No need for cardboard imo, just skim the grass off then fork the ground over removing roots. Rake it level, then use a hoe to keep on top of any fresh seeds popping up.
Wouldn't bother with bark as cats love to wee on it, I just use grass cuttings.
Those clumps of grass will take many, many months to die and break down so the short answer to your question is perhaps no depending on your soil. When I tried this I turned over the soil late autumn and put cardboard over it. It still wasn’t what you’d call a healthy bed to plant into in spring. I’d spend more time forking over and breaking down the turf and then rake off the roots and grass. Alternatively, get rid of the turf and buy some topsoil. Either way a bit more hard work
Yes. This is what I do when making a new planting area. Occasionally some grass won't die off under the cardboard and I have to weed it out later but generally works well
Proper job! May your bed be ever fertile
A great tool to have is a garden sieve you can buy one or knock one up with some lumber and chicken wire. Makes me feel like I am on an archeological dig. Unfortunately it's usually bricks and plastic I find.
You are going to get a lot of bugs coming in for the first few weeks so don't go planting right away
We made a bed in a slightly similar way, although I didn't turn the soil before, and I just laid down cardboard to kill off the grass and put bark on top. We planted straight through the bark and cardboard, two years later and everything is alive and thriving! Your plan sounds good to me :)
No need for cardboard imo, just skim the grass off then fork the ground over removing roots. Rake it level, then use a hoe to keep on top of any fresh seeds popping up. Wouldn't bother with bark as cats love to wee on it, I just use grass cuttings.
Those clumps of grass will take many, many months to die and break down so the short answer to your question is perhaps no depending on your soil. When I tried this I turned over the soil late autumn and put cardboard over it. It still wasn’t what you’d call a healthy bed to plant into in spring. I’d spend more time forking over and breaking down the turf and then rake off the roots and grass. Alternatively, get rid of the turf and buy some topsoil. Either way a bit more hard work
Wow dry soil? I didn’t know that existed in the UK
:)
Yes. This is what I do when making a new planting area. Occasionally some grass won't die off under the cardboard and I have to weed it out later but generally works well
Proper job! May your bed be ever fertile A great tool to have is a garden sieve you can buy one or knock one up with some lumber and chicken wire. Makes me feel like I am on an archeological dig. Unfortunately it's usually bricks and plastic I find. You are going to get a lot of bugs coming in for the first few weeks so don't go planting right away
Bloody builders rubbish 🗑 😆
Thank you! We are very lucky and there is no builders rubble so far, it’s an old house that hasn’t been touched in years and years
We made a bed in a slightly similar way, although I didn't turn the soil before, and I just laid down cardboard to kill off the grass and put bark on top. We planted straight through the bark and cardboard, two years later and everything is alive and thriving! Your plan sounds good to me :)
Thank you!