New beds - how to prepare

[Shorty2506]

Hiya,

Right I have 2 beds but they are covered in grass, my soil is clay and very very hard work to dig. Can I lay newspaper over the bed on top of the grass with a layer of soil over the top of the newspaper. Will this kill all the grass underneath? Then early next year try and dig the bay over?

I did start to dig the grass out but with some much clay it's really hard work and need to find away to do it easier.

Any advice would be great

[WendyC]

Often recommended on here is to cover the site in cardboard. You can then plant through it. Someone who has actually used this method will be along shortly to give more details.

[Shorty2506]

Yeah that what I was thinking, I will go with this idea. Thanks

[Shorty2506]

Will the plants grow ok this way as the soil underneath is really hard and compact? That's why it's killing me trying to dig it over!

[hamsterqueen]

what about raised beds? You could fill them with part topsoil , part compost on the top of the cardboard, as you won't be walking on the surface the clay will not get compacted. The worms will mix it all up after a few years, but you will be able to grow veg straight away.

There are quite a few threads on here about "lasagne" beds too. Might be worth doing a search?

[Shorty2506]

Yeah, we'll I have got wood around the edge but its only 5 inch deep, will invest in more wood. For the moment I have layer newspaper down and put compost on top

[Bill HH]

Yup bury the whole mess with raised beds, lots of newspaper and cardboard in the bottom to supress the grass and retain moisture, I find the worms love page three in the Sun, then compost and manure next. I used my own compost (Not really ready) at the bottom and bought compost on the top. As for height I think 10 to 12 inches is ok for most stuff.
I know its a dirty word here but you could spray the grass with roundup or similar, maybe twice, then in the spring hire a rotovator.

[Kirk]

Putting paper and soil over will simply stop the growth, the roots will remain for some time and when you dig it over (as eventually you will have to) they will sprout again.

Never really a quick answer, you need to change the nature of the soil you have by adding things like compost and manure - but this need to get into and mixed with the clay. And you still need to get rid of the grass and the roots they have.

I would spray (have no problems with this) strim to the ground once dead, then either cover with mulch/compost/manure or spray again (things will have sprouted again) and the next day cover with mulch/compost/manure.

Then the choice is to allow nature to mix it up (worms) or lightly dig the top level over to get it in and mixed a bit.

There is the option to cover but the roots need killing off or digging out, they will reappear, and in general the less work you do (digging) the longer it takes. There really is no easy quick method.

[Shorty2506]

Thanks everyone. If I spray the grass I am ok to grown in next year?
One of the beds the one i have layed newpaper over and then compost I was hoping to plant seedling spring cabbage in, ready for next year

Trouble is with big raised beds is the cost of filling with compost. One bag doesn't go very far.

[Two_Sheds]

Will the plants grow ok this way as the soil underneath is really hard and compact?

If it's been walked on a lot, it will be compacted. Fork it over really well, then water it thoroughly before putting your winter cardboard on top. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to work, come the spring

I know its a dirty word here but you could spray the grass with roundup

Sure you could, but it's pointless if she's going to put cardboard on: the lack of light will kill the grass

Putting paper and soil over will simply stop the growth, the roots will remain for some time and when you dig it over (as eventually you will have to) they will sprout again.

I haven't found that to be the case, and I've used this method several times. It's not couch grass, it's just annual grass, so it will die, roots as well, if the light is blocked for several months.

Photos in my links below, if anyone wants to see the raised beds I created on top of 3" of dry compact soil full of bent grass, dandelions & yarrow