Reply To: Cardboard As Base Layer and Weed Suppression

[Bantam Shores]

I’m stuck. I’m really struggling to decide a method on how I want to do things.

I’ve received a delivery of 5 tonne of well rotted cow manure. The soil I already have is amazing stuff. As mentioned the previous tenant spent quite a few quid then strangely packed in. I know in time that the card will rot and that won’t exactly be a long time really, but if I were to lay a blanket of card on top of the soil I have, and then layer on top with the manure, leaf mold and home made compost, I worry I won’t get the benefits of what’s underneath.

When I took the plot on, my girlfriend even said, it was like walking on clouds, haha, a sponge like texture.

I also do not want to dig. I’m adamant that this year is the beginning of a no dig adventure. So preliminary thoughts to drag back the top layer to one side and then use that as part of the layer cake process kind of breaks the no dig rule. I desperately want to get it right and do the best I can with what I have, it’s a hard call as to which direction to choose.