Hi there everyone.. I have had my allotment a month now and the ground has never been double dug. Any tips on how to losen the ground? Any help would be greatfully appreciated as I am very new to this
Thanks
hiya, scatty, welcome to the site, someone'll be along in a mo to help, congrats on getting your plot ;D
Hi Scatty! I would just dig what you need for now and cover up the rest with carpets or mulch.
Hi Scatty - and welcome. I agree with the above - start with a manageable bit and get growing :) Cover up the rest to worry about later ;D
hello scatty, welcome to a4all, a good place to be. dig a bit really well and plabt it up as soon as you can.
when you stop for a rest sit facing all your good work and keep your back to whats still to be done.
cover or keep strimmed what you've still to do and no-one can complain about weeds etc coming into their plot.
and remember immaculate weed free plots take time, it's supposed to be enjoyable so go at your own pace.
Hi Satty, welcome from me too, good luck, XX Jeannine
Hi there, welcome to the site, and a bit at a time is the best way to go!
Another hello - lot's of useful advice here.
I would double-dig with caution - it's very hard work! Aim to get, say a third of your plot done this season. (That's what we did and were over the moon when we managed two thirds!) It depends, of course, what sort of state it's in at the moment. It may not have been double-dug, but is any of the soil workable?
One of the best way to loosen the ground is to plant spuds. They perform miracles breaking up the soil. (All you have to do is to dig a trench for planting, earth them up regularly, lift them with a fork when they're ready, then fork over the area to find any stray spuds you've missed! But they do all the hard work!)
Hiya Scatty1, welcome to A4A, as soon as you have finished digging it will be your turn to make about 3,000 cups of tea so we can all have a chat. ;D ;D ;D
Hi Scatty and welcome, you've chosen the right name to come on this site, I've never d dug too lazy I suppose and mines a cappuccino. ;D ;D ;D
Welcome ;)
Welcome aboard... I only double dig where I am going to put perennials like trees and fruit bushes, too much like hard work...
;D
Welcome to A4A Scatty
I cant double dig because my soil isn't deep enough, about 9"-12" down I am on to yorkshire grit stone.
Do you know what depth your soil is? i.e. you might not be in a position to double dig!!