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  • #1

    Arghh - confused newbie!!

    Hi everyone!

    I've lurked these boards in the past but have just registered to pick the brains of all you knowledgable people! I have grown a few veggies in pots last year, but this week I am having a section of my garden fenced off so that I can create my own little allotment (very excited!). At the moment it is just grass - the gardener who is doing the fencing has suggested that I cover the whole area with fabric to kill off the grass, but I was thinking that my raised beds should sit on the earth, rather than the fabric, in order to allow the worms to come up and help with the soil? Am I right in thinking this? I intend to fill the beds with top soil - I have access to plenty of well rotted horse manure but shouldn't manure be added in Autumn rather than now (i.e. will it be too rich?)?

    I've just been reading about the no-dig method, but the advice seems to be more relevant to established beds rather than brand new ones.

    There is so much info out there it makes my head hurt!

    Thanks in advance to anyone offering gems of wisdom
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  • #2
    Hello & Welcome

    Mark out where your raised beds are going (remember to keep the width down to how far you can reach to avoid walking on the beds & compacting the soil), then dig off the grass as turves & lay grass side down where you intend to have your compost heap/clamp.
    Unless you have cooch grass in which case you need to dig it (& it's roots) out & dispose of as green waste.
    He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

    Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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    • #3
      Regarding the well rotted manure, if you put a base layer 2" or so deep in the bed/s you intend to grow beans/peas &/or any member of the squash family then finish filling with topsoil they will reward you for your effort
      He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

      Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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      • #4
        One last thought, remember to make the path between the beds wide enough to get a wheel barrow down saves an awful lot of carrying in buckets/trugs, don't ask how I know this
        He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

        Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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        • #5
          Thank you very much for the info! I will make sure I leave myself enough room and turn the soil. I've just heard that the fence cant be done until next week now - gutted!

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          • #6
            Welcome! The fence won't stop you turning your turf over will it? I find there is always something you can do while your waiting for something.
            The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men gang aft agley

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            • #7
              Welcome to the vine

              You might find this video helpful for ideas on making a no dig bed (starting with some grass on the floor and using some well rotted manure) Building a No-Dig Bed and Planting it in under 30 minutes | Learn How To Garden
              A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Penellype View Post
                Welcome to the vine

                You might find this video helpful for ideas on making a no dig bed (starting with some grass on the floor and using some well rotted manure) Building a No-Dig Bed and Planting it in under 30 minutes | Learn How To Garden
                Thats perfect thank you!

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Python15 View Post
                  Welcome! The fence won't stop you turning your turf over will it? I find there is always something you can do while your waiting for something.
                  This is very true, thank you! The main reason for the fence is to keep my dogs out. I wanted to wait before I did too much - my terrier would have a field day with turned soil and manure if he could get to it!

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                  • #10
                    When I put my raised beds in I put them straight on the grass, cardboard ontop or loads of newspapers and then topped with the topsoil. Unless you are wanting to grow root veg this year this will work well.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Penellype View Post
                      Welcome to the vine

                      You might find this video helpful for ideas on making a no dig bed (starting with some grass on the floor and using some well rotted manure) Building a No-Dig Bed and Planting it in under 30 minutes | Learn How To Garden
                      Thank you for asking question and thanks for this Pen, do you think this would work over thick nettles? It would certainly partially solve a problem for me if it did.
                      No matter:the allotment is lovely, the tadpoles have legs, my sea kale has germinated and I am glad to be home.

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                      • #12
                        Thia would work over thick nettles, a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard you must make sure it's well overlapped.

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                        • #13
                          Thank you libby will trial on worst nettles I have ever come across.
                          No matter:the allotment is lovely, the tadpoles have legs, my sea kale has germinated and I am glad to be home.

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                          • #14
                            I made one last year for potatoes on top of clumps of grass (including couch) and got a little grass coming through but not a lot. I wouldn't think nettles would be worse than that. You could use the tops of the nettles in the bed
                            A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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