New Allotment - Clearing

[MrLiam]

Hello all (first post)

I've just got myself my first allotment, the allotment is directly under a few trees so I've spent most of my time clearing leaves so far, around half the plot is now clear the other half also has something with heavy ground cover growing which is making raking leaves difficult.

Picture below shows what's growing. Anyone know what it is? What's the best way to get rid of this? Pull it up by hand? Then clear the leaves then dig up the roots?

[MrLiam]

[Digeroo]

Welcome to A4A. Looks like cleavers or goosegrass some call it stickyweed to me.  It is an annual so as long as you do not let it seed it is easy to clear.  Except if the soil is full of the seeds the next lot will germinate so you will have to keep on top of it.  It grows very fast.   It is soft at this time of year later on it will stick to your clothes hence the name stickyweed.

I would normally suggest mulching but it grows throw several inches of biomatter.  I would hoe it off and dig it in.  It looks quite innocent at the moment but come spring it will become a matted mess several meters long.

[Ian Pearson]

Welcome. Yes, the cleavers are easy to control by pulling, as the roots are puny. I'd be more worried by the trees. From the leaves, it looks like they could be sycamore. If it is permitted on your site, I'd consider removing or reducing them, especially if they are positioned to shade any of your crops. Even if they don't shade, they will siphon out hundreds of gallons of water every week during the growing season (which you will have to replace if you want any crops). Sycamore are also strongly allelopathic (they exude a germination and growth inhibitor). Roots usually extend about 1.5 times the height of the tree, so they can easily effect an entire plot. Winter is a good time to do tree work.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Cleavers. Slaughter it with extreme prejudice. It comes out easily, but if you don't get the roots it regrows. The seeds will sprout through several inches of mulch, but once it's out and the seed stock in the ground is depleted, that's the end of the problem.

[CDave]

Its goosegrass. Easy to clear and keep on top of. Even better - get yourself some hens. Mine go crazy for it - its now showed up yet where I live. When it does, I'll always have a carrier bag in my pocket. My girls will love me for it!! Good luck with your plot.

[digmore]

Yes, welcome to the site.

Not a time to be messing about, next week or two, subject to weather, weed killer with liquid soap (fairy etc). A dry day or two, spray the mixture and it will stick to the weeds better than just weed killer alone. Leave for a fortnight and then rake off.

Then maintain a long campaign of weed pulling through out this season. At the end of the season before you winter dig allow the weeds to grow again and then spray them again.

It may be as sutble as a brick through a jewellers window but sometimes that's what is needed.

Good luck and have a good season. (Enjoy).

Digmore.