Help-new bed: plant up or wait

8000wildflowers

Hi all.

I have a grassy bank in the front garden, about 10m x 4.

It’s been neglected and covered in grass, bulbs, wildflowers and the usual perennial weeds including alkanet for years. The plan was to dig it into 2 levels with sleepers to hold it back, and to remove the weeds and grass of course. Then plant it up. I’ve lots of spare perennials out the back waiting to be moved or divided.

Problem is my lovely hubbie just went out there with a mini digger and just dug it all over/up and then dug it back in and levelled it (without checking, grr!). So all the weeds and grass are still in there somewhere but now in tiny pieces.

I’m unsure if I can do anything to rescue this before planting without facing weeds and grass popping up in months to come to a massive extent. ?

I don’t use chemicals and would usually spend a lot of time prepping the beds to get most weeds out. And then adding nutrients...which the weeds will now love!

I guess options include covering it with poly for a year, or going ahead and hoping for the best/plan to spend a lot of time weeding both weeds and grass out next year, or planting up and adding weed membrane (such a pain and my cats will probably dig it up but possibly an option).

Does anyone have any tips on how to mitigate ?

Thanks.

Fairygirl

Can you just get a divorce 8000w? That would be easier and cheaper....
I think if it was a small space, I'd just plant it up, and deal with weeds as they appear. With a plot that size, that could be very hard work.
Do you think you'll get any weed growth over the next few weeks? It depends on your climate etc. If so, you could wait, and have a go then at removal, then  plant up what you have - assuming the plants are a good size.  Mulch well afterwards, avoiding the new plants. You'll still get some weeds coming through, but it might give you a head start on them in spring. 
Alternatively, just put in your plants,, mark them with a cane or similar, then apply the mulch. That way, you can tell if what comes up is weed or wanted. 
Tricky choice though. 

Dovefromabove

Have you explained to him that next spring and summer he'll spend his every spare minute on his hands and knees ................ weeding, weeding, weeding .......

8000wildflowers

Hi both, 
I love that you understand what a problem this is! 
I have indeed had the conv about how he’ll be weeding with me for years to come....
Marking the plants with canes is a good call. And I could explain to hubbie (when he weeds) that he does not pull out anything with a cane 

Fairygirl

8000wildflowers said:

And I could explain to hubbie (when he weeds) that he does not pull out anything with a cane 

  
He'll realise his mistake quite quickly when you have him weeding next year from 6 in the morning till ten at night, while you relax with a cool drink in a lounger.... 

Dovefromabove

8000wildflowers said:

Hi both, 
I love that you understand what a problem this is! 
I have indeed had the conv about how he’ll be weeding with me for years to come....
Marking the plants with canes is a good call. And I could explain to hubbie (when he weeds) that he does not pull out anything with a cane 

Just explain to him that there are other uses for a cane ... 

8000wildflowers