Allotments 4 All

I'd agree completely with what you say Artichoke.
The parts I covered over with cardboard were much easier to dig and suppressed the weeds. I then composted the soggy cardboard, what was left of it.
The most recent area I've done was marked out with string and sprayed with Roundup last summer. I've stripped off the top roots/grass and stacked it up. This area was much lighter soil than the rest of the plot which is heavy clay. I've now dug it over.
Both methods worked for me, but both knock back the growth of weeds in different ways while you get digging and that is the key.

Quote from: saljo on January 09, 2007, 13:30:38
Just taken on my first allotment which was well tended for many years(20-30), but has been left for about 1-2 years. Any advice on clearing matted grass, including large areas of Couch, would be much appreciated.

Hi saljo I suggest your use a sharp spade to chovel the Couch in case it is to thick like mine. I use a fork to take the root’s out I then cover the clean area immediately with a black plastic cover. I don’t use rotavator fear of spreading any roots.

Here’s an illustration (just click)
 
chovel the Couch
digging to pluck the roots
digging to pluck the roots close up
the roots
plastic black covers[/url

its back breaking work :P but saves the hassle on the long run...take it easy and do it bit by bit

Hello saljo- I am also newbie lottie holder and my lottie is covered in couch and goodness knows what else. I intend digging by hand as rotivator will indeed exacerbate problem 10 fold! (See basics my poor little allotment)
I've had some brilliant advice including speaking to the lottie assoc about any help with clearance. I agree this is definately the friendliest site, but then gardeners all are a friendly bunch. probably because we're all as mad as each other!

Quote from: artichoke on January 11, 2007, 11:15:46
I can only repeat the virtues of thick, heavy, FREE cardboard

That was a great tip artichoke. Do you make your lasagnes on top of the cardboard? ::)

My allotment was not too bad when I got it at the end of the year but there are quite a lot of weeds sprouting up. the ground is very soggy and hard to walk up and down hadweeding. There are no paths yet. I have been down today and covered a big part of it with blue sheeting and bricks. do you think the weeds will die back or at least stay as they are until the weather gets a bit dryer? I know that everyone says the sheets should be black but it was all I had to hand.

Oh groan - your tale sounds soooo familiar to me!  I have hand cleared half and have now given up on the other half and have covered it with weed suppressing fabric and intend to plant spuds/pumpkins/courgettes etc through this.  They should be fine and a lot of the weeds will give up (hopefully).  Then I plan to dig it over next winter and weed out what remains!

I'll used the well cleared half for all the other veggies!

Well - that's the plan anyway! 

Louise
X

That sounds a great idea Artichoke i've got bags of weeds everywhere that i could use!
I definitely wouldn't rotovate the couch grass.

Hi all! We should be taking ownership of our new half plot soon hopefully. We've checked it over and at the moment its covered in a thin layer of grass. I'm not sure what type! Whats the best way of clearing this? And if I slice off the grass what should I do with it?

Piccy:

brilliant plot, the grass might just cut off, like turf, then upturn in a heap, cover and leave for a while, you'll get good soil from it  ;D ;D

Our allotment site has 4 pigs that have been brought in to prepare the land for more plots.They are doing a great job.

Quote from: manicscousers on January 16, 2007, 20:16:41
brilliant plot, the grass might just cut off, like turf, then upturn in a heap, cover and leave for a while, you'll get good soil from it  ;D ;D

Excellent, thanks!

I thought pigs would do a good job. You'd have to have a strong fence though.