[Snap Dragon]

I mentioned to hubby that I wanted to try raised beds this year as our plot was so wet last year.

Quick as a flash he and his mate have built me 5 raised beds and put them on the plot. His mate has sourced topsoil and horse muck for me too!

Without sounding ungrateful the ground wasn't really ready for the beds as I have lots of dock to get rid of! I have sprayed round up and they are starting to yellow but they look like they're fighting back!

The beds are 12" tall and I really want to get them filled with soil next week so I can get on with sowing. Hubby suggested putting weed suppressing fabric at the bottom of the beds. Would this be a practical idea? In a 12" bed would the roots need to go down into the soil below the bed? With the girls being off school I haven't got the time to be at the lottie every day digging out weeds by hand - that would have to wait another 3 weeks and I'm getting impatient!

Help

[tallulah]

That's a conundrum! You would have had to have dug them anyway tho before the extra soil/manure etc.  If they're a foot high then I guess the weed suppressing membrane might be an option.  How would drainage be?  Could you add some grit to aid drainage?  It may be no different to someone having a raised bed on their patio ie on concrete or other hard paving.  Worth a try - unless you haven't got too many dock growing in which case just a couple of good sessions might do the trick.  Good luck! 

[Swing Swang]

I wouldn't  use membrane, most of us spend ages trying to increase the depth of our soil, and you'll effectively be limiting it. In future you'll have to unearth your beds to get it out.

I think that you know what you need to do....

[Faz]

What about laying the bottom of the bed with as much thick cardboard as you can get. The weight of the soil should make it impenetrable for a while at least, but it will eventually get soggy enough and rot away enough for roots to get through.

[Swing Swang]

Good idea Faz, I still think that Snap Dragon will want to double dig them within a season or two as it would be a shame to plant over compacted soil, and loosening the soil will also improve drainage.

I LOVE DIGGING and would be tempted to do it at night with a miner's lamp if there's not enough time during the day!!!

SS

[Swing Swang]

It's the only way I'll ever 'garden by the moon' ;-)

SS (aka 'The Pyjama Gardener')

[peapod]

I think youre right swingswang...preparation is the only way to go.  I covered a quarter of my plot with cardboard and that worked a treat. But those docks come back and need digging out before they end up as rampant as before
Membrane is a * to get rid off too!

[strangerachael]

You're SO lucky to have a husband and his mate who are so keen to help! Mine couldn't be less interested

[Salmo]

Roundup kills from the roots upwards. If the plants are yellowing the roots are no longer functioning and they are effectively dead. Either dig them out or just chop them off.

If you cover the soil in a foot of new soil no new docks will germinate unless you bring seed to the surface again. Any docks that you have missed with the Roundup may eventually surface but they will be very weak and you can either hoe them off or apply more Rounup.

Some people put a layer of thick cardboard on the bottom. I know this will stop weeds and will eventually rot away, but until it does you may have a problem with it preventing roots going down and also stopping moisture from the soil coming up.

[mumofstig]

If you can, dig up the strongest looking ones. (the ones that look like they are fighting back)

If the others are yellowing they probably are dying and won't have the strength to resurface anyway.
So just fill the beds and away you go With the original topsoil already under your beds you're laughing got lovely deep soil. I wouldn't worry about digging it as you'll have a enuf depth above it. After all, how many people actually dig more than 1 spade depth? and you'll have that with you raised beds already. LOVELY im jealous

[Snap Dragon]

Thanks for your replies...

So this is the plan.....

The ground was worked last year so shouldn't be too compacted!
I'll give it a forking to loosen it and pull out the largest and more threatening looking docks.

Then its on with the topsoil and away I go!

(Didn't think I'd get away without some time spent on my knees weeding! )