Allotments 4 All

Hi all - I'm Jules. I've just taken on a lottie with a friend, as the previous people gave it up after not being able to cope. I'm a complete beginner at this and was wondering what the best way is to clear the ground. We've used a sickle to take down tall stuff but what's left is dried matted grass and very uneven ground. A wee bit of bindweed but nothing else that I recognise.

Do I take out the entire top layer with a spade in order to get rid of the grass and gubbins? Do I hire a rotovator? Do I tackle it manually bit by bit? We'd love to get it all fit for sowing in Spring. I tried to do a bit of digging last night but the soil was so dry I had trouble getting the fork in. Should I wait till autumn for more prolonged digging?

We've got one small bed cleared for onion sets when they arrive (that particular section didn't need much doing to it), but I haven't a clue how to tackle the rest.

Thanks,
Jules

Hi Jules

When the soil gets better to work dig with a folk & remove as many weeds & grass as you can.

Thanks TEL. I'm so excited I can't sleep, and when I have managed to, I've been dreaming about weeding and planting things ... driving my husband crazy.

When your back is painfull from all the digging you will sleep well then have fun ;D

Aha! 'Malarkey' - that's what it is? Always wondered!

Malarkey ... exaggerated or foolish talk. Never underestimate my ability to talk utter rot, piffle, balderdash, bunkum and twaddle ;) Particularly on subjects I know nothing about. Like gardening!

;D ;D ;D
Hi naaman, you don't have to dig at all ;)
Alternative approach?
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,22661.0

Hmm ... will that kill all the weeds and grass? How long are you leaving yours on?

If you mulch first with whatever you have, most of the weeds will die after a year. Perennial weeds will mostly die after two - you'll still get the odd dock and (sigh) bindweed.
You can rotavate or Roundup first if it fits with your gardening ethics - if you roundup, wait two weeks for the foliage to die back, then re-treat persistent weeds, wait another couple of weeks, mulch and cover.
The big benefit is that you peel back the black plastic and cultivate it bit by bit. If you run out of steam, just plant through the black plastic and you still get crops!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,22704.0
I mark out the paths with string so the growing areas never get trodden on - I think that helps a good deal :)

Jules, i won't tell you what the meaning of "gubbins" is in our work.  suffice to say it hasn't not anything to do with allotments !!
8)


welcome aboard.

;D

I think you could run masterclasses on string, supersprout ...  ;D

Welcome, Jules :)

Hi Jules,
I've got the same problem.  Our site manager (fount of knowlegde and lovely old chap) says DON'T rotavate.  You'll just chop up the roots of the weeds and they'll multiply.  WE've used one spray of roundup to start the clearing process, and the 4ft high docks have died off.  We've just started the cutting down.  If you get any helpful tips please let me know.  I'll return the favour! Good luck

Hi not that I know anything 'bout 'lottments. Its my first year and we had three foot weeds which were sprayed with Roundup, after it had done its work we chopped them down to about a foot. When the sun had dried them out my knight in shining armour from two plots away set light to the whole plot!!! Thankfully I wasn't there but it has done the trick he reckons its how farmers do it  :D
Well its a few weeks on now and apart from the odd bind weed its OK. I'm just waiting now for my mate to lay slabs for me then shall be ready to put muck in ready for next year ;D

Thanks guys - we've decided not to rotavate, and weedkiller isn't an option.

However the site manager has said she'll strim the site for £2 and some McVities Chocolate biscuits (what a bargain! We didn't want to have to buy or hire a petrol strimmer), so we'll weed what's left by hand, concentrating initially on the two beds we want to use soon for onions and potatoes, put down weed membranes/coverings, and cultivate it bit by bit.

sounds like a good plan - and a bargain! ;D
remember the 'before' pics, you won't believe the difference after six months or so :)

Yes, Jules, take photos! Supersprout is right. A year or two along and you won't remember the 6 foot high weeds, the abandoned washing machine drums...  ;D It's good to have photographic evidence.
We did  the bulk of our digging in the autumn when we first took over a few years ago. After first digging over enough to plant a few courgettes and runner beans. Took about 6-odd months to get it totally dug over, but we still find plenty of bindweed.  :P