Help!!!

[Bex3]

The plot that I will be getting soon is completely overgrown with Brambles. I am a complete novice what is the best way of getting rid of them and clearing the site? Also what books would you recommend for a complete beginner?
Thanks  ;D

[Bex3]

[GrannieAnnie]

No book. Just muscle. Heavy gloves. Tetanus shot update.

[Old bird]

Hi Bex!

Good luck with your new allotment!  To clear bramble I would first get some muscle with a strimmer and cut down brambles to ground level!  It will immediately look a lot better!

Then with that done, I would start at a corner and dig out the roots a little bit at a time and with the remainder cover with black plastic to stop further growth.

Even if you don't manage to clear the whole plot straight off you will have a small plot immediately to plant some stuff and give you some encouragement!  If the brambles are growing well you probably have good soil!

The book that I always recommend is Dr Hessayon's Expert books - there is a whole range but if you are into vegetable gardening then choose that one!  It is simple shows timing (when to put seed in etc) spacing etc.   They are not expensive and you can get them most bookshops/garden centres.

Good luck with it - we will expect updates as to your progress!

Old Bird

:o

[Bex3]

Thanks guys
As soon as I get the keys I will get to it!!
Anyone got any deep heat!!!!
Any other options?!

[timiano]

Having inherited a jungle ourselves two years ago, I can't emphasise enough, the matra of 'little by little'.

We kind of did it the wrong way. We decided to take the smash grab approach of tearing the crap out of the land with a rotavator. It did prepare the ground, and we had some nice beds/rows. But it also prepared the ground for the weeds more than the stuff we wanted to grow.

We're both young (relative I know) 30 and 32, fit and able. But, as most 30 somethings, we both work, and have fairly youthful social calendars - so we didn't have abundances of time. Hence the decision to rotavate the hell out of the plot. It worked, but it invariably meant much more harder work keeping the weeds at bay when things started to grow.

Throughout the whole of last year, my wife Sally has been digging her heart out weeding. And she's had to do the whole lot again little by little over the winter. It's still going to be a bit of a mare - but infinitely more managable than last year. We had tears, tantrums, sweat and blood all through last year; with the towel being nearly thrown in on several occasions.

Try not to get huge ambitions that aren't achievable. Little be little, and honestly, you will get there. Don't stress when the jungle looks like it's growing back quicker than you can cut it down. And do 'not' compare your plot with others, just focus on that little bit of yours, and then move on to the next.

Tim

[Sparkly]

Hi Bex. We took on a plot last season that was heavily overgrown with brambles (bindweed, couch grass...).  We cut the brambles down to just above soil level and dug them out. It took a long time and alot of effort! We found the best way was to use to mattock to get the roots completely out. Our plot is still nowhere near weed free, but the brambles are out and it is partially weeded! I will post some pics up later when I can locate them on the laptop. Before and after de-brambling!

[Bex3]

Yes please photo's would be great  :)

[ipt8]

If you want to get going sooner cut em off at ground levell and brush the cut stumps imediately with a 20% solution of Roundup. Of course go chemical free after that but this will kill the roots so they will not re shoot.

[sheddie]

Hi,

Just to add you may need a brushcutter rather than a strimmer - a brushcutter has a metal blade rather than strimmer line - as the line might not be strong enough to cut the weeds down. My plot was 5-6ft high in weeds, brambles and all kinds of rubbish (there are some photos on my profile gallery). The base of some of the weeds was a good 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick, so a strimmer wouldn't even put a dent in it.

I managed to get a brand new 25cc brushcutter on Ebay for 30 odd quid including delivery - it worked out cheaper than hiring one!

Anyhow, good luck - its hard work, but worth it!
Sheddie

[Bex3]

Hi Sheddie,
Mine allotment is in a similar state to yours at the beginning. I have also inherited a derelict greenhouse and shed. So it can be done!! lots of work which I am prepared  for but it is encouraging to see before and afters. I have pictures but left camera at work. My work colleagues think I am off my head taking on such a project  ;D

[sheddie]

Hi Bex,

Would be great to see some pics, we all like a nosey I'm sure! - the only I would add is that if you are using a brushcutter - do a good scan of the area first. If the metal blade hits a brick or glass or something it could be nasty. (I hit a brick myself and the noise it made and the sparks that flew off nearly resulted in me changing my pants if you get what I mean!..)

My derelict greenhouse on the jaunty angle was taken by the wind sadly, but have done a fair bit work on the old knackered shed, so will post a few update pics at the weekend.

I've spent probably the best part of the last 2 months (just at the weekends) clearing the weeds & rubbish and putting up fences (we have lots of rabbits you see) - so now thats thankfully come to and end, I can get on with digging!

I'm hoping to actually get something planted in the next week or two - at last! ;D

[compo49]

hi. some one recommended this book to me called the allotment keepers handbook by Jane perrone.  i got it on loan from my local library, it gives you quite a lot of information to help you on your allotment its a down to earth guide to growing your own food . hope it's a help to you. mal

[Bex3]

Thank you any tips are useful
Off to ebay to look at brush cutters and and the library first thing for books

[sheddie]

Hi Bex,

Here's a link to the buyer I bought mine from:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25cc-2-stroke-Petrol-Brush-Cutter-NEW-Northern-Tool_W0QQitemZ250223215595QQihZ015QQcategoryZ139982QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They list them almost on a daily basis, so if you keep watching them, you should be able to get a bargain. It took me a couple of weeks but finally won one for around 20 quid with the 11 quid odd for postage. As I say, they are adding them regularly, so pays to be patient! (seems pretty good quality too)

Good luck ;D

[saddad]

Take a chair and some of your favourite tipple... and when you have knocked it all down celebrate ... it will be back but that is just a good excuse for another drink!
;D

[Tohellwithweeds]

hi bexs Ive got a book you can borrow its great its called the allotment book by Andi Clevely its interesting has pictures ,goes from starting the plot till the finish and i swear by it also Ive got a rotavator if you want to borrow it let us know as soon as you get your plot

[Sparkly]

Here are some pics to show you the progress of our bramble (and bindweed) infested plot!

This photo shows the top part of the plot. About half the plot was in this state. Further down the plot the weeds were not quite so high, probably about 2-3 feet. The whole top area was covered with brambles, which you can hardly see because of all the bindweed!



This picture shows the same area, from the opposite side of the plot, taken today. We have cleared the brambles and nearly all the bindweed roots from the top 1/3 of the plot. Over the easter school holidays we are planning to finish the final bit of weeding in this area. We will then rotovate this and fill it with 4 raised beds and the greenhouse.



The path area is still bad. We have started leveling this today and will be using ex-council 2x3ft slabs to create a solid path. The large heap (on the right) is actually compost left by the previous owner. This has couch grass and bindweed issues too, but we are planning to weed through this and use this to fill the raised beds on the main plot. The area on the left will be leveled, covered with slabs will be used for the shed.



Clearing this plot has been really hard work. I am glad we have our other (half) plot to keep us sane! We should be okay with 1/3 of this plot in a good state for this season. The middle 1/3 will be planted with potatoes without being weeded (rather than just leaving it covered). We will then weed this when the harvest in September. The bottom 1/3 is currently covered with black plastic. This will stay covered until next year.

[artichoke]

I've cleared thick strong brambles off my daughter's plot, and honestly, the best way was to use loppers on those great strong stems. The strimmer was useless and I was reluctant to use my brushcutter for the reasons already given. The loppers cut through the tangles like butter, rake pulled them away, then you can see where you are and use mattock or poison to get at the roots. It is patient, slow work, but at least it's quiet and peaceful, and you make a difference quite quickly.

Plenty of brambles on the edge of my own plot, and I'm working on them slowly as well, while cultivating the actual plot, which suffered from couch grass and bindweed.

Another thing I've done with nettles and some brambles in two different plots is simply dump a stifling compost area on them - heaps of weeds, old veg etc. I was quite surprised when I came to clear the first away a year later how soft and bramble/nettle free that small area of soil was.

[saddad]

You all look like you're doing a great job. We still have a few overgrown plots on our site if you get bored!!
;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Cut the stems off, get as much root out as you can, and then ruthlessly pull every stem that emerges. As long as you never let them get established, it will give up in the end.