Allotments 4 All

After my successful attempt I am now planning my veggie for next year with military precision.
My initial beds were sunk into the lawn and I now need to enlarge them to accomodate my 4 year crop rotation.

My question is" After the load of digging I had to do to remove the grass last year, can I rotavate the lawn to extend the beds, cover with manure and black plastic and then get on with sowing next year?

Thanks
Jo

Can't you just cover up the grass with cardboard and black plastic and leave weeds to die back naturally.  When all the weeds are dead (after an age) then you could rotovate.  Otherwise won't all the weeds just be multiplied?  Just a thought.  Depends I spose how big a hurry you're in.  You could weed kill it on the other hand and rotovate.  Just depends on how you feel about chemicals  :)

If it were me I would remove the turf, about an inch to inch and a half deep, and stack this grass to grass, soil to soil in a corner and cover. It will break down nicely in 12 months to a nice top soil.

I would then either dig over the new bed or layer with manure and cover through the winter for working in the spring. Depends a little on what that bed will carry neaxt season.

Removing the turf will help reduce the weeding issue next year.

Jerry

The removed, stacked turf makes very good stuff after only about a year.  I left mine in open but you can cover it or hide it if you think it looks messy.  I made my beds like that Jerry which is good as you're confronted with relatively weed free soil once the top bit has gone, and then it's easier to get the couch out  :)

Do you need top get the couch out of the turf you remove, or does it dissapear when you leave it for 12 months.

It may die off if you cover the pile, if the pile is left open it will start to re grow in the spring.

Jerry

If you're just doing one bed and you've taken the top bit of turf off there shouldn't be too much couch in it.  Just pull out what you can see before stacking your turfs down and covering them up. 

Thank you for all your advice. I will now tell my OH that I need some help in the garden again. ;D. Maybe bribing him with booze might work! ;D

Next step is to source the manure to go into it and to figure out where not to spread it! 
Back to the plan!
Jo