Hi,
This is our first time to Allotments 4 All.Â
We have just started an allotment which to say was overgrown is an understatement. We have spent three days strimming, and are now left with flat weeds and grass.Â
My question is simply, we don't know what to do next. We have been advised to burn the remaining grass, then carpet the area for six months after which the weeds should be dead and we should be able to rotivate.
As we are total beginners, any advice would be welcome.
Regards Bucky
I'll leave this to those who have done it from scratch but, meanwhile, there are acres of advice already on the board. As a starter -
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,9738.0.html or
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,8276.0.html
It would be great if we could have the guide lines as a sticky topic?
Take a small area, dig it thoroughly and get the weeds rightout, then use it to grow things while you use carpet or black plastic on the rest. Thart way at least you'll be growing something meanwhile. Don't make the mistake I did and try to dig it all straight off.
I agree with Robert, bit by bit and cover the areas you are not working on! If you try to attack the whole plot in one fail swoop it just leads to depression! I did a bed at a time, and covered the remaining in carpet, planting as I cleared, at least I felt I was growing something! ;D You can also plant through the carpet, my pumpkin is happily growing away in a pocket of manure that I made under the carpet, cut a cross in the carpet and in goes the pumpking, keeps the weeds away! ;D (Of course there is always teh non organic way of weedkiller!) DP
Just a garden - not a lottie - & many I've seen on this forum have been much worse.
We just had to do it more quickly, so I scythed it, burnt it, & then had a tractor plough/rotovator do the rest. It was in full production in a few months.
As you have already been advised, do it a bit at a time. Personally I would suggest dividing it into beds that are of a size that you can reach the middle without having to step onto the soil. This means that when you have done all that preparation work you dont have to spoil it by walking on it when planting, picking etc. But not everybody likes to do it like that. It would also be a good idea to investigate if there are any nasty perennial weeds around to be dealt with as even months under black plastic or a carpet does not kill these off.
Otherwise enjoy yourselves & the eventual produce of your labours. And don't give up when it becomes disheartening as it sometimes does!
beej It does kill them off eventually :) I have done it in several areas in my garden but it's a long term job to get rid of even the dandelions etc. Just cleared a piece on my plot which has been covered since last November. I peeled back the sheet mulch and a few dandelions remained which I then covered with thick newspaper and replaced the plastic for another few weeks. That got rid of them and I've now planted the area with cabbages which I planted in the hard, undug soil with a bulb planter. I'm trying no dig as my back is hell. Like Doris I have planted squashes and pumpkins under plastic or just on the edge and will let them romp over it so I've got weed suppression but stuff growing at the same time. I've used builders sacks with cow muck in and planted them up with courgettes and planted three rows of spuds in black plastic over cardboard and manure. After the spud crop these areas will be weed free too. Well that's the plan :)
I agree they do go eventually. It's just I'm always totally amazed lifting back plasyic that has been down ages & seeing just how far bind weed roots have travelled in order to find a bit of daylight. You think they would have given up the ghost but not ...... likely! Still, it gives us something to moan about.
wow, we thought this would be easy. Anybody want to buy an alloment !!!!!! only joking.
Thanks for all your advice, we'll keep you posted along the way, and probably ask a whole lot more questions.
Regards Karen & David
welcome
good luck
;D ;D ;D