To Cover or Not to Cover.....

[Digitalis]

.....that is the question.

My plot is now 90% empty as I've taken down the bean supports. Weeds are starting to appear now, too.

I have 10 winter cabbages and some winter onions in.

Is it worth covering the plot with fabric, or should I just weed it and dig it over for the winter with WRM?

I know most of the weeds will stop growing soon so I'm thinking it might be pointless to cover the whole thing.....?

[Digitalis]

[Tee Gee]

Is it worth covering the plot with fabric, or should I just weed it and dig it over for the winter with WRM?

Well my opinion for what it is worth is;

Why go the the expense of buying fabric ? Choose which way you go you, will still have to tickle up the soil in Spring.

So my vote is for..........NOT to cover!

[Digitalis]

I make you right!

It seems 'unnatural' to cover up God's soil!

[Flighty]

I've dug over and weeded all the areas I want to do and will now leave them uncovered.  

[jimtheworzel]

I ALLWAYS DIG MY PLOT END TO END, NEVER COVERED IT OVER
i leave it in big clods for the frost to break down
yes the weeds do grow, but a quick run round with the rotovator
in spring, then start planting

JIM THE WORZEL

[Tee Gee]

In case you did not see this in a previous thread on the subject here is how my plot looks in winter!

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Soil%20prep/soil%20prep.html

[tonybloke]

I make you right!

It seems 'unnatural' to cover up God's soil!
[/quote


uncovered soil is oxidising all the time, and removing your precious organic matter. apply a mulch to conserve the nutrients. ('god's' soil is always covered by a blanket of vegetation, unless we humans till it)

[Digitalis]

uncovered soil is oxidising all the time, and removing your precious organic matter. apply a mulch to conserve the nutrients. ('god's' soil is always covered by a blanket of vegetation, unless we humans till it)

I see.

So I should save the WRM until Feb/March?

[Robert_Brenchley]

A lot depends on your soil. Clays hang on to nutrients, and need frost to break up the lumps. Sands don't have great lumps, and leach out far faster. I've always felt the main value of black plastic was to kill weeds. An organic mulch will cover the soil and feed it as well.

[caroline7758]

WRM? ???

[Flighty]

Caroline I'm guessing Well Rotted Manure!

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

if it's God's soil, why do I keep having to send all those cheques to the council?

[tonybloke]

they got the leasehold?

[Tee Gee]

This;

if it's God's soil,

reminded me of this;

Treat the earth well:

It was not given to you by your parents,

It was loaned to you by your children.

Which is correct  ???

[caroline7758]

Caroline I'm guessing Well Rotted Manure!

Thanks! ::)