Double Digging

[krazy_krok]

Hi all,

I've rotovated to clear my overgrown land and have marked out my beds and paths with weed suppressing membrane. There all covered over to weaken any regrowth of weeds chopped up by rotovator but i removed most best i could. Should i double dig my beds now(start 2day while weathers dry) or wait till Feb/March next year?

I've got a supply of horse manure but i was goin to let it rot down for a year and use next Autumn as it's fresh. So was goin to use Fish Blood and Bone to feed my crops for the 1st year. Will this be ok for Potatoes, Brassica's, onion's, Sweetcorn, carrots, Peas's and Rhubarb? Would Chicken Manure Pellets be better or does each of these plants respond better to different Fertilizers? Or is a shop brought compost ok to dig in? All help and advice greatly appreciated, Cheers

[jacob marley]

Hi all,

I've rotovated to clear my overgrown land and have marked out my beds and paths with weed suppressing membrane. There all covered over to weaken any regrowth of weeds chopped up by rotovator but i removed most best i could. Should i double dig my beds now(start 2day while weathers dry) or wait till Feb/March next year?

I've got a supply of horse manure but i was goin to let it rot down for a year and use next Autumn as it's fresh. So was goin to use Fish Blood and Bone to feed my crops for the 1st year. Will this be ok for Potatoes, Brassica's, onion's, Sweetcorn, carrots, Peas's and Rhubarb? Would Chicken Manure Pellets be better or does each of these plants respond better to different Fertilizers? Or is a shop brought compost ok to dig in? All help and advice greatly appreciated, Cheers

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Looking at your photo's i think the most important job at this time PRUNE them hedges if the time in the corner is right the shadow halfway across the plot at 11.35 aint very good so if it was the hedges want sorting first the ground will take care of itself it look's like you did a good job on that so out side first and the inside will look after it self jacob marley

[SarzWix]

I agree with Jacob. Those hedges could do with really cutting back!
As for your beds; you could spread the muck over the beds now, over the top of a covering of cardboard or paper mulch if you have any, and it will keep the weeds down over winter & be ready to dig in in the spring. Only the beds which will be growing roots like carrots and parsnips should be left with no muck as it makes them fork into bizarre shapes

[Snadger]

Just a note of caution.............they don't call double digging 'Bastard trenching' for nowt!

[krazy_krok]

The date on the photo's is when i posted them. i think it's the very large trees where the golf course is that cause the shade, but my plot comes into full sunlight about 2 o'clock. Will my crops still recieve enough sunlight? Looking for a decent petrol hedge trimmer at the mo as i know it's a job that needs desperatly doing just had so much on clearing the plot. Anyone know where i can get a decent cheap one? Not sure if i'll need a chainsaw as some of the branches are quite thick.
Cheers all

[Matt.]

I saw ryobi petrol chainsaw in screwfix for £99 yesterday if that helps.

I'd say its worth trimming back the hedges if you can. Also I don't know if having hedges all the way round might create a frost pocket? Maybe others can advise.

As for the digging it is worth doing well first time round. It looks like you've marked out beds in such a way you won't be standing on them. This will make any work in subsequent years much easier. I'd advocate digging just to try and remove all the weed roots that will be there. Its time consuming and hard work if the ground is compacted but it will be worth it! Try and cover with cardboard as others have said because then you can take all winter if needed. All the best!

[lynda66]

blow all that digging ...... chuck some cardboard on, stick the muck on cut the hedges and plant in it in spring ..... but then i'm a lazy cow.

by the way, when you've got all your hedge trimmings, run over them with a lawn mower to chop em, and add them to the compost heap,

[krazy_krok]

Cheers again thats a big help,

Im going to get them hedges cut back all the way round, spread some muck and start me digging in febuary-Got 14 beds to dig 3mx1.5m so wish me luck, but i'm no stranger to hard work!!!! Got room at the back end of my plot for a polytunnel/greenhouse. Seen a small cheap polytunnel 3mx2m on ebay 60 quid delivered. Anyone got any advice on cheap greenhouse's/polytunnels.

[piskieinboots]

I would dig a new plot thereafter I would cover with compost and fork over. Digging is essential if you have lots of perennial weeds to remove but too much digging actually harms the soil structure.

So - first up, get ya hedges cut as the smart man (and lady) above says

[lynda66]

when i dug my lawn up, i dug about a 6" down to get rid of the grass, then chucked compost on top of the seeds ...... eveythings come up better without the digging than it has in the back garden where all the beds were dug really deep ..... so i'm never digging that much again lol

need some poo this year though

[Snadger]

blow all that digging ...... chuck some cardboard on, stick the muck on cut the hedges and plant in it in spring ..... but then i'm a lazy cow.

by the way, when you've got all your hedge trimmings, run over them with a lawn mower to chop em, and add them to the compost heap,

That must make me an idle bull then Lynda! Lol

[lynda66]

takes one to know one snadger

[NOG]

The last thing I would want to do is touch those lovely hedges.

Natural habitat for all sorts of wildlife.

(just to add a differant point of view)

[Two_Sheds]

Cover the bare ground with anything you can: cardboard, mulch, green manure, carpets, to keep the weeds down.
You can then dig out your remaining perennial roots in the spring. I wouldn't bother double-digging, unless your soil is really compacted (from tractors etc).

Just get the weeds out, and add as much well-rotted manure and compost as you can, now and in the coming years. Feed the soil, not the plants, is the old rule.

[kentvegplot]

Agree with Two Sheds - cover for the winter then see what roots you need to remove in the Spring. The covers (cardboard, whatever) will encourage the worms, who will do lots of the ground aeration for you. It really is amazing how good the soil looks come the Spring.