Mustard (Green Manure) dig it in?

[Pete the Plot]

Hi

I have grown mustard as a green manure over about half of my plot and cut it back before it flowered.
Now, I thought I read somewhere that instead of digging it in, it can be left on the top to rot and get taken down naturally as you can with a layer of manure or compost.
Or am I just trying to get out of digging  :D

PtP

[Pete the Plot]

[silverbirch]

"Or am I just trying to get out of digging "  Nowt wrong with that!! 

It's what happens in nature, so why not?

[caroline7758]

Yes, i think you can leave it on top. How tall was it wen you chopped it down- I've got some in for the first time too.

[calendula]

mustard is quite tenacious and rots down quite slowly but it will eventually but might still be hanging on when it's time to plant - you can but wait - it would also depend on how short you cut it back as it might spring back  :o

[manicscousers]

we cover our chopped up phacelia with cardboard  and weed control over winter, gives the worms a chance to do their work  ;D

[Lauren S]

Aren't worms great  ;D

[davee52uk]

One Winter I left the plants in. They grew very big but eventually I dug them in. The only drawback was that somewhere along the line they had set (lots!) of seed. This meant that mustard came up all over the place.

[davee52uk]

You can leave Winter Rye in over the Winter, in fact you are meant to. This produces a lot of straw type growth which is great for digging in.