Raised bed

[lonedwarf]

I've cleared about 1/3 of my new allotment during this year which was covered in creeping buttercup predominately as well as the usual dandelion etc. (Though thankfully not too much due to the carpet of buttercup)
I have been hand weeding to this point to create beds but have now got some railway sleepers in which to create a raised bed. In order to save hand weeding for this my plan is to turn buttercup turfs over so roots are up, then cover in newspaper and then finally add a thick layer of compost and/or horse manure.
- is this a valid way of doing things?
- am I right in assuming this will kill the buttercups/weeds, returning them to the soil.
- will this be a workable bed for next spring?

[ancee]

How fast is creeping buttercup?! I didn't realise I had it, or what it was? So I left it to see what it became. It became a triffid! I've been hand weeding it too. It does go, but I fear it will come back again.
Not sure if your method will work, somebody else will know - they'll be along shortly

[veggiechicken]

I think it would grow back, upside down or not. Its very invasive.
Dig it out, every bit of root. More work but worth it.

[rustylady]

Dig it out and dispose of it. You can dry it to a crisp or drown it, but do not compost it until or unless it is well and truly dead.

[lonedwarf]

Thanks for the feedback, although I'm inclined to try one bed like this as an experiment.
I'll let you know what the results are!!
Other than that I will return to the buttercup battle. It's a shame really as its such a pretty plant.

[Feral007]

Depends whether it is a plant that spreads by rhyzomes underground or not.

I'm solarising some plants on our farm, and that works a treat. Except for St Johns Wort, which if it can't reproduce above ground sends out rhyzomes underground.

I'm a Give it a go sort of person anyway so I'd give it a try.

[Bill HH]

One of the advantages of a raised bed is that you make it narrow enough so you can weed it without having to walk on it, this means the soil is not compressed which makes weeding almost a pleasure. So I would go for it and if any do come up you can easily pull them out.

[sparrow100]

They are pretty - last year was my first year growing and I was convinced they were strawberries. Saved loads in pots....

This year I am digging out as much as I can. They also seed really easily so it will take a while to get them gone.

[Allotment Ted]

I use weed control fabric with holes for my strawberries and it really keeps the slugs at bay.

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