Growing some fruit - soil

[mouk786]

Hi
I want to grow some fruit next year

In our garden we have various patches of land that currently grow strawberries (though the starberries grow up sporadically ) and the rest is just green stuff that doesnt seem to serve a purpose

I wnat to clear it all and then replant maybe 3 or 4 new types of fruit.

How do I make it so that I can totally clear the soil and stop anythign growing back (i.e weedkiller) because there is a lot of growth of green stuff that doesn't actually do anything...!! ) - but how do i do it so i dont stop stuff being able to grow back in its spot?

[Noger]

Fruit bushes won't care about some green stuff below. Rasberrys, redcurrants etc are not that fussy.

If you really want to get rid of weeds, then the best thing is to put down some membrane. Looks crap, but means you can plant through it. Better than chemicals IMHO.

[jmorgan]

I avoid any weed killers with my fruit bushes. I am going to eat it in some way after all. I have used the membrane before but found it a pain. Only thing left is elbow grease, good old fashioned hard work.


...........But do I suspect that the amount of land here is a lot more than my meagre back garden?

[HiRich]

Membrane's a good idea, though I'd dig/hoe it through, and probably a few sacks of manure.

Best bet, though, would be a trip to the bookseller for the little book "The Fruit Expert" by Dr DG Hessayon (there's a whole series). There's little tricks for each type of plant (e.g raspberries have very shallow roots and don't like the surface being messed with), and these books are quite handy for planning, planting and tending.