to cover or not to cover

[pumpkin grower]

i am new to growing this year and have just finished growing for the year i have read that it is best to cover soil to protect it from the winter,:confused but i have also been told that it is best to leave it uncovered i was just wondering if anyone can help me solve this dilema

[Nicos]

Well , I think it depends on your soil type and how much time you are able to give to your plot in the spring!
Clay soil is broken up with the frost, so it's better left open...unless you put muck on the top , which would freeze instead.
Weeds often grow on bare soil, and they do on muck...so covering the ground helps minimize weed growth( so long as you cover with something which doesn't allow light through).
Covering with anything helps warm up the soil in spring.
Plastic covering prevents water getting through, so it's less likely to get quite so waterlogged.
I have peat soil, and leave some areas under muck and the rest exposed.
I like to think I am helping the wildlife munch through unwanted pests and give the worms something to do on those cold winter days!!!

Up to you really.....

[Snadger]

The best cover is a crop! Failing that, a heavy mulch of well rotted something or other!

[NSB]

I thought if you dig it over and let the frost break the large amounts down and kill all the weeds etc.

On the other hand I also thought if you cover it over it would make the bed warmer for an earlier crop! and supress weeds.

Or as Snadger said mulch it

This may have helped but I feel more confused now!!

[lainey lou]

Have covered all my bare bits in cardboard and either manure or compost or both, don't know if this is right but i thought it would minimise weeds.

[moggssue]

My bare bits need covering in more than a bit of cardboard!!

[Flummery]

Too cold to bare any bits!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi PG - I've been watching the more established lottie owners on my site and have noticed they have been covering their bare ground with pony poo. Fron what I can gather, even though its not too well rotted, they put it on the ground, leave it until the spring then dig it in. Looks good to me - I'm giving it a go anyway! hey ho! I think its a good thing to do - the cover of pony poo keeps down the weeds and is rotting all the time then next spring, dig it in and you've got good soil. That's my simple way of looking at it. Not sure if it works, but if it keeps the weeds down over winter then it must be good! What are everyone elses thoughts? I'm all for no digging - what with my back and shoulder problems......all together...ahh!
Dexterdog