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My boyfriend and I have an allotment. We got it in July, but were both lazy and didn't do anything over the winter, (which I now realise was a foolish idea).He got a whole bunch of underlay from his brother-in-law who is a builder. Apparently it's the kind that blocks out light but lets water in. That's currently covering the WHOLE allotment, but has only been there a couple of weeks.
His plan is not to dig, not to use layers of newspaper/cardboard/straw/manure/compost/etc. like the no-dig websites and books say, but to just to put down manure under the underlay, and cut out holes in the underlay where he puts seedlings.
I'm sure that this will help get rid of weeds after a while, but I'm afraid that a) this won't aerate the soil so things might have trouble establishing roots
b) the manure won't be with other things that will build up heat and aid breaking down so it will just sit on the top
c) it will look like a MASSIVE eyesore and we'll get in trouble with the allotment association.
d) it won't actually let all the water in, and we'll flood the neighbours' allotments on either side.
He says that this is to save time because he doesn't have the money or time to source lots of compost or hay or straw for the no-dig method OR the time to double dig the whole place. Is this a good method? I have my doubts, but maybe someone will back him up on this. Am I right in thinking this is a crazy idea?ANY advice would be appreciated. Especially alternatives that wouldn't mean double-digging everything or spending a fortune on lots of compost!