Another New Allotment

[piperjock]

Hi all

Just got our new allotment. The idea is to work on it as a family and for the kids to have a patch of their own to do as they please.

It is a triangular plot with a small ditch down one side, a few people had been offered it but turned it down as it is quite overgrown.

It was covered in long grass and we have already strimmed it back. Now we are unsure how to proceed. I am thinking cover the proposed beds with weed control fabric and plant a bit through it this year. We can build a fruit cage and grow softfruit in tubs on the fabric too.

The main thing is to keep it enjoyable so the kids see it as a place they want to be rather than just hard work.

This is a photo of the site just as we had started striming. Is this couch grass?



If so, will the fabric kill it off?

Regards

[Cadalot]

Digging it out or weed killer, covering with cardboard or black weed membrane stops the light. it grows through blue tarp even with woodchip on. Don't rotavate and cut it into many small length as you will magnify the problem 100 fold. Dig what you can and cover what you can't until you can get to it.

I dig the paths as well as the beds and I dig up anything that pops it's head up in the beds once created. See my diary, I cover the Blue Tarp with grey plastic damp proof membrane in the area I'm going to dig next.

[muddled]

I would do a couple of things...I would cover with anything BUT weed membrane.
The grass will grow through weed membrane (or any fabric type material) and become impossible to deal with.

So I would cover great sections with cardboard if you have access to woodchips or something to go on top or with black plastic if you don't.
You can plant through with either of these.

I would possibly dig a bit too, if only to get to know your soil type.

Find a way to entertain your kids on the plot so you actually get time to work on it...a lidded sandpit? A bird identification book?

And I would make friends with some lottie neighbours. Its planting out time and some of them may have the odd leftover plant to get you started!

Congratulations on getting a plot by the way, and of course Hello and welcome to the vine!

[lottie dolly]

hello PJ welcome to the forum,lots of advice to be had on here,all i do for now is wish you all the best

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome.

What kind of roots does the grass have? It might not all be the same stuff. If it has a great tangle of roots shooting off all over the place, often with white bits, that's couch grass, as I understand it. Ordinary long roots that pretty well dangle downwards when you lift a handful or so of grass isn't nice to deal with, but it is easier. Don't let seed heads mature and fall on the ground if you can help it.

Loads of good advice and friendly folk on here. I'm sure you'll enjoy the company. Happing allotmenteering with your family.

[piperjock]

Thanks guys, plenty to think about there.

I am tempted to reach for the roundup,if I do this can I rotorvate? I understand the weeds will be cut into many parts but won't they all be dead?

[21up]

Thanks guys, plenty to think about there.

I am tempted to reach for the roundup,if I do this can I rotorvate? I understand the weeds will be cut into many parts but won't they all be dead?

DO NOT ROTOVATE i did well with roundup saves time and effort and had no probs every growing good
others will differ but worked great for me

[ESBkevin]

I found with roundup that legumes don't like growing there for a couple of seasons, peas in particular.
chop and drop the vegitation (strimmer is nice) and then do the suggested cardboard covered with woodchip. It kills all but the worst of weeds, you can dig the bits you need now and the rest will come good in the months that follow. You can heap more mulch on and plant through the cardboard. In most places flattened brown cardboard boxes and tree surgeons wood/leaf chip is available for free with just a little effort. The results are natural and beneficial to the soil.

[SusieG]

Hi PJ! Sorry, seem to have missed welcoming you, so ~~~ Welcome.
Good luck with lottie, keep posting your photos as you progress, they're great to see ..!

[Scarlet]

Welcome to the vine Piper

I would also cover with card. For some areas that you know you won't get to this season, cover with card and get the kids to plant a couple of pumkins through.

[Nicos]

Hello and welcome from me too!

[jonny the plant pot]

Think you should put a tennis court next to the spuds incase you loose any balls you could use some earlies . only joking welcome and take no notice cricket pitch would be better

[greenishfing]

I would did all the weeds and roots out. On our allotment site I find the newbies that don't are ex-allotmenteers 1 or 2 years down the line and leave a jungle behind them.