new allotment

[hawthorns]

ive just got an allotment plot. its covered in grass no soil to be seen. im thinking of doing raised beds. would the plan of making them then covering grass with cardboard and then placing manure on top be the best bet

[Paulottie]

Sounds like a reasonable plan....that said couch grass is pretty persistent stuff.

[geoff]

My plot had poor soil and a buttercup problem. I ordered a whole load of manure just for myself. I put down newspaper and cardboard then a thick layer of manure When the cardboard had rotted I dug everything in. It has improved the soil and made it softer and more open textured ( for want of a better description) This supressed a lot of the weeds and made it easier to weed out the remaining ones
If you use cardboard spend half an hour sat down with a cup of tea and remove all the packing tape, staples, stickers etc. first

[susieq100]

I'm a big fan of the cardboard and manure route. Half of the soil on my plot was so compacted I could not get a pickaxe into it! A JCB had been driven back and forth over it to move other rubbish. So after trying and failing to dig it, I covered that part with a deep layer of manure, then cardboard, then more manure to hold the cardboard down. I did that in July - the following Feb/March I was able to dig it easily and the soil texture was magnificent - as it was so friable it was also really easy to get the dock roots, dandelion roots, bramble, couch grass and bindweed out as I dug it over. If you're prepared for the 'long haul' it was certainly worth it for me.

[greengas]

I agree with all of the above carboard and manure works a treat, although couch grass seems to thrive in all sorts of conditions as I have found out

[hawthorns]

looking like its the way i will go. i have another plot which i have been using for 2 years so i can wait til next yr for the new 1 to begin

[lainey lou]

Where's your plot? Anywhere near mine? (methuen)

[hawthorns]

addison

not sure which is mine yet.

had a look but its not clear if i have a full plot or half.

its all grass at the mo. so ill be going for raised beds

[lainey lou]

Congratulations! Not far for you to walk to!
If you're looking for top soil the stuff from Gerrish's is fab.

[hawthorns]

how much was it. meeting council guy on friday to see which is mine

[hawthorns]

i have the full plot. 30ft wide by 54ft long

[mrsironside]

When we got ours it was, thankfully, well worked so just needed a wee bit of rotivation and digging in some organic matter - there are a couple of poor souls down the far end who have taken on small weed infested meadows so I feel for them - it seems turning it over and painstakingly removing the weeds as you go is the most effective way.
sadly not the easiest!

[zazen999]

We also use the cardboard and manure ploy to improve the soil and keep the weeds down. I just plant straight through with a bulb planter; and Mr Z has been gushing today when prepping a bed for me of how lovely the soil is now [when we started with couch grass heaven mixed with heavy clay 2 years ago].

[hawthorns]

im currently trying to plan my plot out. on the 4th effort now

[hawthorns]

visited my new plot armed with tools for the 1st time today. discovered that its full of bramble rootballs i have measured the plot and its 36ft wide by 62 ft long. i found a frog and slow worms in the grass

i will definetly be covering the whole plot with cardboard and manure as the plot is totally covered in grass and weeds. my main concern now is the bramble roots.

any advice on tackling them welcome