Topic: Clearing the Lottie

[Pixie]

Okay I need help

I have 10ft x 100ft lottie to clear while the weather isn't to bad and need to keep it weed free for next spring.

I hope to have at least half of it cleared and then I can do the rest in stages.

I keep getting various advice but none from people who have a lottie.

Help please- all advice welcome.

Sam

[Doris_Pinks]

Sam take it slowly,I would clear it bit by bit...then you don't get too discouraged. Cover the bits you have cleared, with a liberal application of well rotted manure (if you can your hands on it), and then something like a weed surpressing membrane, or if like me you cant bear to buy it, old carpet begged from your local carpet store! (though there are conflicting views on carpet)
 OH and buy lots of radox! ;D DP

[mitzzy]

hi

I am currently clearing my allotment approx 44ft wide and 60ft long .

I am just doing a little at a time and so far have 3 black bags full of weeds . Like you I am getting lots of advice :)
some good & some not so good . I was offered the use of a rotovator but  I pointed out that would just spead the roots all over the plot and into smaller bits !

Good luck and take it like me a bit at a time .
I have done about 10ft by 12ft approx  :)

Mags

[Mrs Ava]

I agree, slow and steady wins the race!  At least with winter coming, the weed growth will slow down, but the annuals will make their presence felt come spring.  Plenty of well rotted compost, manure or leaf mould piled high as you clear, and get planting as you clear too.  Don't forget you can plant herbs, and it won't be long and garlic, japanese onions and shallots can go in along with spring cabbages, altho they need to be in soooooon, and strawbs.  It is great to get something in as you go - it is so rewarding to look back on your plot and see productive life there instead of just bare earth.

Good luck Sam.  Ooo, and yes with the radox, and a stiff whisky helps too.  :P

[Pixie]

Thanks guys

What is the difference between carpet and plastic? (apart from cost)

I have lots of veggies in my shared garden so I'm not expecting to have to race to clear the plot - which will be nice but I have decided to clear in 10ft sections and Plant some veg as I go. When we cleared our shared garden I'm not sure we did it properly as the weeds are mad at the moment and I would like to get it right this time.

Did any of you use weed killer to help clear the lotties?

And there is nothing better than Radox and a nice malt   ;D

Sam

[DocAlgae]

Sam, whatever you do, do it in short bursts!  About an hour of clearing will be ample, and plenty of time for the blisters/back ache to set in (after this weekend, I know this for a fact!).

Oh, and if you're doing manual digging, make sure you get a spade that's the right height for you.  I'm six foot tall (kinda unusual for a girl!), and found it awful to use most spades.  I treated myself to a posh one on Sunday though, and it took a lot of grief out of the turf clearing! ;D

[growmore]

HI,
  Here is the way I would clear a neglected plot and rotovate it..
Firstly I would spray plot with glyphosphate or roundup etc,,.
Leave till all vegetation has died back.at least a few weeks..
Then clear it off ..The roots will all have been killed as well.
I would then rotovate the plot ...Here is where a lot make the mistake .It looks all nice and soft then..So they plant on it..
Don't be tempted, leave for another 2 to 3 weeks and You will see a lot of seedlings appear  as in annual weeds etc...
Rotovate again turning these in, this  is the time to set  it..Or spread manure on  for the winter..
Just to skim weeds off etc in a neglected plot and then rotovate is a mistake as all couch root, docs,bindweed root etc wil be broken up and eventually you will have a lot more growing than  you started with.
I also find that rotavators with the tines at front dig a lot deeper than the rear ones. A reverse gear also makes life a lot easier.

This was originally put on another thread but this seems more apt here..Jim
jim..

[mitzzy]

hi

I decided not to use weedkiller as I want to be as organic as possible .

I tend to do an hour at at time  I think I worked out that will mean about 100hours plus to clear site at the rate I am going !

Funny the people that said they would help clear site have vanished !  LOL

Mags

[DocAlgae]

I had that problem too Mags!  Everyone was terribly keen until I mentioned the digging involved! ;)

[Pixie]

Thanks Guys

I think I will do as growmore suggested and killer it - mum and grandad are visiting in September when I have a week off work so I will have two people to help dig or rotovate that can't escape!! ;D

It doesn't feel that long ago that I was doing this on the shared garden :-\

Sam

[mitzzy]

I went to do an hours digging today and somebody , "the wood fairy " has left me a huge pile of very usefull wood  :o

bless them !  :-*

I just been pricing out wood for my fence this morning so this should save me a few pounds !

Mags

[Mrs Ava]

Those allotment fairies certainly get around.  I wouldn't part with mine!

[DocAlgae]

Can you send them over to my lottie?  Got a lot of digging, and even more fencing to sort out! ;D

[Pixie]

Doc

Grandad would dig for his dinner anywhere  ;D Hes in his mid 80's and found the travel bug (so doesn't grow his own veg anymore cos hes not there enough)

He loves walking, he thinks nothing of walking 10 - 20 miles on the moors.

Sam

[mitzzy]

I have found the allotment faries very useful :)
They have given me veg and  have sourced some metal sheeting to use as fencing panels .

At moment I can only go down to plot after oldest child get back so i have baby sitter .  I plan to do more once fence is up .


Mags