Straw bale garden end of season

I tried my first ever straw bale garden and had great success this year. Now that season is wrapping up I'm wondering if I can just leave the bales (minus the twine) and have pre-made raised beds next year where they sit?

Stephen Cummings wrote:I tried my first ever straw bale garden and had great success this year. Now that season is wrapping up I'm wondering if I can just leave the bales (minus the twine) and have pre-made raised beds next year where they sit?

I have done that and it works great.  

Did you have to cover it or do anything the following spring to be ready? I'm thinking of throwing wheat seed on it now then covering early spring to kill everything off before I plant

Stephen Cummings wrote:Did you have to cover it or do anything the following spring to be ready? I'm thinking of throwing wheat seed on it now then covering early spring to kill everything off before I plant

I didn't do anything.  If you have any areas left in spring that are still straw, just open a hole where you want to plant and put a handful of soil or compost in it and plant in that.  The roots of the plants will grow in the straw and soil just fine.

I think your wheat idea will work too.