New Allotment

[Bulldog]

I need some advice I have been recently managed to obtain an allotment, would anyone recommend the use of a rotavator rather than digging?

[mig]

Iam no expert but from what i have read,rotavating is a no no.It breaks up all your perinal weeds into thousands of smaller ones.When I got my allotment I weeded an area and then covered or planted.Just take it steady and you will get some order eventually

[gothmaga]

Hi Bulldog and congrat's on the new plot.
I have just taken over a new plot at the end of last year and I looked into the very same question. After speaking to some people up on a site near our new one, nearly everyone said that doing it by hand does take longer but the end results will save you alot more time in the future due to roots being spread when cut up.
If like me you want the mud to take shape quickly as possible then I would advise taking the slower option and going at it bit by bit, it will get there in the end.
Good luck with your first season.

[Nicos]

Hardest,slowest way is the most rewarding....firstly when you've completed it...and then for many years to come when you reap the benefits of properly clearing your land!

Yup- I've seen plenty of peeps rotovate and then have twice as much weeding for years to come!

You don't have to clear it all during the first year- just slowly work your way across it.

Congrats on getting your plot!

[guyforks]

I need some advice I have been recently managed to obtain an allotment, would anyone recommend the use of a rotavator rather than digging?

take it easy,i have. rotorvators can leave a hard pan under the top layer of soil which you don't want to happen,also they don't dig in muck & compost which you do want to happen. you can also pick out weeds by hand,dig a few rows at a time then do something else around the plot, don't forget it's a hobby not a chore and enjoy yourself.

[Two_Sheds]

they don't dig in muck & compost which you do want to happen

I disagree about digging in compost - I think it's much more beneficial to leave it on the surface as a mulch, for the worms to pull down

Less work for the gardener too

I'm an anti-rotavator too. There's one guy who goes up and down his plot every year with his - it certainly hasn't eradicated his weeding. They can create a hard pan under the soil too, where you are walking on the soil and compacting it, and only turning over the top what, ten inches?
Better to give it all a thorough dig over when you start, and then don't walk on it again

[Jono]

I too have seen people rotivate, and they do still get loads and loads of weeds. Don't think you'll ever eradicate them.

Mind you, some of the plots at our site that have been left are in a real state and if they aren't rotivated I wonder if they'll ever get anything grown on them.

I did little and often digging on my plot. A whole day of digging is a right pain.

[Shadylane]

When we first got our plot, the secretary said they would rotavate it for us. Being total newbies and not really knowing what that even meant we thought 'ooh that's nice of them'. Knowing what I do know I think they're the work of the devil. We have dandelions popping up all over, though that could be due to our neigbour's often weedy plot. I think they chop up worms too. I can see that they'd be beneficial on land that was rock solid and never been used but if I were to start from scratch I deffo do it the hard way rather than rotavate.

[guyforks]

I disagree about digging in compost - I think it's much more beneficial to leave it on the surface as a mulch, for the worms to pull down

Less work for the gardener too

I'm an anti-rotavator too. There's one guy who goes up and down his plot every year with his - it certainly hasn't eradicated his weeding. They can create a hard pan under the soil too, where you are walking on the soil and compacting it, and only turning over the top what, ten inches?
Better to give it all a thorough dig over when you start, and then don't walk on it again

i agree use as mulch on loose ground but my new plot was hard as iron if there had been any worms in it they would have needed a jack hammer to get through it, but after 6 months with the spade it is now taking shape and the future should be easy after 1 year of graft clearing it all.

[lottieanne]

dig dig dig got my plot on 28th o last month and have nearly dug it over :-) someone else got a plot the same day in worse condition than mine was they opted for rotivator. I am waiting to see what happens as I have removed buckets full if weed root!!!!

[SarzWix]

We have a tiller/rotavator, but we only use it after I've dug/forked over the beds. Our plots were both really badly weed infested and every year we battle with weeds re-sprouting from years of dandelion and dock seeds, plus, couch grass, bindweed and brambles coming through from the neighbouring drainage ditch, and the ever-present horsetail. All of these things will make hundreds of new plants if their roots are chopped up by a rotavator... It's just not worth it for the instant gratification of nice looking soil.

If you want to plant on uncleared ground, you could make up a 'lasagne' style bed to plant spuds, or any pre-grown plants like pumpkins and courgettes or sweetcorn etc - just lay down layers of different materials such as cardboard, compost, grass clippings, well-rotted manure, straw etc, and then make holes through it to plant the spuds. They'll grow happily and then when you dig them up you can weed at the same time, and the layers of stuff will improve the soil

[chucks]

No rotavating for me.

I just fork over my raised beds and keep the soil nice and fluffy.

As for weeding, I know it can be a pain, but the job satisfaction of seeing a nice weed-free bed is something else!

[lottieanne]

As for weeding, I know it can be a pain, but the job satisfaction of seeing a nice weed-free bed is something else!

Went to paint my shed yesterday and lookind at my nearly clear plot made me feel great

[Wren]

yep... i agree with the hand digging.
I took on a plot that had not been used in 15 years an i can tell you now i could o cried with the dispare o hand digging out bramble an couch grass as i worked my way up the plot whilst i watched others rotavate their plots an it were all sorted an done.
15 months down the line an i can tell you what sort o soil every inch o my plot has, i know exactly what bits need improving an what bits are fine because i have worked every bit o it with my own hands an knees.
The rotavators did well on their plots last year, but looking today at their soil i see paned soil due to water logging o the destroyed soil structure, an weeds like you never did see! All i have had to do today is a light bit o hoeing.
It were hard graft an i wondered often if for the sake o 40 quid hire i could have saved myself so much grief, but 15 months down the line, the proof o the pudding is in the making. I have added my autumn garden leaves, manure and no rotavator could have got out the bramble crowns an couch grass that i did.
Instead they would have chopped em all up an this year i would be faced with twice as much work.

Do it properly in the first year, then you can relax in the luxury o rotavators if you want.
An you will know your every part o your plot an soil , it developes an intimate relationship between you an your plot.
Wren

[morverngirl]

We took on an allotment last summer, someone offered to rotovate for us but as no rain for months it was impossible on our clay soil, we eventually dug over plot removing brambles etc that had been there for 20 odd years. All weeds removed by hand. We then gave a light rotovate after a bit of rain. Our neighbour rotovated from start and now has loads of weeds where we have few. On a plus side we have now lots of worms.Hard work but initial digging works, I have now had a lorry load of manure scattered over plot since last October, some has been covered with black plastic and i hope that i will not have to dig again