Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: glosterwomble on November 20, 2006, 19:55:11
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Here is a picture before I started a week ago (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Crfordham/allotment/in+the+beginning.JPG)
and here is a picture of today, strimmed, slashed, raked, plastic down and one bed dug!(http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Crfordham/allotment/cleared+and+dug.JPG)
I didn't know that the plot had been not used for at least 4 years (probably 6 years) I'm trying to do it organically. There is solid couch grass so I am having to de-turf (is this the correct term?) the beds first and then dig to remove all roots. The bed that I have dug took a good day to do! What concerns me is that the paths are to be left as grass, am I right in thinking that the couch grass from them will grow back into the beds? Maybe I should dig the beds then put weedkiller on the paths and cover them in the plastic. I'd really value other peoples opinions on this one. What should I do? what would you do? :)
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<swoons with impressement> :o :D
that looks really well organised gwomble and you HAVE worked hard :P
if you do a 'search' here on 'paths' you'll find it's exercised a lot of people, every sort has its afficionados - messy, mulched and mown - IMO you can't beat thick newspaper covered by straw or woodchip, it will kill the cooch eventually, and if you overlap the newspaper onto the beds a bit that takes care of encroachment
golly, going for a little rest now ;D
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If you keep the paths mowed short the couch will give up
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You're not mad, you have done brilliantly to have got that far in a week, well done! :)
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I thought that might be the case Merry Tiller, I'll strim to keep it down then. Thanks SS for being so impressed! I don't feel smug yet, I feel a bit overwhelmed to be honest, before I got the allotment I read different peoples advice, loads of people say to just take your time but it's amazing how massive the project feels when you first start! I have laid down the plastic so I can take my time and do one by one, lots of backache to come! Mind you the gas stove that I bought on ebay has provided me with loads of tea breaks and once I get the shed 'restored' I'll have somewhere to sit and ponder. Thank you Tulippa(just noticed your comment) you are very kind :)
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Looks familiar. Well done with the work and good luck with the couch grass. I just hope your back can put up with the strain. Have a look here http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/allotment/couch-grass-1.asp This should help with the grass problem.
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thanks steve, looks like a good site.
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By the way, I hope you're a proper Womble, not one of these MK franchise jobs
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Of course I'm a proper womble!!! I'm offended that someone would think that I'm not !! ;D I'm even a member of freecycle!!!!!!!
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You have every reason to feel smug, that is some work you have put in their.
hots baths, painkillers, heat rub and brandy comes to mind not in that order. hee hee
One thing we have done, (have a lawned aera next to our lottie), made a barrier of floor boards nailed to wooden stakes about 8" high and sank into the edge of lottie. Stops next doors couch grass comming accross and sticking up a couple of inches enough for me to take strimmer up to wood. That has worked for us.
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Of course I'm a proper womble!!! I'm offended that someone would think that I'm not !! Grin I'm even a member of freecycle!!!!!!!
Good, down with the MK #@$^
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Couch is a complete bastard for spreading; you'll have to keep hammering it for some distance around the plot to stop it coming back in. I stripped the turf, then piled it and covered it with black plastic. I still haven't finished spreading the result. You do get it out in the end, but a physical barrier round the edge of the plot would make life easier.
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Blimey, the built-in prude didn't turn a hair at 'bastard'!
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Strange isn't it? I found couch quite easy to get shot of, though a little time consuming. Docks on the other hand >:( >:( >:(
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I don't mind docks so much; they stay in one place. Couch was a struggle, but ground elder is the worst of the lot in my book, even worse than bindweed.
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Just wanted to say how impressed I was when I looked at the pictures you have worked wonders. Brilliant :)
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Thanks Rosyred, you've made my morning! ;D I'm beginning to not feel as mad now that everyone has been so nice and offered advice.
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Wow!!!!! Is all I can say, womble! And I thought I had a lot of couch grass!
Please tell me you're a teenager with an army of helpers!
Thanks for the link, southernsteve.
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Jaw-dropping admiration. And many many many congratulations. Hard to believe it's all been accomplished in just a week.... :o 8)
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Great work - amazing you did all that in a week.
I'm with Teresa on establishishing a perimeter barrier if like us you neighbour a weed friendly environment.
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Wow!!!!! Is all I can say, womble! And I thought I had a lot of couch grass!
Please tell me you're a teenager with an army of helpers!
No Caroline I'm not a teenager, 34yo bloke with very aching muscles! I wish I could find the army of helpers that everyone else seems to have when they clear their site ! :)
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That makes me feel a bit better, at least you're younger than me (although I know a lot of folks on here aren't & still achieve amazing things!). But you've certainly worked hard!
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Glosterwomble - you are abolutely stark raving mad - which is why you've found a spiritual home on this site.
You've acomplished in one week what I took 3 years to do.
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wow!! did you sleep at all!! i'm really impressed with what you've achieved in such a short time. you should be really chuffed.
your shed looks a bit like my first one, one dry corner you can lean in at a strange angle to avoid the drips. :)
aching muscles = free workout, who needs a gym.
i look forward to seeing more pics as your plot progresses, well done.
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your shed looks a bit like my first one, one dry corner you can lean in at a strange angle to avoid the drips. :)
When I was shown the site there were several plots available but this was the only one with a shed (if you can call it that!) It looks as if it's about to fall down but believe me when I say that it is well and truly 'rooted' to the spot, I've managed to get an old shed door from freecycle to replace the missing one, and I'm about to 'do it up' to make it a little sanctuary with the gas stove etc. I'm an old romantic at heart, a nice new posh shed just wouldn't be right!
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;) Fair play to you Womble and all in a week, you sure you didn't have Ground Force in to help you. Now that you have dug UNDERGROUND you can grow OVERGROUND an be Wombling Weed Free. ;D ;D ;D
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Now that you have dug UNDERGROUND you can grow OVERGROUND an be Wombling Weed Free. ;D ;D ;D
thats terrible!!! But it did make me smile! ;D
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Great work.... keep it up! Look forward to more pics in spring and summer of Lottie bursting with produce!
;D
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Crikey..... reminds me of something else that was created in 7 days. Many congratulations, I just had to have a lie down when I looked at your pics. Just the thought of that amount of work made me feel tired ;D ;D. Well done you.
Lorna
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Admit it Womble you found it furry funny. :D :D :D :D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I hate these clever buggers who got round the plot like a bloody whirlwind don't you Bunjy. No seriously yo have done an amazing job there. I wouldn't worry about the grass growing into your beds. I think that the speed you work at it will have a job to keep pace with ya. It just goes to show what you can do in a short time. Keep the pics coming in. My new plot has just been sprayed by the council and is due for rotovating before next feb.
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Admit it Womble you found it furry funny. :D :D :D :D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Oh no, oh dear, cornykev they are getting worse! What next? Maybe some Wimbledon gag?? Come on don't disappoint me.
Thanks Lorna, I'm not feeling too high and mighty yet, LOTS more work to do yet. Shirlton...I seriously thought about spraying and rotovating, I think you will save lots of time!!!
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Wow !! I am impressed. Yours is EXACTLY how mine looks after a week of looking and thinking !! Unfortunately I am unable to do the hard graft myself... so mine will take a little longer to control. Were you able to get the black sheeting cheaply somewhere? That seems to be the key to success in lotties like ours.
I had visions of covering the complete area with plastic, but looking at yours that does seem a little silly as I will also need paths etc........had a blonde moment !!!
Well done ! You have inspired me again, I was beginning to think I had taken on too much. Did you strim it by hand or hire a petrol one?
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:) Womble I wouldn't do a Wimbledon gag, I think you really worked hard the lottie is looking ACE wait till you get all them veggies you'll be SERVING up a treat but take your time don't make a BALLS up, that old shed looks like it could do with a few six inch nails to hold it together but don't make a RACKET with that hammer it will only annoy the neighbours. Make sure you get some iceBORG lettuce in and protect them with a NET but if they do bolt in the sun it won't be your FAULT, anyway Womble I'm signing OUT now, I'm of to my friends party she's 40 poor LOVE hope she's got some STRAWBERRYS AND CREAM and JUICE taa taa
Cornykev
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lol@kev (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/f_laugh.gif)
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lol !! sounds like you've had a good welcome Womble. Echoing everyone elses comments, I'm very impressed with your progress ... are you a superhero in disguise ?? :o :D :D
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I take my hat off Cornykev, very good!!
Were you able to get the black sheeting cheaply somewhere? That seems to be the key to success in lotties like ours.
I had visions of covering the complete area with plastic, but looking at yours that does seem a little silly as I will also need paths etc........had a blonde moment !!!
Well done ! You have inspired me again, I was beginning to think I had taken on too much. Did you strim it by hand or hire a petrol one?
I bought the plastic on Ebay, not sure if it is cheaper than else where but it was quick to arrive etc. I borrowed my brother in laws petrol strimmer (and broke it!) I reckoned on it taking about 2/3 hours to strim...it took 3 DAYS! :o
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I agree about the ground elder, Robert, the bane of my life [or my garden at least], bindweed is nothing compared with it.
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Just in case it helps, my perimeter barrier is Mypex laid over newspaper round the edge of my new allotment, held down with ground staples and roofing nails. Outside the Mypex is rough grass, docks etc, so I strim them down from time to time which makes a nice green lawn effect, contrasting with the black of the Mypex and looking rather smart, especially with ranks of Cavalo Nero and leeks and broad beans rising against it inside the plot.
I resent the cost, but I think it is worth it, looking round at the abandoned plots in this large, beautiful but neglected field.
The effect is totally spoiled by the great heaps of cardboard boxes I collect to smother the rough grass where I have not yet dug or "lasagna'd" especially this morning when the wind had hurled them around. I also have sacks of leaves, weeds and woodchips spoiling the view.
One day it will all be organised and smart. I think what you have done is amazing, Womble.
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thanks artichoke, good advice. Isn't it a shame that there are so many plots unloved when there are people elsewhere desperate for the chance to dig their own allotment plot.
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Looks very impressive. The couch will probably only grow on the edges which can be cleared each year.