Widespread weed killing

[cotton54321]

I just wondered whether there was a make of weedkiller I could use over my new lottie which would help on the way to clearing. Obviously want to be growing on there asap - are there any options?

Mel

[pigletwillie]

Gylsophate, Its good and is made inactive upon contact with soil. It needs spraying when the weeds are dry and there is no rain imminent for a day or so afterwards.

[martini]

Hi Mel - Argos are selling 3L of glyphosate in a big spray bottle for £5 instead of £10 - you might be able to get some near you - all the Arogs shops near me had sold out by the time I discovered it!

[Angie]

I just wondered whether there was a make of weedkiller I could use over my new lottie which would help on the way to clearing. Obviously want to be growing on there asap - are there any options?

Mel

Hiya

You really should not use weedkiller as it also kills the natural predators. Try using old fashioned pulling out. Using a strimmer cuts thems down to a short level, then work a small area at a time. Cover the rest of the allotment wh old carpet until you are reasy to use. Organic growing is far more beneficial and it is great to see nature at the correct balance,

[sewer rat]

Hi C54321
Whilst I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment of Angie's reply, I would go with PW and Martini and use glyphosate (Roundup is one make). It really depends on whether you are 100% commited to organic or not. Also, whilst it may be that you are, the previous plotholder may not have been so there could be residues already on your plot - so I'd nuke 'em - but only of the weather improves !

[NOG]

How soon after spraying can you replant?

I am a bit reluctant...I keep hoeing them in the hope they will move away.

[Mrs Dobby]

Our plot was 8' deep in weeds 2 weeks ago when we took it on, quite alarming enough to warrant the use of weedkiller, but we decided to stay organic, so have chopped everything to ground level, pulled up whats possible and are now double digging every bed in the hopes of removing as many of the roots as possible! I know we wont get everything, but if we can get most of it then it shouldnt be too bad to try and keep clear next year!

I know its the hard work option that we chose, but we are both enjoying the exercise (and definitely could do with it) so its cheaper than joining a gym and more fun too!

[Snadger]

I think i will sit on the fence with this one.......Luckily my allotment had a lot of annual weeds with a few thistles which I have eradicated quite easily by digging, hoeing and pulling out the thistles. Now I only get groundsel and chickweed which is quite easy to control.

Having said that, if I had inherited a plot full of bindweed and mares tail.......... I would have tried the dig out and burn approach first but if that didn't work and I had to resort to weedkiller I would not reproach myself as would feel I had done the best I could. I suppose you could burn off all the topgrowth with a weed wand (flame gun) and then lay mulching plastic and plant through that, but I haven't tried it because, luckily, I haven't needed to!!

[nick the grief]

How soon after spraying can you replant?

I am a bit reluctant...I keep hoeing them in the hope they will move away.

Theoretically you can spray & so long as it stays dry for 2 hours you OK as it's in the system. You should then be able to plant next day. You could always go over it with a flame gun (big one not the gas weed wands) this will have a similar effect but you may need to do it two or three times.

I'm fairly pragmatic when it comes to gardening. I try to use the minimum of chemicals but sometimes there is no other way I'm afraid (white rust on Chrysanths for instance the only course is to burn them if you don't spray& if that happens a couple of times, well you'd just pack up) So I'm like Rat. This year I have had a sudden outbreak of bind weed, don't know where from but it's there, I've kept it under control to a degree but to stop it I 'm going to have to resort to a blast of Roundup but then I will be starting with a clean patch again. Part of my problem is the lack of neighbours in previous years, I was so hacked of with docks the plot next to me got done more than once to keep them under control!!

[Silverfox]

My plot was clear when I first got it 6 weeks ago. Now I am knee deep in weeds. I have been digging it over and I'm getting there but I do plan to put a load of manure over to keep the weeds down.

I have found that once you get them out you can keep an eye on when 1 or 2 pop up you can get them out.

[cotton54321]

thanks guys - i have started pulling out and am intending to try and do this to as much as possible, but there is a lot of bindweed so I may resort to the weedkiller...

Mel

[NOG]

I have been hoeing them out but they come back Mainly mares tail. I was thinking about burning them off as this is surposed to affect the roots.

I may give it a try over the winter.

I have never got to the point where I am in front of the game.

[dinky_doo]

i strimmed and used round up am now trying to dig out most of the thistles and docks which have suprisingly deeproots for such a small plant
all this whilst dodging the rain

[dexterdoglancashire]

Keep up the good work DD! Hope you and yours are all OK! DDL

[Earthbabe]

We sprayed last year just to get going as we didn't have a lot of time and only had one of us working on things most of that because of Miss E. She is now at school but even so I can crack on during the week and then when we are all there at the weekends things are a little better. From now will be doing the dig and cover thing and where possible planting through membrane. It worked a treat with the strawbs this season and is definitely keeping the weeds down on what is covered. It also worked a treat on the courgettes, cukes and toms and around the base of the beans.