Covering your beds

[wadsleyparkowl]

Hi folks, as I've cleared out my peas & broad beans from the bed they were in, I just wondered what peoples preferences are regarding covering up the bed in Autumn. My neighbour has kindly said I can use his manure one I've dug it over in readiness for next Spring. I've heard people say cover the bed up once manured, and leave it as it will keep the weeds down. Others have said they just leave them.

Is there a right or a wrong way, or is it simply personal preference?

I ask as this has been my first season on the plot. Some things worked really well for me,
Courgettes, peas, broad beans & others weren't so good. All part of the fun though.

[Alison]

Empty beds attract weeds, if you've got no crops to plant in them then what about green manures? If you really want to cover then go with cardboard.

[KittyColdNose]

It is personal preference but covering can make things "easier" on the weed front. Look up some threads on lasagna beds, you might find it useful

[roitelet]

My empty beds either are sown with Green Manure or covered with compost and then straw. IMO covering with something non permiable is not a good idea.

[PAULW]

Weeds don't grow in the winter, my plot was pretty much weed free up till june because it was so cold.

[Veggielot]

It is a matter of choice, I tend to use a mixture of methods I cover some with compost and some with cardboard and have used green manures on some. Generally those that have had some form of covering has been more workable in the spring when compared to those that had nothing on.

[snakeshack]

I tend to use a layer of cardboard topped with manure,by the spring the worms have done the hard bit and the cardboard has disappeared,personally though I like to keep as much of the soil occupied with crops through the winter,so have lots of leeks,mooli winter lettuces and parsnips.I also use deep straw mulch over manure which allows the rain through and is easily pulled back in spring prior to planting potatoes which I then draw the straw back over to earth up

[Two_Sheds]

Weeds don't grow in the winter

No they don't, but they continue to blow in from other plots, so covering your own beds will protect them a bit from invading seeds

[Potted Penny]

As an advocate of no-dig, don't touch the soil other then weeding, feed with compost and plant winter onions, broad beans or peas ready for spring. Keep your soil busy for you so it's weed free!

[redser]

In depth discussion right here ...
The Vegetable Garden in September - 2013

[wellywoo]

The last few years I've done nothing but this year I'm doing a combination of green manure and covering with cardboard topped with manure (home made from chickens and rabbits)


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

[Two_Sheds]

Empty beds attract weeds

...and lose topsoil, as winter gales & heavy rain wash the topsoil away.

I never have empty bare soil, ever.

Yes I do ~ on my paths. The soil on the paths is like sand, it's become very fine sandy dust and blows away in the slightest breeze.
The soil in my beds is covered in a permanent mulch of chopped up weeds, seaweed, garden compost etc.
The soil is protected, moisture is kept in the ground where you want it

[horticultural_hobbit]

Once things have keeled over; I'm thinking of covering raised beds with cardboard this year. There will be jokes from folks, telling me that it doesn't grow well and you can't eat it. The new half plot, is covered in cardboard, through which I will be planting over wintering stuff.

[Vince G]

I manure, dig it in loosely and cover with a tarpaulin....well it's not really a proper tarpaulin as water soaks through it, sort of woven ground cover material I suppose. Soil is very light at the allotment, so I don't leave any bare beds uncovered.