This is a huge topic and second only to soil, particularly if you have a weedy site when starting out. Appropriate mulching in year one leads you to experience the joy of weed free soil. Not 100% weed free for sure, but highly manageable, and I show you how.

• Identify your main weeds to know better how to mulch, what types of mulch to use, and how to stay weed free all the time.
• Learn the important differences between annual and perennial weeds.

Lesson 9 – Two types of weeds

It helps to name and understand each weed, so you have an idea of how to mulch or remove the mix you may find. In particular, I explain the characteristics and differences of annual and perennial weeds, and how their growth tendencies affect what you need to do in order to achieve clean soil for easy growing.

Lesson 10 – Going weed free with organic mulches

Eliminating perennial weeds is possible with no dig, and here is the how-to, using mulches of organic matter only. When digging out perennial weeds, there are always a few roots that regrow; with no dig, 100% elimination is possible.

Lesson 11 – Going weed free with non-organic mulches

Non-organic mulches – plastic of various kinds – do not look nice, but sometimes have a use in year one, mainly for reducing and eliminating perennial weeds. You can also reuse the same plastic, several times if needed.

I show how to use them in conjunction with organic matter, to improve soil at the same time as clearing weeds and growing a harvest.

Lesson 12 – Staying weed free

You always need to be aware of how weeds can recolonise soil, and react to them when seen, yet no dig takes all the pressure out of this. I explain how weeding can be enjoyable, because there is little of it to do. I share tips on how to stay weed free in this lovely scenario.

NEXT: Module 5 – Fertility, compost and soil