::)
I am weeding my first bed ;D ;D. It has lots of dandelion, clumps of grass andother bits of weed. I'm doing it on my hands and knees, using a plastic trowel. I'm throwing all the weeds into a rubbish pile (I'm nt sure which ones to put on the compost so I'm playing safe). It is really hard work as the soil is quite solid.
Am I doing it right? Would a metal trowel make it easier?
There are another 15 beds to do ??? Can I put polythene or anything over the beds to weaken the weeds before I take them on, or do I have to keep as I am?
On one level I'm really enjoying it, but I would be gutted if there was something simple I could do to make it more efficient ;D
We are on an organic plot btw
Oh..and another question? When I have finished weeding should I add some compost or manure, or should I wait to see what I am sowing first?
Thanks (you are all so helpful)
Emma
This sounds like incredibly hard going; it would be far easier with a garden fork. All that lot can be composted; I just throw them in my daleks, give it plenty of time, and look though to pick out anything which survives. Nothing ever does except docks and bindweed, which sometimes have to go back in for a second dose of decay.
Emma it sounds like the way you're doing the weeding it's going to take a very long time! I'm sure a metal trowel would be better than plastic but why not use a larger garden fork, dig over the soil and take out the weeds as you're digging. That's the way I'm doing it at the minute and it doesn't take too long, except when you hit a patch of couch grass and have to sift through the soil carefully removing every single rhizome.
Work out a plan of where you want to grow everything, once that's sorted out you'll know what parts need manuring.
:)
Try putting a plastic sheet over some of the beds. Unless you are very unlucky even at this time of year after a couple of weeks the soil under the sheets will start to dry out and warm up. This will cause the weeds to start growing, making them easier to see and remove and the drier soil will make it possible to use a digging or border fork to remove them whilst turning the ground over. Regards :)
Hello Emma, take a look at these threads:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,13515.0.html
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,13263.0.html
Lots of tips on getting rid of weeds without any digging!
As soon as you can, get your mitts on a good quality garden fork (got a birthday coming up? 8)) so you don't do yourself a mischief!
Happy gardening, take it nice and slow ... ;D
Emma as others have said a fork would get your weeding done a lot quicker. Â I use a border fork which is smaller than the normal one so you have more control over what you are doing and it is not so hard on your back.
Any weeds you are not sure of putting in your compost you can stick in a bucket or barrel of water until they have rotted and then add to your compost in case you are worried about them growing back.
If the soil is quite solid it would probably do it good to add some compost to it to make it easier to work.
Enjoy your plot, don't let it be too hard work.
I'd dig it over with a spade and only pull out perenial weeds like bind weed etc... everything else can be buried in as you dig.
I am going to go with the fork vote ... my method is to dig a row and produce a ridge, breaking the soil on this ridge. All the weeds then get left on the surface and are very easy to pick out (minimal stooping) and dispose of by available means.
Another fork vote here; that is how we cleared our plot. If I hit a dense patch of weeds I'd fork it over a couple of times to make sure all the perrenials were out.
choose one bed for your your earliest seeds.
clear with fork.
read seed packet for info re manure etc.
then cover that bed or plant it depending on time, before moving on to the next bed.
just looking at 16 beds must be exhausting! let 'em wait!
I'm in similar position emma, a whole allotment untouched in years & need to be careful about my back. I've read up that one way to make it easy is to use raised beds & cover the bottom with cardboard first before covering with top soil. Cardboard rots over time & benefits soil, but in meantime surpresses weeds & any that get through are weakened.
If you search Allotments4All for raised beds there's lots of guidance.
Good luck!
I think the usual advice for composting is : don't add perennial weeds and don't add anything with seed pods, since they may survive the composting process if the heap is not hot enough. However in my experience (Daleks) it's just like Robert said: only the mega-nasties survive.
I would add it all to your heap and just make sure it gets well heated and turned. With 16 beds to do you need to cut as many corners as you can. ;)
Hi Emma ,Isecond all advice given ,but why not just flutter your eyelids and im sure some poor old bloke {husband, boyfriend etc} will do it for you.
If you've got very weedy ground, and a bit of spare cash, try to get hold of a right-angled fork. I borrowed my neighbour's today and it was astonishing how quickly I was able to clear ground, even hard-packed couch grass-infested ancient paths. Also it largely spares your back, though your arms may ache :)
I got my right-angled fork from www.get-digging.co.uk. It's a really useful tool.
Oh, the fork mattock - yes, amazing tool! Fast AND removes deep rooted perennial weed roots. Can't speak too highly of it. And earths up spuds nicely too. ;D