![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpDm88ZWyO75s3oPPLNCVnujm96m5_tCdxcN85ULQ8VYy96Ux2p4-O8XaSawVedbuZZmuQ5D-7OVeMOTEsNeqEGLMyiL4x9q-QFIXBTvnoaAcS17mgpi63Hb146l9KKUGI7m_ZMa1_s2i/s320/coverage.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi10FgljM8-hpm4zCp5P9u5LoSOlTxaleO9gabHAV1txMFJobCAVLApIzvdS0ddZMhjjlDJ-BM3uFR5a74GQTTEzEeUhl5WTSNd0wSx5aogY8VlTC0a8XH0t34nwlEdVbz94D7GxsSfQx/s320/coverage2.jpg)
The idea is to cover bare soil with a biodegrade material of various sizes which then holds in the moisture, and makes weeding easy. The ideal material is wood chip but I had a couple of bales of old rotting hay in the back field. This complemented with some well-trodden, weed and pooed straw/hay from the sheep will make a excellent first attempt. The plan is to let the ground recover and start planting in the spring. The covering is about 30 cm deep all over.
Also, there is a less spotted relativistic cat approaching the speed of light in the second photo!