winter weeding and digging

[duck-uk]

Hi happy New Year
At the end of last summer I got a plot that was split into two my allotment officer let me take on one half and reserve the other. The one I had access to is dug over and ready to go in the spring. I have now been given the other half which is covered In weeds and grasses can If the weather breaks for a bit and the frosts vanish is it worth doing work on it over winter now with weeding and digging etc or just wait till spring and accept be hard work at start of season ?

[happyhumph]

The main thing you need to watch out for with weeding in winter is compacting wet soil when you walk on it & damaging the structure through too much digging - my ground is vv soggy at the moment and though there are areas i need to sort out its just to soggy and prone to compaction.

Saying that, if its been dry for a good while and the soil isn't soggy then go for it.

It might be an idea to chop the weeds and grasses back a bit, then cover with something like cardboard or membrane to start slowly killing things off and preventing new growth if the ground is too wet.

A bit of light 'tickling' with a hand fork from areas you can reach from a path is fine, but that's at the opposite end from what you have to tackle....

[Bigmallly]

Hello Duck & welcome to the Jungle, I also would be tempted to cover it with cardboard, black plastic, anything to stop the light getting in then work on a small area at a time.

[JMCKG]

See no dig thread, that's the way to go.

[happyhumph]

I'm moving over to the no dig side this year.....

[ESBkevin]

Hello Duck,

I'd go big on the no dig method (in fact I have), Use planks to walk the area to reduce compaction. Chop and drop if the current weeds are big and bothersome and then cover in plain brown cardboard to keep out the light and then heap up all the organic mulch and compost you can lay your hands on. Autumn leaves if you can still find some, wood chip, straw, council soil improver, animal muck etc. If you can harvest you urine you can soak the mulch with it (dilute 50/50 if you like) to put nitrogon in the process. Chop down nettles from footpathes and get them on there too.
Leave for 3-4 months while nature takes its course, then just trowel in the plants right there.