What to do next help required

[Scarecrowdave]

Hi i am a complete novice in the world of allotments i have recently taken over a plot that was a bit over grown i have almost finished digging it over and my intention is not to start planting anything until the turn of the year
I want to keep the weeds down until then but i also have my job and quite a bit of tidying up and weather proofing the shed along with clearing greenhouse and removing other debris so what is the best way to keep the weeds at bay i thought about covering entire area with weed fabric would that be ok or are there any other methods i could use
Thanks in advance the area is roughly 10m wide x about 20 m long

[Scarlet]

Cardboard? It's a free option.

[Bex2012]

I used weed membrane (thick heavy duty plastic) rather than weed fabric when I was clearing my plot. Cardboard is also supposed to be good, especially as you can dig it in as it rots (just take any sticky tape and labels off first). Dont put carpet down as its full of chemical nasties that will leach into yiur soil.

[SarrissUK]

Or perhaps throw a few bags of green manure down and let that grow - it fixes nitrogen I think, which is a good thing for most plants! It also allows the weeds to grow - they'll be easy to pull up or just hoe them down. They'll come up at some point, you might as well deal with them now! Then, if you don't dig too much, you shouldn't have too many to deal with by the time you are ready to sow veggies

[Cadalot]

Now before it gets too wet and hard to dig is a great time for putting in infrastructure of paths and beds, but it really depends if you are a dig it all over every year or a path and beds type of person. If its beds you can put them to sleep for the winter and cover. If you use heavy duty weed membrane cut it with something like a soldering iron and it will not fray, cut it with a knife and it get tatty very quickly.

Personal guidance based on my experience Alans Allotment: Clearing a New Allotment

[bario1]

Hi Scarecrowdave,

If you want to get it covered quickly and efficiently, you could invest in some heavy duty Mypex weed control fabric, you can get 2mx50m for £39.99 on Am@zon, I guess you'd need two rolls. Don't be tempted by cheaper, thinner alternatives (like what you see in the bargain stores), as they let light through, and often tear when you try to remove them, leaving a mess.

[SelkirkAlex]

[QUOTE=Cadalot;1553375] If you use heavy duty weed membrane cut it with something like a soldering iron and it will not fray, cut it with a knife and it get tatty very quickly.


or just use a hot knife

[Snoop Puss]

You could sow a green manure. Or even something that will give you a harvest, like broad beans or field beans. That will provide humous and some nutrients too.

[bario1]

Do you have access to a mountain of dead leaves? The council sometimes deliver a truckload to our site in Autumn. A thick mulch (4-6") on your beds will stop weeds and will eventually rot down and enrich your soil.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Similar to "Bario's" suggestion, but a good 3 to 6 inch mulch of well rotted manure!

Having said you have taken it on and had to clear suggests it as not been kept on top form, and the earth/ground could do with a little boost in fertility and nutrients, and what a real good time of year to bang it on, and let "Mother Nature" do what she doe's best over the colder winter months!