Hi new allotmenteer from kent uk

[Martin H]

Hi Steve and welcome!

I've only been here a month, making progress with my similarly overgrown plot. I've got some bits clear and planted but might have to do something to slow down the rest of it while I'm working my way across.

Carry on with pics as you go on, it helps you realise the progress you've made when things get a bit heavy. Make an album on your profile.

Oh and

Couch grass has long white roots Couch grass / Royal Horticultural Society

,
that's just an infant couch. The grown-up stuff makes big tough mats! I'll try and find a nice piece at the weekend and photo it...

[veggiechicken]

Oh and
,
that's just an infant couch. The grown-up stuff makes big tough mats! I'll try and find a nice piece at the weekend and photo it...

I'm trying to be gentle with Steve - not lob a great thick mat of couch in his face and scare him away

[KittyColdNose]

Hello and welcome Steve.

I like the sound of your plans for the lottie.

[Sheneval]

I'm trying to be gentle with Steve - not lob a great thick mat of couch in his face and scare him away

VC - sorry I agree with Martin - this is couch grass on my daughter's new plot taken two weeks ago last Sunday - 2nd pic as it is now, taken on Tuesday last.

Good luck Steve - you can do it. A mattock or an adze should do the trick - I call mine a trencher because it makes a great job of digging trenches

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Vine

[stevekentuk125]

wow good stuff think i will buy one at the weekend definately , i went up my allotment after work last night and it seems i do have couch grass :-( thanks for the tip. I will post some pics on how i get on. How do you break the soil up like in the picture ? just with a fork?

[stevekentuk125]

will a heavy duty one from b and q do the job? heres the link to it

B&Q Heavy Duty Grub Mattock With H Shaft, 0000003527290

[Sheneval]

Steve,

I am sure it would but when I tested one like it in our local store here it was a bit heavy for me and in any case I was looking for a large draw hoe rather than a pick like digger, as I wanted to use it for preparing potato trenches which it does splendidly, so I went on the Internet and found this on Amazon:

Silverline GT52 Digging Hoe - photo shows it compared to normal draw hoe

I actually found a connection to another online store and got it slightly cheaper because they reduced the postage which might be expensive at Amazon as this is still a heavy item for posting - all in all I paid less than £12. I see Amazon has now reduced the price from £13.

[stevekentuk125]

thanks mate much appreciated ordered one today

[Sheneval]

No probs Steve - hope it works for you - I buried most of the couch grass clods face down in trenches about 3-4 feet deep - unfortunately you still have to hand weed the broken off couch grass roots and any others, but on a nice sunny day that is a relatively pleasant task - I found a 3 pronged grubber on hands and knees very useful as a lot of the roots attach themselves round the prongs and can be dropped into a bucket by sliding two fingers along the prongs - don't think I have seen the last of them though

[stevekentuk125]

Hi my new tool turned up last night and tryed it for a hour and works a treat :-)
attached a couple of pics of my progress so far, not a great deal done but will have a full weekend to proceed hopefully this weekend.

in the middle in picture i inherited a strawberry patch so im digging round that until i can harvest and then will replant ready for nxt year :-)

[Sheneval]

Steve - looking good

[alldigging]

the soil is very clayey to

No dig would be great for this.

[stevekentuk125]

what do you mean alldigging?

[Tripmeup]

Enjoy the Vine and your allotment!