Is this a reasonable plan?

[Knitter]

My new allotment is pretty much covered in brambles :) I'm slowly and steadily clearing them with maunual loppers and have been offered the use of a petrol brush clearer to get rid of the top growth of grass/scrub on the rest of the site afterwards. I'm thinking I'll then dig out (as best I can) the bramble roots and any really bad weed roots.

Now, I know the best thing to do next would probably be to dig (and dig... and dig) weeding as I go and cover areas I don't have the time or energy to tackle with light supressing material. However, it's a BIG plot and having turned half of my garden at home over to veg, I know just how much effort digging takes. I also don't want to wait years to have my whole plot active. So, I would really rather rotavate. A lot of what I've read about rotavation though says it's a terrible idea and does nothing but chop and multiply the very worst of the weeds but surely that is combatable? I'm lucky to have quite a lot of 'spare' time, so several visits a week to the lottie for weeding/maintenance shouldn't be a problem.

Does the above sound reasonable?

Claire

[Knitter]

[calendula]

several people on our plot rotavate but that usually is on land that is now well worked - I would say that if you are prepared to keep on rotavating then eventually you will win and meantime as your get to improve the land keep on hand weeding as well BUT you will have to keep at it 

[Knitter]

if you are prepared to keep on rotavating then eventually you will win

Sorry to be a numpty  :-[ but could I not rotavate just once, then hand weed as and when? I do appreciate it would be a time consuming, not to say never ending, task but I thought it would all be plantable after rotavation (subject to conditioning the soil if needed)?

Claire

[redimp]

I think the options are rotavate, leave a while (one month) then rotavate again, leave again, then rotavate again etc.  This is done during the growing season though and what it does is keep chopping the weeds up as they get going so eventually the battle is won(nish).  Rotavating just once where there is a lot of bramble/couch/creeping thistle/etc etc is probably not a good idea as the subsequen  weeding is a hell of a job.  A lot of rotavating is not good for worms though either.

[isbister]

I wouldn't rotovate, I think youv'e answered your own question, digging and removing the perennial weeds by hand is the way to go. A plot holder on our site rotovated a couch infested 5 rods last spring. it looked great for 2 weeks and then all the chopped up roots sprouted and i kid you not it turned into a lawn. It was not manageable.

[calendula]

but with couch the same can happen with hand weeding - if you don't get it all up and then leave it then it will take hold again, but as I understand it this is a bramble covered plot so I think the secret in these situations is never be idle with it until it is properly cleared and if Knitter has the time then that's the key, work at each area in your own chosen method but make sure all the brambles are gone - rotavating can bring them to the surface so they can be raked away - time and effort whichever way you choose but if you love it and enjoy it then it will pay dividends in the end  :)

[Kea]

Every chopped up bit of couch, bindweed, dandelion and other perennial weed will grow a new plant. Best to get as much as possible out by hand first. Covering up the ground with carpet or plastic first can make it much easier.

[Knitter]

Thanks for all the answers  :)

I guess my best option then is to at least try the hand digging thing and see how I get on. I'm going to be really strong (or possibly dead!) by the time it's finished  :o  ;D

Claire

[SMP1704]

Hi there Knitter

It is true that rotovating will chop up the roots but.............

I had about a third of the allotment that was covered in Horsetail but the ground was so hard, just getting the spade in the ground was next to impossible, so I did the unthinkable and hired a rotovator.

yes, it did chop up all the roots, but it also broke the ground so that it was loose enough for me to work.  I went back over it by hand, removing all of the roots.  Result, well yes, some Horsetail did grow back, BUT not a thickly as the areas that I had just hand dug and weeded.  I have just started to dig the area again, the soil is much more workable this time around (grew sweetcorn) and I am removing more horsetail roots.

So for what it's worth - I say go for it and rotovate - at least you'll be able to grow something in the ground next year ;D

[cornykev]

You'll never get rid of the horse/ marestail  SMP but all though its a pain I am told it does no harm.  ;D ;D ;D

[SMP1704]

I know that Kev, I'm just looking to establish a bit of control - my point was that actually for one season at least, rotovating knocked it back more than hand digging and weeding.

No harm - you try finding the carrots........... ;D ;D

[Knitter]

Thanks for that Sharon. Good to know it's worked well for you and very good to hear that going over the rotavated land by hand did dispose of a lot of the weeds.

Claire