[gardener247]

my dad has horses and i invaded his garden with my veg growing so the ground has buttercups and some really well established docks i took out all the docks and dug up the sod and turned it upside down and left it. now all the buttercups have grown back but ill manage that just a bit of hoeing.. i need to make another bed...

so basically whats the best way to make new ground nice and muddy without taking away the top sod

[janette]

cover it with black plastic or an old carpet  !!

[gardener247]

cover it with black plastic or an old carpet  !!

yea but i want to have it ready soon for spring plating

[DD.]

Don't use old carpet unless you want nasty chemicals from the dyes in the soil.

[sunshineband]

Beat me to it re the carpet DD 

Covering up the ground before it is ready to plant will help it warm up a bit and reduce weed growth too. I use card board, and then compost it at the end of the spring