Sooo excited. New additional plot.

[bobbin]

I've taken on half a new plot in addition to my existing one and a bit next door to it.
Unfortunately the other half is a huge mess of weeds, asparagus,strawberries and grass ( now hers) . The lady who's taken it on promises she's coming back to it. ( I've not met her) But after some weeding about 3months ago hasn't returned. ( apparently not ill or anything like that) So we will see. I may do a bit for her- nothing intrusive.
Anyway I've cleared my side which took so many hours days and weeks. The soil is lovely as was worked for 30yrs by the same lady. After her came a chap who actually worked as a gardener but neglected plot for a about 18mnths bar some planting and manure which was a help. But he then acquired a plot elsewhere and didn't return for months so it was lush with couch grass riddled with huge dandelion plants monster weeds and a big deep pot welded in with Jerusalem artichoke. I hated digging it over and disturbing it but no choice. Also painfully encountering numerous 18" metal rods he'd used as markers but lost in the overgrowth. it was a truly dreadful mess.
I intend growing only cutting flowers on this patch. I simply can't afford raised beds like my other patch. but I'm worried about weeding as open ground. I think it'll be a problem. I hand weed but the close proximity of the flowers may prevent this. . Any ideas? Anyone grow flowers like this? Tips welcome. Ive also cleared a very large rhubarb patch as best I could. Will it return? I think I got majority of it but want to stop regrowth.
Again any tips?
I'm so out of all proportion excited about the flower plot... i think I need to get out more

[burnie]

Years back I grew flowers for drying, they were quite successful at suppressing weeds and we had loads of flowers, some made into bouquets and given as gifts with the bonus that they lasted all winter.

[Scarlet]

Well, most flowers aren't sown till Spring so you could cover over now with sheeting with card etc which should help suppress weeds until the time comes to sow.

Starting off in modules will help as then your plants should suppress new weed growth.
Bigger plants like dahlias etc can be sown with card/ grass clippings in between plants to suppress weeds.

What flowers do you intend to grow?

You can make raised beds without having an edge? Just mound up some earth. I think paths are important as you don't want to be spending all your time weeding those too.

[Chestnut]

On the level part of my plot I use semi raised beds.
Basically dig 0.5-1 spade depth out along the paths, and chuck it on top of the beds.

Our site gets free woodchip, so I put a couple of layers of cardboard along the paths , weighted down with a few buckets of woodchip- but could equally well have used bits of stones or improvised some wooden tentpegs out of the undergrowth on nearby vacant plots instead. Alternatively, paths can be hoed and walked on to suppress weeds if you don’t want cardboard all over the place, or you can grow some sacrificial plants to suppress the weeds and walk on when necessary - I am sure there was an author of a gardening book I read who used spinach beet/perpetual spinach to cover her paths ;-)

[veggiechicken]

or you can grow some sacrificial plants to suppress the weeds and walk on when necessary - I am sure there was an author of a gardening book I read who used spinach beet/perpetual spinach to cover her paths ;-)

Maybe Gertrud Franck? https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...eme_63459.html

[Chestnut]

Maybe Gertrud Franck? https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...eme_63459.html

That’s the one! Thanks VC, you have a much better memory than I do ;-)

[veggiechicken]

She's my heroine!!

The pdf of her book is still available at https://soilandhealth.org/wp-content...nck/franck.pdf

[Snoop Puss]

It's a useful book. I've got a bit of land to clear (if I find the time) and my intention is to sprinkle spinach seed all over it.