This topic contains 15 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by sarah-off-grid 9 years, 2 months ago.
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Hi Seegull,
Charles gives advise on this very thing in all his Books.
The method I chose from the options he gives was to cover the area with 6″ of FYM or Horse Manure, the latter in my case, in late winter,and cover until sowing/planting time. This will kill off even the most hardy of weeds though not all. Every year thereafter you add a 2″ layer of Garden Compost or Manure.
I don’t think you will get perfect soil in just 12 months, more likely 4/5 years, sooner or longer depending on the soil you are starting out with in the first place.
So basically if you start with a 6″ layer of FYM you don’t need any other weed suppression.
Don.Hello Seagull and welcome to the forum.
Just to add to Don’s comments, I tried the biodegradable corn-starch mulch and was disappointed at how long it takes to degrade, and it looks just like a litter of black polythene. It has lasted two years already.
Your soil will improve quickly and you can grow anything in compost mulches.I find farm yard manure, particularly horse manure is a great way to get inundated with thistles. I’d suggest that green waste compost is better, and lighter to handle too. If you can get free horse manure though, I say put this over your soil or grass, then cover with 2″-4″ of green waste compost. This way you’ll get great growing soil and it much easier to weed and/or hoe.
Simon thanks for this but its unfair to label all horse manure as thistly!
Either yours had some roots of perennial thistle, which need pulling out while spreading, or if its seeds they can easily be pulled or hoed.
Its a good point about using clean compost as surface layer, also easier to sow into.Thanks Charles,
Just pointing out that often free or cheap horse manure is just stacked on or next to pasture. Therefore weed seeds go blow into it. A few years back I spread about 1/2 acre in horse manure to make a garden. Grew a lot of potatoes for first year. Lots of thistles came up between the potatos and was hard to weed them. Did get a good yield but the thistles were a problem for a couple of years as they seems ed seed everywhere. My land was next to pasture and weed seed always blow in regardless of how clean my land was.
I find the green waste compost is much easier, as plants can’t self seed as easily into it and its easier to hoe or hand pull what weeds do seed in.
Plus is cheap and a recycled material, personally I think its great and will use it all the time.
This is just my personal experience and other peoples will vary.Hi Simon,
FYM and Horse Manure are two very different items.
I only ever use Horse Manure (I live in Kildare, the Horse breeding capital of Ireland) with a 2″ layer of Garden Compost on top. I don’t get Thistle and any weeds I do get are simply hand picked or howed as I find them.
Maybe its because my Horse Sh1t comes from thorough breds!!Don.
Hi not sure if this helps but I have watched a video on YouTube and Barley straw was used to clear a large area of grass 4-6 ins deep dosnt take long to break down apparently , I havnt used it so don’t know how good it is
Sorry it wasn’t youtube it’s an article in Marches Kitchen garden magazine by Andrew Davenport, I think I’m going a bit crazy not being able to get into the garden
Don
I get my Horse Manure from a very lowly stable which has the sorts of horse suitable for children to learn on. Absolutely no sign of a thorough bred and I’ve had no thistles coming out of mine either!!
rtj1211
LOL..hehehehe. Mine is a “posh” garden. We have certain standards to maintain!
Don.
Yes go for seaweed if you can, especially for asparagus and seakale.
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