Hi, We moved into a home with quite a large and overgrown garden. We've cleared out our overgrown beds but don't quite know what we want to plant yet. One website I found suggests laying down using several layers of newspaper and then adding mulch on top. This would kill any linger roots from old plant (or weeds) and preserve the beds for planting in the spring. Then in the spring, mix the decomposed newspaper and mulch with the soild and start planting. Is this a good approach? Thanks for the help.
That sounds good. Add some phosphate(ashes) and a little nitrogen from compost or manure to help with the decomposition, if you like.
I did a lot of this in my old garden only I used purchased soil and raised the beds by a foot. It really works for keeping the weeds down. The areas where I just dug the existing soil was a constant struggle with weeds. I just moved to a new garden and again I just dug the existing soil and I'm already regretting it because the weeds are coming up like ground cover.
If you are using manure..be careful of horse...contains lots of weeds...if you have compost I would turn lots of that in as well as maple leaves...My routine in the fall is cover crop of rye...grow till just before first snowfall and add well composted chicken manure, compost, shredded maple leaves and a bag of Gaia Green, organic soil amendment, green sand etc. I fluff it right up with a pitchfork and add straw to avoid winter compaction. This also aids in soil warming in the spring. As soon as the snow begins to melt I cover entire area with clear poly (not black), to heat up faster....then leave it on and any weeds will germinate and die out under it....This practice is followed by many serious growers and aids in good soil health..Your plants will thank you no matter what they are. Deb:)
