Planting runner beans with newspaper mulch

[helensusan]

I'm now ready to plant out my runner bean plants. The soil in the raised bed dries out very quickly and ideally the whole bed needs a bulk load of good compost. I don't make enough compost of my own so in an attempt to help matters and conserve moisture, I'd planned to put down a mulch of layers of newspaper then top with a thick layer of compost. Not sure whether to put this down first and water well then plant the beans, or, plant the beans and put the mulch around them. Has anyone tried this method or anything similar? Thanks.

[BathEd]

I'd plant the beans, water well and then apply the newspaper mulch. Paper, cardboard etc have very little nitrogen in them which decomposers need to break them down. Therefore they take them out of the soil so you may need to apply extra nitrogen. On the other hand beans fix their own nitrogen so it may not be necessary.

[VirginVegGrower]

I always put screwed up newspaper under the compost, under their roots. Never tried it on top.

[Scarlet]

I use folded up wet newspapers with a thin layer of grass clippings on top. I find it helps to keep the earth from drying out as quickly and keeps the weeds down as well. I'm on clay soil and as I'm on a water meter I'll try anything to save a drop

[Two_Sheds]

the whole bed needs a bulk load of good compost. I don't make enough compost of my own

Do you collect autumn leaves for leafmould? I collect at least one black sack every day during Oct/Nov (one if I'm on my bike, 3 or 4 if I have the car). Mixed with spring's grass cuttings, they rot down ever so quick and fill a bed nicely