Allotments 4 All

Hi all

I took on my plot this time last year, and it was split into five tiers by the last occupants.  I only managed to (with hubby's help) rotavate two of them.  I covered them with carpet and left them till spring.  We only got round to planting in one, and left the other one carpeted all this time.  Today i took off the carpet and the soil is like concrete, (a couple of months ago it was like fudge).  I'm about to dig in the manure, my question is , shall i put the manure staight on top and dig in, (someone told me to just put manure on top and leave for a few days), or loosen soil first.  After the manure is in, should i put the carpet back on top or just leave it. 

I'd put the manure on and let the worms take it down over winter.  I'd cover the manure over with black sheet mulch - not carpet - as it allows the rain to pass through.  You can fork the manure lightly in but it depends how fit you are feeling  :)  Cover it back over (if you plan to leave the bed over winter) as you don't want weeds coming back

Good luck  :)

I find carpets are a nuisance on a lotty they are ok for a while but such a pain to get up once they start to rot you cant pick em up then they fall to bits and you are left wid miles of nylon stringy stuff. also wth old  carpets  you dont know what they are leaching into the soil... I would dispose of the carpets and Just put your manure on top to as good a depth as you can it will soften the soil after a while.cheers Jim..

Absolutely! Do not put the carpets back. I am plagued with having to remover huge room size carpets from my plot, which have been in situ for 7-10 years. Ay caramba.

I agree with Wardy.

Cardboard/newspapers and then any old manure or compost and cover with something dark and lightweight. You can get all sorts of water permeable coverings, but make sure you weigh them down properly or they'll fly away - stolen or wind assisted.

I use plastic milk and water bottles to weigh down my coverings, plus bricks and planks but rather than throw plastic in the bin I like to use it.  Cut them up to make plant labels too (EJ tip that one)  :)