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New Alottment 3 tonnes of Manure or compost

MarisolMarisol Posts: 49
in Problem solving
Good morning to all!  My daughter who is even less knowledgeable than me!  Has ordered 3 tonnes of manure to put on the Alottment.  I thought she was going to order compost. As we are going for no dig.  Layering cardboard.  Please tell me which is best.  We have loads of weeds. 🤗

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'd go for the manure.
    But if you have perennial weeds I'd try and get rid of them first.
    If you spread the manure in autumn it'll be good for planting by the spring

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I agree
  • MarisolMarisol Posts: 49
    @Pete hi Pete thank you for replying.  We are doing this new thing of no dig advocate Charles dowding.  By laying cardboard then putting a growing medium on top. The idea is to smother the weeds and grow veg on top. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes, it's a good idea and I've seen many of his clips.
    Perennial weeds may still come up through the cardboard and manure though.
    Annual weeds won't be a problem when they're smothered.

    You'll still get some weed seeds that blow onto your patch over winter, so don't expect a totally weed-free area.

    You should get some very good results :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Perennial weeds like cooch grass and bindweed are likely to remain a problem with no dig unless you can get them out.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    @Marisol  Agree, manure is better.  We cover our beds at the allotment with weed suppressing membrane, after we have added the manure. This allows water through, which helps the worms and the breakdown of the manure, but keeps weed seedlings from blowing onto our plot. If you decide to do this, don't use plastic or anything that prevents water from getting through, otherwise your beds will be too dry.
  • MarisolMarisol Posts: 49
    @KeenOnGreen @Fire @Pete.8. Many thanks your advice is much appreciated! 😘
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