ASK DIARMUID

Q Is it OK to leave soil bare over winter? I was growing potatoes in a raised bed but they’re finished and I won’t be planting again until next spring.

A No, you are better off having a cover on the soil, either a living one or mulch. A living cover could be something like a green manure, which is a crop that is grown to be dug back into the soil, to help improve it.

Often they will germinate quickly in late summer and allow the soil to have something growing in it all winter.

Mulches such as a thick layer of bark or garden compost will help retain moisture and help to reduce leaching, which is a problem when soil is exposed over winter.