Starting from scratch

[Jamie1980]

Hi everyone looking for some advice please, just took over my first allotment
and it is covered with weeds.... my question is have i got to keep digging over and pulling these weeds out by hand or am i ok to go straight in with a rotivator and rake away the weeds etc

uploaded a couple of images to give you idea what stage im at !!

[Samurailord]

Hi Jamie and welcome to the Vine.

my question is have i got to keep digging over and pulling these weeds out by hand or am i ok to go straight in with a rotivator and rake away the weeds etc

A rotivator isn't usually a good idea if you have nasties like couch grass, creeping buttercup, docks and horsetail in your soil as all the rotivator will do is to slice the roots into loads of pieces, and a new plant can grow from each piece.

If you are going to build raised beds, however, then a rotivator is fine - any weeds will be buried so deep that if any do make it to the surface they will be weak and easy to deal with.

If you aren't going to cultivate it all immediately I would recommend covering every bit of bare ground with either thick cardboard (weighed down), black plastic or weed fabric until you are ready for it.

If you dont do this you will be always having to cut the grass and weed rather than getting on with planting.

I am going to listen to my own advice and cover the uncultivated bit of my plot after I have strimmed this weekend.

I forgot to cover it last time (only four weeks ago) and now it is nearly as bad all over again.

Andy

[rustylady]

Duplicate thread - there's an identical one in New Shoots with several answers!