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have tken on the plot next door as they are both not very wide and mine is overshadowed by a tree. Rented the allotment rotovator today to try and give it a once over but it never even dented the soil. allotment chappie said he thought it wouldnt do the trick and he was right. I think the reason is that the plot is really like somebody's lawn that has got too long. You cant actually see any soil as its literally turf just a lot weedier. its not high and i have tried to do it the hard way by digging but i have to watch my back and at the rate I go its gonna take forever! I had a thought though and am putting it to the board to see peoples thoughts on it. Have seen on those garden makeover programes some gadget to hire which i think is called a turf lifter or turf cutter. i think how it works is that somehow a plate goes and lifts the grass off in turves. If this works i can then just dig over whats under and compost the sods. What do you think would it work?
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I think I'd be tempted to strim it first and then use the de-turfer. Depends on the top growth really
I always do things the hard way though!!!
Yes- place the turves upside-down and leave for a year to compost.
The problem with de-turfing is that weeds such as docks/brambles/thistles will just grow back.
Maybe you could go round and dig out these weeds first....carefully, deep and slowly??
Might be worth considering glysophate and then deturf in 3 weeks time?? ( NB- glysophate from your farmers market will be stronger, quicker and more efficient..and cheaper!)"Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple
Location....Normandy France -
I know covering with old carpets is not politically correct any more, but it really works. If you don't want to use carpets use thick cardboard, weighted down. It smothers everything and you can then lift it and dig the ground. Take it easy, don't try to do it all at once.Comment
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My plot was knee-high grass at first. My most successful approach was:
(1) strim
(2) cover (with one of those blue tarp thingies that builders use) for a couple of months
(3) put glyphosate on anything that still grew
(4) wait 3 weeks and use glyphosate again
(5) dig over, removing as much root as possible
Slow but effective. This part of the plot was much easier to maintain than the part we just dug over and planted into without removing all the weeds first. It has taken two seasons of serious weeding to get the dig&plant part as good as the properly prepared one!You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata
blog: http://allyheebiejeebie.blogspot.com/ and my (basic!) page: http://www.allythegardener.co.uk/Comment
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A Turf cutter will be worse for your back, they are not self propelled, you have to push them. Its very hard work.
Blogging at..... www.thecynicalgardener.wordpress.comComment
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I have a similar problem and am having great success with a right angled fork (scroll down a bit):
Get Digging - Tools for the Allotment and Garden
I'm using hand shears to get rid of the taller top growth, then the fork. It rips out most grass and weeds by the root and then I just go back over with it again to loosen anything more stubborn. I'm not tall or heavy but I can easily use the fork for several hours at a time with no ill effects.I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."Comment
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If it's that compacted, kill the lot off with glyphosate. When it's all dead (3-4 weeks) go over it with a fork. Just stick it in and waggle it a bit, it should start to break up. Then hit it with the rotavator.http://norm-foodforthought.blogspot.com/
If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill itComment
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thanks everybody for the replies. I think I will have a go at most of them. strim first maybe, hit with glypsophate then cover it for a while and then see how its looking.Comment
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Failing all that you could always plant semtex and blow it up :-)Comment
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My kind of gardenerOriginally posted by number 1 suspect View Post
http://norm-foodforthought.blogspot.com/
If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill itComment
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can I borrow you N1S
aka
SuzieComment
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No no N1S ! Remember, all the bits will live on, like dragon's teeth !!!
There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.
Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?Comment
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It may live on but if you use enough semtex it'll be someone elses problem..... And you get a pond/lake on your plot as an added extra :-)Originally posted by snohare View Post No no N1S ! Remember, all the bits will live on, like dragon's teeth !!!Comment
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Originally posted by Seahorse View Post
These things are fantastic. Having used them on my plot for a few years now I have to say that i will never go back to using a spade again. One bit of advice though, I found that the smaller blade widths are better to work with. My most used tool has a blade width of 3 inches. It does everything from weeding to digging trenches for spudsComment
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