Killing grass of for a new veg bed

[Andrewtheface]

Does any body know how long it would take to kill of grass if covered by weed membrane?

I want to get the ground ready for spring but don't know whether just to get the shovel out and skim it of?

Also should you adding manure to the beds now for next year?

Thanks in advance"


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[Paulieb]

I covered some grass back in march and I took the membrane off this week and it was pure mud, so was able to turn it over easily to level it out as it was a slight slope.

This might take longer over the winter tho as you won't have the same warmth to compost/kill the grass.

[Paulieb]

Also is the manure 'well rotted'? And what will be going in the beds?

Carrots/roots won't need it but most other things do.

[TrialAndError]

Adding manure now and then covering with weed membrane actually sounds like a good idea. the manure will begin to rot, the membrane will retain some of the heat from the rotting and that in turn will encourage the weeds to grow.

Of course the weed membrane will cut off all the light and they will perish. Methinks you have discovered a very good combination there!

[Andrewtheface]

More luck than judgement me thinks lol!


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[taff]

dig it up and turn it over all in one block so the grass is underneath and the earth is on top. Pull out any couch grass roots. Job done.

[kathyd]

I tried a mini-lasagne bed last year - laid cardboard over turf, then added layers of green stuff (grass clippings, chopped up weeds, compost), paper, more green stuff - it all rots down over the winter, and the cardboard helps kill off weeds, and the whole lot adds lots of organic matter and goodness to the soil. And the worms love it . It worked quite well, especially considering the 'grass' was full of perennial weeds, although I obviously had to pick these out by hand before planting. There's lots of discussion about lasagne beds in this forum which might give you some more ideas.

[johnjohn]

I'm with kathyd on this one, just in the process of doing this myself.

I expect Two Sheds will add more to this as well, he will probably put a link in too

[alldigging]

Cardboard and mulch material - whatever you have. Compost, muck, grass cuttings, half done compost, etc etc.

I want to do an experiment doing this with a layer of black plastic over the top. Top layer to be removed in spring for planting.

[SarzWix]

My best bed when I first got my allotment was the non-dig/lasagne bed. I put down a layer of cardboard, manure, shredded paper, unrotted compost, straw, topped with weed membrane. Left it to rot then planted through it. Taking the cover of to dig it over the following year, the only thing left in it was couch grass and horsetail roots. The soil was fab and full of worms

[rustylady]

I expect Two Sheds will add more to this as well, he will probably put a link in too

SHE probably will

[johnjohn]

SHE probably will

Ooooops.........

[Andrewtheface]

I think I will strip the turf off, build raised beds, add top soil and manure and leave it at that I think?........ I am just looking for quickest way to get it ready for planting veg in spring.


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[Alison]

I think I will strip the turf off, build raised beds, add top soil and manure and leave it at that I think?........ I am just looking for quickest way to get it ready for planting veg in spring.

As somebody has already mentioned it depends on what you're growing as to if you want manure there at all. Carrots will fork and you'll get much better crops if you don't apply manure. To be honest I don't use the stuff at all as I'm too worried about getting the contaminated stuff. I do however add huge amounts of home made compost which is improving my soil no end.

[taff]

Do a search for Zazens quickie beds, i can't remember what they're called, but they're basically the turf cut and turned with a hump in the middle....what were they called? anyone?