Great, thanks for the advice. I read on another thread about using green manure. I must say I had never heard of this before. What do people think on using this method instead?
with this method you can cover part of your plot with un-rotted (fresh manure) that way the new manure can be left for a year to mature while the rest you cover with well rotted stuff and can work within a few weeks.
bekkie yes I've used this before, I work with schools and when we fit raised beds we put them straight onto the playing field and cover with a double layer of cardboard and then top the beds up, the beds are usually only 15cm high at the most and we get very little weed coming thru.
I've also used it on a community garden which was covered in brambles, dock and nettles, strimmed it as flat as I could, double layer of cardboard and then covered with spoiled hay and straw from a local farm. the next year we could just plant thru the half rotted hay and as long as you keep the organic matter damp (which in winter isn't hard) the cardboard is gone within 6 - 8 months. you just have to remember to remove the stick tape as that doesn't rot!
Wish id known about it when i got my allotments, long time ago now , may do this on the front garden, thanks for the info
Jordan, ive never used green manures for their intended use, you need to remember that they can effect your crop rotation, depending on what family they are in, defenately worth a go, it may even be worth doing a bed with half and half, it really is just trial and error to find out what works for you
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with this method you can cover part of your plot with un-rotted (fresh manure) that way the new manure can be left for a year to mature while the rest you cover with well rotted stuff and can work within a few weeks.
bekkie yes I've used this before, I work with schools and when we fit raised beds we put them straight onto the playing field and cover with a double layer of cardboard and then top the beds up, the beds are usually only 15cm high at the most and we get very little weed coming thru.
I've also used it on a community garden which was covered in brambles, dock and nettles, strimmed it as flat as I could, double layer of cardboard and then covered with spoiled hay and straw from a local farm. the next year we could just plant thru the half rotted hay and as long as you keep the organic matter damp (which in winter isn't hard) the cardboard is gone within 6 - 8 months. you just have to remember to remove the stick tape as that doesn't rot!
Jordan, ive never used green manures for their intended use, you need to remember that they can effect your crop rotation, depending on what family they are in, defenately worth a go, it may even be worth doing a bed with half and half, it really is just trial and error to find out what works for you