Asparagus and weed control

[Chicky2]

I have a nice big asparagus plot (about 20'x4'). This is the 3rd year. I am putting in raised beds next to the asparagus. Here's my plan and I would love input on if you all think this will work well?

I have a roll of weed preventer cloth. I was thinking of waiting until the asparagus starts to shoot up and then get all the grass out that I can. Then I will put the weed preventer on top of the bed, w/slits cut for the asparagus plants and start adding compost and mulch on top of the weed preventer. Then when the asparagus goes to seed later this year, I'm thinking the new plants will start making crowns and grow from there. Then I can put in a frame around the bed and make it raised....

Does this sound like a good idea?

[Erinz]

What about pulling out the grass and using rice straw or similar to mulch? Or planting a living mulch such as basil and arugula or something? My asparagus (2nd year) shoots up all over the dang place (yay!) I can't imagine cutting slits for every little spot. It's been up for over a month now and there are still new shoots coming up. Your plan sounds like you wouldn't be eating much asparagus to me? And then the added gross-out factor of synthetics in your soil?

I just hate to buy/use that synthetic stuff in my garden and so I try to figure out something I can use instead (and if you started seeds it would be WAY less expensive). You'll have to pull that barrier off the following year to let new sprouts through anyway. Sounds like a pain in the arse more than anything else to me.

I vote for pulling the grass and getting a bale of rice straw to mulch it. Cheap, good for the soil, won't have to deal with plastic later.

Maybe later in the summer plant some green mulch like I mentioned above!

Regardless, 3rd year.... I have aspargus envy

[Chicky2]

Thanks for your input. I wasn't thinking about how many new plants I may have coming up soon this year. Hmmmmm.

As far as mulch, I can't fathom buying any. I am lucky enough to raise domestic rabbits and dairy goats, so I have plenty of mulch (their bedding) combined w/awesome cold manure. Gotta love that. I add new "gold" every single week. Maybe I'll just continue w/that and do the living mulch like you said. Wonder how thyme would work?