Topic: Ok im new Here

[GRACELAND]

I am a gardener and have worked on National Trust Properties ,But now Look after Disabled wife
I have a fair size Garden and An allotment for veg ..
 all OK and was worked clean before i started them

so here is a question ??

But i have a sister and brother in law that took over an overgrown Allotment last November .

 I strimed it all down , But it is Full of Couch Grass .. I have told then to cover it or the parts there not going to work on yet with old carpet , black sheets etc

 But apart from Round up what is the best way for them to get going on it ?? :)

[Leonnie]

Hello Graceland, Welcome to A4a :)

My plot had couch grass, not completely covered but there were large patches of it. I found the slow way of digging it out by hand was the best. I still get the odd bit popping up but mostly it's under control now. If they cover the parts they're not working on, then start on clearing out one bed at a time.

[GRACELAND]

Thanks for that so what i said about covering parts and Really just work a digging it out by hand !

I think the is the best way apart from weedkiller , but this will take a while and cost !!

[Leonnie]

Others might have other ideas, but that's the way which worked best for me. Whatever you do, don't rotovate it, my plot was rotovated just before I got it and I think that make things worse. My previous plot had been treated with a weedkiller (not sure which one), but the couch grass didn't go, it killed some but not all of it.

[dtw]

I've just sprayed my couch grass with glyphosate.
That will kill the top part, but I will still need to dig up and remove the roots by hand.
The spraying will just make it a bit easier.

I am then going to start at one end and dig over a bed, plant some stuff and
then go onto the next bit.
I think that will be less demoralising than trying to do the whole lot in one go
and then start planting.

I think beans will be first, as then I can get rid of the 8ft bamboos cluttering my stairs. :D

[GRACELAND]

Ok thanks will pass on your message to them ,  if any one else has any ideas please let me know ,don't want them to give up  :)

[GRACELAND]

I've just sprayed my couch grass with glyphosate.
That will kill the top part, but I will still need to dig up and remove the roots by hand.
The spraying will just make it a bit easier.

I am then going to start at one end and dig over a bed, plant some stuff and
then go onto the next bit.
I think that will be less demoralising than trying to do the whole lot in one go
and then start planting.

I think beans will be first, as then I can get rid of the 8ft bamboos cluttering my stairs. :D

Good idea this is the best option a bit at a time i strimmed off the top for them so its only the roots to shift  :o

[sazhig]

Our plot is covered in couch. We grow organically so have just decided to tackle it slowly - its been strimmed regularly over the last year to keep it down whilst we work on digging a few beds out....well I say we...DH is doing all the hard work! He starts by strimming/cutting the grass down to a few inches, I mark out the bed with some pegs & string then he skims the top off as you would to take up a lawn, then digs over the bed with his azada. He reckons this (growing) year he will get at least 8 beds done for me (each bed is 4ft by 20ft) which should be roughly half the plot...then he will do the other half next year. If their plot is fairly even then they will probably manage to do a quicker job than us...our was once owned by a chap who had a go with a tractor & plough...needless to sya he wasnt very good so we have a few hollows & hills to even out along the way ::).

The bits in between the beds we are leaving as couch for the mo until we can get some bark or other mulch to cover them. But tbh by keeping them strimmed and walking on them lots seems to have kept it down quite well.

Saz

[GRACELAND]

thanks for that but what is a azada.  ???

[sazhig]

see here - http://www.get-digging.co.uk/

[GRACELAND]

Wow Never seen one before and i have been gardening for 20 + years ,,

Do it work goood ? do you like it ? is it easy as is said on that site ??  ;)

[tim]

No, Graceland - don't give up!!

[sazhig]

Ive never used it but DH absolutely loves it & wishes he had it when he dug over the first bed on our plot.....it took him no time at all to start off the second one after several weekends work on the first. His Dad was so impressed he bought one the following week to use on his plot as well!

[GRACELAND]

Thanks for that info may get one , anyone else used one ??

[tim]

Yes - all our forbears?

And half the African nation?

[GRACELAND]

Thanks Tim Never used one  always used a spade myself !!  ???

[telboy]

Hi Graceland & welcome,
Similar dilemmas to yours have been posted before & all sorts of advice have been offered in the past.
I can only pass on my personal experience. I took on a virgin plot similar to your situation & took the 'patience' route.
Covered the whole plot with black plastic sheeting & left it until Autumn. The subsequent soil quality was superb & the digging was sweet.
If you can't wait to plant, clear an area you require manually & plant in that.
Leave the rest covered & away you go next season!

[GRACELAND]

thanks for this info will pass on this info to brother inlaw

[thegroatgardener]

Thanks for that info may get one , anyone else used one ??

I used a Mattock (got it from Wicks), it was good for chopping roots of small trees and shrubs. Bit like an axe, but you can getyour full weight behind it.

Also used it to make a 3" deep trench for potatoes. Easier that a spade.

It might be good for clearing stubborn top growth, but I don't think its much good for clearing roots as it has a "Chopping" action, forking would be better.