New (overgrown) Allotment

[Jimothy1275]

I borrowed this from a friend today, it's a Makita brush cutter (for those that are interested the model number is - EM4351UH). Although I'm not going to get a chance to use it until Saturday when I do some more clearance.

I'm looking forward to taking out some unruly brambles at the back of my plot, where they sit there waving their grabby tentacles at me (as I mumble curses at them under my breath so they can't hear me).



I noticed that I can convert some of my posts into a blog, I was thinking of doing this to keep a record of my progress, is that feature easy to use? Has anyone else used it? I've got a personal blog on my website (which in the few days I've been here, most of you could probably guess that it's quite random) would it be easier to link to that in a forum blog post?

Answers on a postcard to PO Box 73, Maidstone Kent, ME15 6RS (or reply to this post )

[pauls_allotment]

Bushcutter is a very useful tool but be careful it'll take a toe off if you're not paying attention!

Spent my birthday cash on one in May and it was invaluable for the 3 weeks i had it before someone ripped the lock off the shed and borrowed it forever

[Chestnut]

That looks very like the disk strimmer I borrowed from our allotment society. Very effective, took half a morning to flatten 2 plots (we had agreed to do the vacant plot next door as well as ours).
Recommend sturdy boots, thickish jeans, long sleeves, gloves and eye protection - both for yourself and anyone who will be working alongside you. Those flying bramble stems and bits of wire are vicious!

[noviceveggrower]

Just caught up with this thread. Wow really impressed with how much work you've managed to do
Totally agree with you about the spiders, I get my kids to sort them out as well.

[Jimothy1275]

Bushcutter is a very useful tool but be careful it'll take a toe off if you're not paying attention!

Spent my birthday cash on one in May and it was invaluable for the 3 weeks i had it before someone ripped the lock off the shed and borrowed it forever

We have the same problem at our allotments, I was talking to the guy who has the plot opposite mine the other day and he was telling me that someone had his weed burner and gas canisters out of his shed recently. The really sad fact is that he thinks that it was another plot holder there.

[bikermike]

I borrowed this from a friend today, it's a Makita brush cutter (for those that are interested the model number is - EM4351UH). Although I'm not going to get a chance to use it until Saturday when I do some more clearance.

Nice - is it corded or cordless? eye protection and toe caps. (other clothing also recommended in case it's cold...)

Answers on a postcard to PO Box 73, Maidstone Kent, ME15 6RS (or reply to this post )

hehehe!
or 01 811 8055 if you are watching the other side...

[Jimothy1275]

It's cordless, has a 2hp 4-stroke engine so can use normal unleaded in it without the faff of having to mix up 2-stroke fuel. Got my googles and toetectors at the ready.

I'm glad someone got my obscure reference I never got into swap shop, we were a Saturday morning ITV (well Anglia) household. BBC after school though!

[bikermike]

heh!
:-)

A friend of mine filled his flymo with avgas - it bit a brick in half...

[Two_Sheds]

I found an ironing board and curtain tracks under my nettles
On the new plot, under the waist high weeds was a rotten shed, in bits, and a skip load of plastic rubbish: it looked like the guy had used the plot as a landfill, disgraceful

My approach is to clear a section, then immediately plant it up - you need to have seedlings ready
For tough sections, I covered with heavy duty 125gsm weed membrane, and they’ll stay in place until the weeds are good and dead underneath

I’m harvesting corn, beans and courgettes from the new plot, taken on in May

[Jimothy1275]

My approach is to clear a section, then immediately plant it up - you need to have seedlings ready
For tough sections, I covered with heavy duty 125gsm weed membrane, and they’ll stay in place until the weeds are good and dead underneath

That's my plan, I think if I tried to tackle everything at once and try and get it all done I'd never start planting. I'm going to knock back the nettles and dig the roots out as I go, but the brambles are quite prolific so will take a bit more work, although they're more towards the back half of the plot. I've got lots of Comfrey growing all over which I think is self set, and some others were saying that it's difficult to get rid of once established, but I know it's a good plant for fertiliser/composting so don't really want to get rid of it.

I've been using the weed membrane as I've been clearing just to stop everything springing back up. I can leave it down and dig a section at a time to get the worst of the roots out.

[Jimothy1275]

Work I did today

Did a bit more clearing today, started on the second half of the plot. After I cleared the brambles and nettles, I uncovered a set of three sort of raised beds!


I also cut down the brambles at the back of the shed, which has opened up a massive amount of space, well it will have once I move all the cuttings!

Here's a view from where I have cleared down to the front of the plot


Also I cut the tree down that was next to the shed, which has opened up the space where the shed is really nicely.


One of the neighbours has a cardboard cut out man in the window of his shed which gave me a fright I can tell you!

[Jay-ell]

Coming on nicely. If you don't have a garden shredder it might be worth it to beg, borrow or rent one to chop up all the brambles for the compost.

Is the cardboard cutout of your neighbour? How do you know that he doesn't move it out of the way then just stand there staring at you?

[Jay-ell]

Oh yes, those comfrey plants look nice and healthy. You might be able to interplant them with something like a gooseberry standard and use the leaves to mulch them as you harvest them for feed.

[lynda66]

Nice - is it corded or cordless? eye protection and toe caps. (other clothing also recommended in case it's cold...)


hehehe!
or 01 811 8055 if you are watching the other side...

strangely I also remember this number, alas my own phone number I have to look in my phone for every time I give it to someone .... why can I not remember it?

[Jimothy1275]

Coming on nicely. If you don't have a garden shredder it might be worth it to beg, borrow or rent one to chop up all the brambles for the compost.

Is the cardboard cutout of your neighbour? How do you know that he doesn't move it out of the way then just stand there staring at you?

Thumbs up for the shredder, I think that’s the way forward in my clearing works.

Luckily I met the neighbour yesterday so I know it’s not him. Although he might have cut spy holes in the eyes and was watching through them!