Am I mad?

[glosterwomble]

Here is a picture before I started a week ago

and here is a picture of today, strimmed, slashed, raked, plastic down and one bed dug!

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? :)

[glosterwomble]

[supersprout]

<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

[Merry Tiller]

If you keep the paths mowed short the couch will give up

[Tulipa]

You're not mad, you have done brilliantly to have got that far in a week, well done! :)

[glosterwomble]

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  :)

[southernsteve]

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.

[glosterwomble]

thanks steve, looks like a good site.

[Merry Tiller]

By the way, I hope you're a proper Womble, not one of these MK franchise jobs

[glosterwomble]

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!!!!!!!

[teresa]

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.

[Merry Tiller]

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 #@$^

[Robert_Brenchley]

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.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Blimey, the built-in prude didn't turn a hair at 'bastard'!

[Merry Tiller]

Strange isn't it? I found couch quite easy to get shot of, though a little time consuming. Docks on the other hand >:( >:( >:(

[Robert_Brenchley]

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.

[Rosyred]

Just wanted to say how impressed I was when I looked at the pictures you have worked wonders. Brilliant :)

[glosterwomble]

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.

[caroline7758]

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.

[Hyacinth]

Jaw-dropping admiration. And many many many congratulations. Hard to believe it's all been accomplished in just a week.... :o 8)

[Barnowl]

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.