black plastic!

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from M Babcock contains these words:

3. Install newspaper 4-5 inches below top soil level, leaving spaces for
root crop rows (apparently this will help stop any perennial weeds
coming back)

I'm a keen mulcher but have never heard that method and don't think it
will work; newspaper 4" under soil will quickly get wet and weak and
docks and jerusalem artichokes, for example, would just push through
it..as easy as fighting their way out of a wet paper bag :-)

I'd use flattened cardboard boxes, weighted down with planks or
bricks, as a covering on top of the soil until you're ready to plant. It
will kill stop weed seeds germinating, kill some weeds, and make it
easier to fork out the docks and nettles etc.



Janet.