Keeping your schnozzle out...Part 2

[zazen999]

Last year we had a newbie to the allotments - unfortunately he got ill last summer and his plot went to pot. This year though he has his family helping - he rotavated his couch grass in [the morning of the committee inspection natch] [oh, did I mention he is on the council?]...and has put a shed up and a greenhouse and now, 6 weeks after the rotavation is there with the family desperately trying to dig out all the couch grass.

Having been there and done that, at what point do I wander over and suggest cardboard and planting through? I suspect there will be another rotavation in a few weeks and so it goes on and on...

It's only 2 plots over, and he seems very keen but he will never fight the couch - the only way to deal with it is to shade it out and dig it up when it's weak and spindly.

I'd hate to see them struggle again but don't want to be a busybody. Yes, seriously! Stop laughing VC.

[cardiffsteve]

just give him/them some gentle advice.
tell them you've had same problem and it comes back if you dont cover it. just digging it over will make matters worse.

[Helgalush]

I'd probably be very grateful for the advice. The thing with advice is you can take it or leave it, but at least someone has taken the time and effort to try to help you.

My neighbour on my new plot has already started to give us advice...its very welcome as at the moment we are feeling a bit bewildered, so all advice is welcome and appreciated. I may have certain ideas about how I want to do things, but I'd certainly listen to the voice of experience, even if on weighing things up I prefer to do it my own way.

I hope they realise that you are trying to help, having been there and done it.

[zazen999]

I might print off a copy of my mulch photo...The area with the blue trug had simply been mulched with grass clippings and the other hadn't. This is 6 weeks of weed growth as both areas were cleared the same day by my group and then the plots split.

[Helgalush]

Photo sounds a good idea.

[Florence Fennel]

Go on girl, get in there with that schnozzle. You know you want to. It must be so disheartening for them to keep working at it and getting nowhere if nobody tells them how to do it properly. If they don't take your advice and it happens again you can give a long sigh, shrug those shoulders and whisper to the wind "I told you so"

[veggiechicken]

As if I'd laugh at anyone, Zaz, especially you!! Why don't you suggest he joins this forum, then we can inundate him with "advice". If that doesn't sort him .....

[Piggle]

Tell you what , I wish someone had told me not to rotovate my plot , all I did was divide and conquer ehorsetail ( or should that be the other way round)

[Snadger]

Last year we had a newbie to the allotments - unfortunately he got ill last summer and his plot went to pot. This year though he has his family helping - he rotavated his couch grass in [the morning of the committee inspection natch] [oh, did I mention he is on the council?]...and has put a shed up and a greenhouse and now, 6 weeks after the rotavation is there with the family desperately trying to dig out all the couch grass.

Having been there and done that, at what point do I wander over and suggest cardboard and planting through? I suspect there will be another rotavation in a few weeks and so it goes on and on...

It's only 2 plots over, and he seems very keen but he will never fight the couch - the only way to deal with it is to shade it out and dig it up when it's weak and spindly.

I'd hate to see them struggle again but don't want to be a busybody. Yes, seriously! Stop laughing VC.

laughing policeman - YouTube

[zazen999]

laughing policeman - YouTube

And you Snadge!

[Glutton4...]

Hang on - is this thread actually Zaz asking for advice!!!?

Go for it Gal!

[lizzylemon]

Go for it - it will be utterly(?) disheartening for them when they have to do it all over again. I've taken note and will be covering the 'never seen a spade/fork' patch on my lotty when I get there.

[Bigmallly]

There is a guy similar on our allotment Zaz who apparently insists on rotavating his dandelions. I only recently found out that they still seed even when decapitated. I wouldn't advise anyone to do anything but then I'm not as experienced as you.

[snohare]

There is a guy ...who apparently insists on rotavating his dandelions.

It's always sad to see a (wo)man outwitted by a weed. Be merciful, give a kindly word !

[binley100]

g'wan Zaz you know you want to .........See my neighbout has watched me cover my plot in cardboard and has now started covering parts of his plot, told me he thought it was a good idea . Just have to be a bit diplomatic how you approach the subject......