For links to my full restoration process, visit Restoring a Native Woodland Garden.
In the spring, I cut back the cover crop multiple times. I also pulled weeds that had snuck in, particularly shotweed, which can literally shoot dozens of seeds into the air when touched, if they’re dry enough. I tried to get them before they got too dry, but time got away from me and some of them did attack me, shooting directly into my eye!
Then I covered everything with arborist wood chips, making sure to keep the mulch a few inches out from the base of all the plants to protect them from rot and disease. While my pathways are about eight inches thick of wood chips, the rest of the garden is only three to four inches. The pathways need more because they’ll receive foot traffic that will compact them very quickly.
The only areas I didn’t spread wood chips are 1) the very steep hill and 2) the flat spot where I plan to sow a mini wildflower meadow. Delicate annual flowers don’t do well with thick wood chips the way that perennial plants can.
