Sheet Mulch - recipe

Sheet Mulch

by Roger Bass

• The night before water the area
• Open up the soil slightly by broadforking.
• Put down a 1" to 2" layer of high-nitrogen material: manure, blood or cottonseed meal, cast off produces green etc.
• Lay down cardboard or newspapers to create a continuous light-blocking layer that will smother existing plants.
• Wet down the layer of cardboard or newspapers.  If possible, mark and cut planting locations.
• Put down another nitrogen layer.
• Add 8 to 10" of bulk mulch, straw, hay leaves.
• Wet it all down again.
• Put down 1 to 2" of compost.
• Add the final layer, 2" of either straw, bark, wood shavings, etc.

The newly mulched area should be ready for planting the next day.