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+--- Thread: Covering Bare Soil (/showthread.php?tid=1514)
Covering Bare Soil - PyreneesPlot - 13-04-2022
Normally I'd mulch any bare soil with compost or clippings in the veg plot, or shreddings on the borders, but yesterday I cleared what will be the carrot and parsnip patch this year but couldn't decide between mulching and adding too much nitrogen or leaving it bare.
I can't remember what I normally do so for now it's been left uncovered which feels very wrong with a sunny week of 20+ to bake the clay soil coming up!
Any thoughts
RE: Covering Bare Soil - Scarlet - 13-04-2022
If I dig an area that I intend to plant in I'll just cover with card. I don't have enough stuff to mulch everything. I also use newspapers
RE: Covering Bare Soil - Vinny - 13-04-2022
I wouldn't bother covering it with anything.I would leave it as it is then hoe off any weed growth just before seed sowing.
RE: Covering Bare Soil - JJB - 13-04-2022
I must admit I mulched with grass clippings but found the clippings left grass seed all over the place which then sprouted up everywhere. I liked the water saving side of mulch but the weeding afterwards was a pain in the proverbial.
RE: Covering Bare Soil - Veggie - 13-04-2022
I'd sow seeds in it. When do you intend sowing carrots & parsnips? Is there time for a quick crop of summat?
RE: Covering Bare Soil - PyreneesPlot - 14-04-2022
(13-04-2022, 10:53 PM)JJB Wrote: I must admit I mulched with grass clippings but found the clippings left grass seed all over the place which then sprouted up everywhere. I liked the water saving side of mulch but the weeding afterwards was a pain in the proverbial.
As long as I use grass before it's set seed it should be fine - I've done it for years and the only problem was the autumn cut of the meadow getting mixed in one year. Weedy chaos!!
(13-04-2022, 11:22 PM)Veggie Wrote: I'd sow seeds in it. When do you intend sowing carrots & parsnips? Is there time for a quick crop of summat?
I'll be sowing progressively over the next month or so, and filling in with radishes.
I might shred up some paper, thanks Scarlet
- it needs to be something loose rather than a sheet oherwise the blackbirds can't pull it around and find the slugs! Although they'll try.Hoeing is near impossible here once the surface dries, Vinny. It bakes absolutely solid and forms a crust, and then I can't sow directly either.
Thanks everyone