Covering veggie patch over winter

[Kallie]

I came on this site a long time ago, and have now come back, as I find this is a really good site.

Last autumn I decided to cover my veggie patch with some think taupaulin. Just had a look and couldn't believe lots of grass still with green bits. I should say though due to family health problems and bereavemnent I just had to leave the veggie patch for a couple of years.

In the autumn I managed to pull and dig up a lot of thistles and other big weeds, although probably not got all the big roots. I still have the taupaulin on the ground.

Any advice gladly appreciated. Thanks.

[chris]

Tarp doesn't completely block the light out.. you'd need to block the light out completely to kill off most of the "easy weeds". Some aren't killed though, just by blocking the light out- such as couch grass, which is the grass you might be talking about.

What specific advice are you after? The general advice given is little and often - so you don't get overwhelmed.

[Kallie]

Thanks for replying. I don't know whether to take of the taulaulin now as it does look like it's hasn't done it's job. It's the first time I've put taupaulin down. My veggie patch is at the bottom of a slight slope, so at the moment the ground is still pretty wet Last year it was over run with grass and large weeds. Sorry there's a lot of weeds I don't know the names.

Previous years when the weeds were not so bad, I used to get the rotovator to go over the ground once, then remove the grass clumps and dig over the bigger roots, but over the years it's got worse.

Most years I haven't managed to rotovate till April to early May time.

[Alison]

If you have perenial weeds then the rotivating will actually be making it worse by breaking up the roots and a new plant forming form each little bit - for this reason I'm quite iffy about rotivating and wouldn't risk it on my plot (I have a couch grass problem). I found that cardboard was a very good way of cutting out light and killing a lot of weeds when I didn't have time to cultivate, it also rots down eventually giving body to the soil and doesn't cause slugs to hide under it as tarps can. Maybe you could get a load for a nearby supermarket (or similar)?

[chris]

That'll be why - the rotovator..

I think you'll have couch grass - the roots are long, white/cream fibrous beggars. You need to get every bit of them out of the ground, or they'll just re-grow. It's not your standard grass that you'll have on lawns, etc.

Take some photos if you'd like some help with identifying the weeds.

You don't NEED to rotovate, but here's what I'd do. Get as much cardboard, newspaper, etc as you can - and cover a section of your plot with it. Cover that with compost, manure (making sure it's safe - no broadleaf weedkiller has been sprayed on the fields the animals graze on) - by next year, the majority of the weeds will be dead - and the stubborns so and sos will be easier to dig out as the worms will have dragged the manure down, yada yada yada. For this year, you can cut a slit in the cardboard, and plant through that (grow your crops in pots first, then plant out when they're large enough to be transplanted). To do this you'll need to remove your perennial weeds first (brambles, dock, dandelions) - they're tough and will regenerate when given the chance!

I'm not sure, but I don't believe tarps are UV-stable, so they'll breakdown into tiny bits of blue plastic eventually. I had some on my old plot - it was a nightmare.

The boggy area of your plot would be great for blueberries, cranberries, or things that love wet feet - such as celery, celeriac, etc.

[Kallie]

Thanks for both of your replies. Looks like it's the cardboard method. Only how to stop the carboard from lifting up in the wind? Sorry for sounding so daft.

I will have to go easy on the digging out some of the roots as I have Osteo arthritis in my fingers, hence the rotovator, although that too was a bit much at times with the vibration it emits when going around the ground.

[Alison]

I've done various things to get card to stick, if you've got compost then that's ideal but you can also use other things, in fact anything that will weigh it down. I've also pegged lengths of string over the top in the past to hold it all in place. When it gets wet it stays better too.

[Two_Sheds]

I've found tarp to be pretty poor as a cover mulch.

Cardboard or wet newspapers are much better. I'm feeling pretty smug because my plot is virtually weed-free, for the first time ever: having been under mulches (various) all winter

[Kallie]

I've found tarp to be pretty poor as a cover mulch.

Cardboard or wet newspapers are much better. I'm feeling pretty smug because my plot is virtually weed-free, for the first time ever: having been under mulches (various) all winter

I'am envious. Wished I have done that over the years. Wondering whether to lift some of the taupaulin now or leave a bit longer, as I expect it's keeping the ground warmer. When I lifted up a part the other day,to have a look I noticed some mice under there. Athough I'am not frightened of them. Hope there's no rats under there.

[rustylady]

Whereabouts are you Kallie? If you add your location (nearest town) to your profile it will show up on your posts - helps a lot when giving advice. By the way, welcome to the Vine.

[Two_Sheds]

I noticed some mice under there.

Don't get too attached to them: they'll eat your pea and bean seeds

[Normans Mum]

Don't know if this will work for you, but we put down a nice thick layer of horse manure (without much straw in it) in November and have just left it on the top until bed is ready to use. Have heard that wet newspaper is also good.

[Kallie]

Thanks for all your replies. Sorry for not getting back sooner. Can I ask you Two Sheds, I am worried about the mice under the taupaulin. Should I take the taupaulin off now, as they might decide to breed under there?
Normans Mum I think the horse manure and wet newspaper seems a good idea.
Rustylady I'am in Essex. I see most people just give the county.
Lots of good ideas from you all. Thanks again.

[chris]

The tarp will provide a damp environment, perfect for slugs. Wet newspaper/cardboard can do too, but it soon rots down and is pulled into the earth below by worms, etc. In doing this youll get a better loam-y texture to work with. It doesn't have to be manure - you could use compost (home made! - buying it would be expensive)... particularly good for if you have heavy clay.

check out TS's photos - you'll see how she uses paper mulches - though I believe that she (excuse the cats mother term) doesn't cover with manure/compost - just mulches with the wet paper and then plants through/in between.

[rabbit]

If you drink milk you can save the plastic bottles to fill with water as weights to weight the cardboard down. We've done that this year and the cover we put down (weed stop black fabric) is coping in these gale force winds just about.