of the plant

  • Step 3

    Cover the HERDD bag with bark, manure/HERDD mulch, or pebbles

  • Step 4

    Remember to give your plants a good drink of water. The HERDD bag will help keep moisture in for longer in hot weather

  • Finished!

    Wah-lah! Over time the bag will compost into the soil along with any mulch. Simply repeat these 4 steps as required

Soiled {or unsoiled} HERDD mulch for the garden

  • HERDD's pH

    Our 100% unique, Northland grown pine, which has the highest density in NZ (& some parts of the world), sits in the pH range called “Weak acid” (aka “Slightly acidic”) - it’s pH is between 4-6 on average.

    This is PERFECT for enriching gardens & making soils more effective in their release of nutrients.

  • Acid loving plants

    There are a number of shrubs, fruiting species & flowering plants that love growing in acidic soils (pH 4-6) that are rich in organic matter.

    Why? Acidity helps soil to break down two nutrients that these plants need an ample amount of: iron & manganese.

    These include:

    Hydrangea | Azalea | Jacobs Ladder | Camellia | Rhododendron | Gardenia | Blueberries | Magnolia | Beech | Dogwood | Oaks | Begonias | Japanese andromeda | Conifers

  • Pot plants

    Use HERDD bedding straight out of the bag around pots to keep weeds down, & provide growing roots with nature’s nutrience (HERDD bedding is grown in nature, & is best returned at end of useful life)

  • Garden beds

    Place HERDD around plants in gardens, just like you’d do with mulch or bark. The colour will darken over time.

    For very wet areas, place HERDD down ‘unactivated’ - it’ll absorb excess moisture & lessen risk of root rot.

    HERDD will keep weeds at bay & moisture in the soil during drought.

    If you have horses, the combo of HERDD & manure from your manure heap, is one of the best all-purpose fertilisers for pasture & gardens (may have to weed the grass that grows from the hay!)

  • Soiled or unsoiled

    Yes, you can use HERDD straight out of the bag (unsoiled), or after you’ve used it in your stables, shelters, yards or hutches.

Temporary fix for mud

  • Mud fix

    Muddy at your place?

    Here’s a helpful HERDD hack = A temporary fix to a muddy patch in a high-use area.

  • Soak it up

    (1) Tip dry HERDD bedding straight out of the bag into the mud puddle. Leave it to soak for 15 mins, & you’ll have greatly reduced the wet.

    You can leave the HERDD there, & it will work into the soil (nourishing it too), OR

    If it’s really wet & muddy, scoop the now ‘activated’ HERDD up & scatter that on a less wet mud patch (it’ll keep absorbing). Then repeat (1) above with another bag, & you will have significantly dried out your muddy gate way / high-use area.

  • How? Hygroscopicity

    HERDD bedding is highly hygroscopic, its ability to attract & hold liquid molecules.

    Explaining HERDD’s absorbency powers:

    When its cell walls are fully saturated, it’s reached its ‘fibre saturation point’. Beyond this point, cell cavities absorb more moisture until they too are saturated - this is the point of maximum moisture absorption. This maximum point can be very high, up to 250%.

One of our favs for reducing landfill waste… ↓↓

Muck out sacks {or rubbish bag}

  • Step 1

    Our HERDD bags are 100% compostable, so at a show (or home), open your HERDD bedding bags at the top (pull the string or cut)

  • Step 2

    Keep your sack near the yard, putting manure straight in until it is full. At a show, one bag will take care of about 2 days of manure, maybe 3

  • Step 3

    If you have a horse that isn’t mischief, you may be able to leave your HERDD muck sack in the corner of the yard so it’s handy to fill (especially if it’s wet)

  • Step 4

    Or, if you have a horse who is likely to trash the bag for fun (as it’s definitely not for treats!), pick a dry spot nearby

  • Step 5

    Once the sack is full, fold over the top, lift it from the bottom, and…

  • Easy Peasy!

    …Throw the whole thing in the manure pile! It will compost along with all the manure & be gobbled up by earthworms, & you have just saved another bag or wrap from going in a landfill near you :)

Have presents or flowers to wrap? Don’t spend $ on wrapping paper, instead get some ribbon, flowers & pens, & decorate empty HERDD bags … zero cost, zero waste ↓↓↓

Wrapping paper

  • Step 1

    Using an empty HERDD bag, chop off the bottom of the bag and separate the 3-ply layers of paper

  • Step 2

    You’ll have 3 ‘tubes’ of brown paper. Cut down one long side to reveal 3 large pieces of wrapping paper

  • Step 3

    If you like things PERFECT, use an iron on LOW heat to iron the paper perfectly flat… FYI: We didn’t do this here but you can see in the final picture, we got a pretty smooth wrap

  • Step 4

    You can draw, paint, use stamps, glitter… the list goes on, to decorate your HERDD bag paper, or just leave it plain

  • Wah-Lah! Gorgeous!

    Cut paper to size and wrap your prezzies! Tie with florists twine, ribbon, string, a scarf or length of fabric, & finish with flowers (fresh or dried) & a note - you are done :)

Bunch of flowers wrap

  • Step 1

    With your bunch of flowers handy, scissors and an empty HERDD bag, start by chopping off the bottom of the bag. Set aside the white cotton stitching

  • Step 2

    You’ll have 3 ‘tubes’ of brown paper. Locate the seam and carefully pull apart the seam, or use your scissors to cut through it

  • Step 3

    Separate the 2 inner layers of paper that aren't printed. Lay them flat & fold into a triangle. Fold in any sides that stick out beyond the triangle, or trim off

  • Step 4

    Place flowers on the paper with the point of the triangle at the top. Fold the paper over the flower stalks from each side, & tie with the white cotton stitching from your empty HERDD bag

  • Sooo pretty!

    A lovely gift to give a friend next time you need a quick pressie & have blooms in your garden :)

Got kiddies? Need an activity? Let’s draw!

Drawing & painting paper

  • Step 1

    Using an empty HERDD bag, chop off the bottom of the bag, and lay flat

  • Step 2

    Cut along the side, to end up with a big flat piece of paper. If its too crinkly, iron on a low setting to make perfectly flat art paper :)

  • Step 3

    You’ll have 3 layers of brown paper, which you can pull apart to separate

  • Step 4... draw!

    Using paint, coloured pencils, ink pens, crayons, sharpies, glitter glue, stickers and stamps, go wild creating your art works!

  • Repurpose waste & entertain the kids!

    Have fun! Send us in a pic of your creations and feature on our Social Media :)

Got a HERDD hack?

Get a free bag of HERDD for any HERDD hacks that we think are worth sharing with your fellow HERDDy’s

More? Keep scrolling…

More tips from HERDD…

HERDD bedding, reducing waste to benefit your paddocks

Under your hay racks… 🌱

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