Putting in new raised beds

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
marionr Mena, AR(Zone 7a) May 25, 2008

I have 3 new wooden raised bed forms made and I am wondering if I need to put newspaper or cardboard down in them before I make my lasagna garden. For the last 2 years I put some black plastic down on the soil that I wasn't using for my regular garden..I also put some clear plastic down in one corner of the garden and kept it down all last summer until now. When I tilled my garden up these 2 spots did not have any grass or weeds in it. It has been about a month since I tilled and they still don't have anything growing in it...does that mean that it has been sterilized? The rest of the garden has grass/weeds growing in it. I am going to try the clear plastic again this summer and then put in some more raised beds. Do you have any ideas if I will be safe not putting paper/cardboard layering before I continue my lasagna beds?
Thanks marionr

Post #5002076
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 25, 2008

I'd still put down newspaper, just because there aren't any weed seeds in the soil doesn't mean new ones can't land on top of the soil and grow into it, and a nice layer of newspaper and mulch will help prevent that from happening. You could leave it off if you wanted, but you will likely get a few more weeds. How many more is hard to say--if you live in a suburban area full of well-cared for lawns then maybe you won't get too many, but if you live more in the country or have any sort of wild area/open space near you then I guarantee you'll get seeds blowing in.

Post #5002108
Quote
marionr Mena, AR(Zone 7a) May 26, 2008

Thanks ecrane3 for your thoughts on the paper. I got to thinking how well the worms do under the covering and it is not very hard to do. So I will put the paper/cardboard down, some chicken compost, then spagnum moss and put brown mulched leaves after i put my veggie plants in. I have never done this before but it sounds like how I need to start doing my gardening as I am getting older and it is just too hard to till sometimes. Should I dig down into the soil under the paper when I plant the plants?
Thanks again.
marionr


This message was edited May 26, 2008 8:05 AM

This message was edited May 26, 2008 8:06 AM

Post #5004476
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 26, 2008

You can just cut a hole in the newspaper/cardboard and plant through it.

Post #5004972
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP