roto and strim vacent plots ?

[jimtheworzel]

Should a vacant plot be strimmed and rotovated  by the committe or council in order to attract new tenents
this would give them a head start.

[jimtheworzel]

[Unwashed]

Rotavated, no.  It's not such a difficult task to clear an overgrown plot and if an allotmenteer hasn't the enthusiasm for it they're going to struggle anyways.  Keeping vacant plots strimmed/mowed is a good idea but are there many vacant plots Jim?

[kt.]

I allocate plots the same condition as they have become vacant.  New plotholders are responsible for bringing them up to speed.  If they are keen enough work will be done,  if not I have a waiting list of 60 budding allotmenteer wannabes'

[brown thumb]

i think all empty   plots should be strimmed 1 they look more manageable to get ready2 less weed seeds to blow all over the place 

[Ellen K]

I'd go for the strim and rotovate option as a default.

1) You won't get many noobs taking on jungle - it's too daunting

2) You could offer them a strim and roto option or let them nuke with glyphosate, clear and then offer them a free rotovation to get them started.

3) OK it is a strategy to weed out (LOL) the weaker gardeners by offering them a challenge but most noobies need help not a test of endurance.

4) Some plots that come free are in a terrible state and how is the landlord going to know how bad it really is?  They should have some  way of assessing just how bad a state the previous tenant has left the plot in.  Clearing it for the next tenant is a start.

[aj]

Our plots are usually rotavated before being handed over.....pain in the neck though as you spend the first year digging out the weeds that you didn't know were there 10-100 fold...at least if it's just strimmed and rubbish removed it's down to the tenant to get the weeds out.

It can be a disaster waiting to happen if you rotavate at all - IMHO

[taurus]

5 less people on the parks department than 6 months ago. Where do you suggest the council get the man power from.
In a perfect world we would love to see plots strimmed.  They need to dig out the weeds first before rotervating.  When I started it was shoulder high in brambles etc.  Didn't put me off.  To much mommy coddling going on as far as I'm concerned.  (Ducking for cover)  With a waiting list of 200 plus I doubt the council will worry to much.

[Squash64]

In theory it might be a good idea to strim but who would do it?  Our Council no longer strims or rotovates vacant plots so it would be down to the good old committtee again I suppose.

[shirlton]

I would rather take on a plot unstrimmed so that I knew exactly what perrenial weeds I had to deal with. First thing we have done with every plot we have ever had is to cut the seeding heads off all the weeds to save them seeding all over the plot and of course other peoples plots.Then you can strim if you want to.

[Ellen K]

In theory it might be a good idea to strim but who would do it?  Our Council no longer strims or rotovates vacant plots so it would be down to the good old committtee again I suppose.

perhaps it's an opportunity for committees to show that they are not just  a band of little Hitlers and help noobies.  maybe?

[Squash64]

In theory it might be a good idea to strim but who would do it?  Our Council no longer strims or rotovates vacant plots so it would be down to the good old committtee again I suppose.

perhaps it's an opportunity for committees to show that they are not just  a band of little Hitlers and help noobies.  maybe?

What a good idea - why didn't we think of that!
I'll mention it to the other little Hitlers at our next meeting.  ;)

[GeeGee]

Ohhhh I'm actually quacking in my shoes! Seriously, are allotment committees really that bad?  :o

Having only just got my plot and it being on a brand new site, at the moment there is no committee, although they are trying to get one together. It sounds frightening.

As a newbie plot holder, I can understand the reasoning behind deadheading weeds so they don't spread their seeds everywhere, think I should be well miffed if I had worked my bot off only for weeds to be seeding all over my pride and joy.

However, I think I would go with shirlton on this one. Was glad that I could actually see what I had to deal with rather than a strimmed area that I could not distinguish one weed from another. Also I would've cried if my plot had been rotovated, just thinking of all those thousands of little weeds that had been created for later on makes me shiver.