[Yorkie]

Trillium's right, plastic over winter can cause some other problems - see Clover's recent post here, where the ground ended up compacted and the manure did not get worked into the soil

[newatthis]

ok, i'll take the plastic off, what about weed control stuff on top( lets the water in and some off the heat in), if not i will have to look for cardboard only draw back is i will need loads..

[Paul Plots]

ok, i'll take the plastic off, what about weed control stuff on top( lets the water in and some off the heat in), if not i will have to look for cardboard only draw back is i will need loads..

Try to find yourself a nice friendly lawn mowing service.... there's still sometime left for cutting lawns. A thick layer of grass mowings wont blow away, wont stop the air getting to the ground and manure below, will add to the humus and is a more natural alternative to cardboard, far better than plastic, cheap, will help the lawn mowing service as they'll have somewhere to dispose of the grass and.......works for me!!

It is dragged into the ground by the worms and is easily dug or rotovated in during the spring.

Just a thought.... that some may disagree with...but there we go. 

[newatthis]

thankyou for the idea, i will ask around for grass cutting..

[Paul Plots]

thankyou for the idea, i will ask around for grass cutting..

a combination of areas of grass and patches of cardboard should be ok if the mowing season is slowing your way...

I have a huge compost bin and a mate who cuts all season.... he layers bags and bags full of grass into the bin - I add shredded paper, annual weeds and any compostable green waste from the plot...as well as shrub shredding from home. Dug in this adds to the humus and lightens the soil. Spread on top it makes a good mulch in spring to supress some of the weeds and keep in the moisture....

Only caution - avoid newly "weed & feed" treated mowings directly on the plot - compost first for a few months. You tend only to get this in the spring...

Have fun!!