[Snap Dragon]

I have some large beds of earth either side of where my greenhouse will go. I don't want to plant them up yet as they will get walked on when the greenhouse goes up.

They have been rotovated but are drying out in this warm weather and getting a crust. What is the best way to look after bare soil? Should I just hoe and rake it regularly or will this just dry it out even more? Should I cover it with some weed suppressing stuff?

[compostqueen]

I'd cover it up as bare soil just gets dried out. If it's going to get trodden on you could use it afterwards for planting brassicas as they prefer firm soil

You could use cardboard which will help protect it from heavy feet  

[Snap Dragon]

Great idea (as always) CQ... I've got loads of cardboard that I've been saving for insulating my pallett composters when hubby gets a few more palletts to make them with!

I've also got a roll of weed supressing stuff somewhere in the garage... I'll cover it over this weekend and hold it down with water filled coke bottles.....I knew I'd saved them for a reason  

[vegmandan]

Don't worry about it drying out,it's going to chuck it down in the next few days anyway.

It'll only be the top inch or so that's dry anyway.

[Snap Dragon]

Nooooooo Dan... Don't say that!

I'll never get the greenhouse up if it rains!  :evil:

[vegmandan]

No,sorry.. it's only going to be a quick downpour hopefully,I must admit I do need a bit of rain,only a bit though.

Then back to some nice warm sunshine.

[Snap Dragon]

Hooray.... A quick downpour I can cope with!

It can rain all it likes during the match on Sunday as hubby won't be leaving the TV for anything!!!!

[woodburner]

I'll cover it over this weekend and hold it down with water filled coke bottles.....I knew I'd saved them for a reason  

Thanks you so much for that timely tip I've been wondering what I can use to hold stuff down on the lottie. I don't really want to carry a load of bricks etc there! The scythe, fork and spade are heavy enough!  

[compostqueen]

I used bags of sand my husband took up the lotty (for some reason) when I'd uncovered an area from under sheet mulch I used the builders sand to mix with the lotty soil to help make it nice and crumbly     He'll want to know where his sand is when next he goes up there  

If you put cardboard down at least it will keep your soil from getting compacted or lost on the treads of boots. I hate losing soil. It's precious    Also it will keep from paddling mud if it rains. The soggy cardboard can be composted or left to rot down into the ground.