My garden is too overgrown how do i clear it?

[ilex]

Cheers nick, i think i might go with the square foot method as when i measured my garden i realised that undernesth all the tall weeds, that my garden is much bigger than i first thought!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hello Ilex -welcome to the Vine. I think you've posed a very interesting question, as I've just got my first lottie and the ground sounds pretty much like yours. I just can't wait until we get some more daylight when I'm planning to spend as much time as poss on my lottie, digging the weeds.
Everyone has suggested some really good ideas, I've already put down some thick cardboard, but we've had really strong winds and bad weather so when I get down there on saturday in the daylight, they'll probably been blown all around the site.
I would suggest you cover up as much as you can as suggested, then dig one bit at a time, that's what I did with my back garden and it worked a treat.
Good luck with the studying - what are you studying? Don't forget how relaxing gardening can be!
Dexterdog

[ilex]

I am studying Geography, German, Drama, Maths, English, Philosophy, and science (well i do extra science so get more GCSE's) Gardening and swimming is whats relaxing me through my exams! I should get out and start clearing some weeds on Sunday if weather is ok

[dexterdoglancashire]

I am studying Geography, German, Drama, Maths, English, Philosophy, and science (well i do extra science so get more GCSE's) Gardening and swimming is whats relaxing me through my exams! I should get out and start clearing some weeds on Sunday if weather is ok

Gosh! I remember (well, sort of!) doing quite a few GSCEs (they had just been invented!) in my day! (think I got around 10 in the end, after taking some twice!! including maths!) Is there any sort of option where you could use your gardening as part of your studies these days? Dexterdog

[ilex]

I do something at school called Duke of Edinburgh Award where you have a walking and camping expedition somewhere like Yorkshire or Derbyshire (Hilly!) over a weekend and you have to do things leading up to it which are named Skill, Service and Physical. You have to do these for a certain amount of time and as I'm on the Silver Stage I have to do 6 months in each.

I do gardening as my skill so have to do an hour a week for 6 months and make a portfolio of what I do for my assesor! So I might enter some of my veg in a competition which will be good.

So I guess my gardening is incorporated into my school but doesn't directly count towards my grades

[dexterdoglancashire]

I think that's brill Ilex! I think it's super that you can include your gardening as part of your studies.
I remember when my OH was very young (before he met me!) he did a trek in the Lake District because one of his friends was ill as part of the Duke of Edinburghs award - Drew did the hike (somewhere up a mountain etc) and because he wasnt registered to do the award, didnt get anything! Bless!
Good luck with your studies - looking forward to hearing how you get on.
Dexterdog

[STeALtH]

Excellent advice

I have exactly the same problem with my garden which will also be totally given over to fruit and veg, just moved into a flat and the garden was like a jungle, landlord has sprayed it with some industrial strength roundup and it has killed everything but now I know what to do with the barren wasteland I've been left with.

Just a quickie, as I live almost on the beach we don't get alot of manure round here, next door keeps ducks though, would their 'manure' be any good?

I was thinking of growing a 'green' manure to help out but if I can use the ducks leftovers I will.

Judging by the size of the weeds the ground must be reasonably good but want to make sure it's in tip top condition before I start.

Cheers

S

[Peter]

Excellent advice


Just a quickie, as I live almost on the beach we don't get alot of manure round here, next door keeps ducks though, would their 'manure' be any good?
S

Seaweed mulch and compost.

See how highland, island and irish coastal dwellers used to grow spuds. Also used on Jersey.

[STeALtH]

Aha now that we got lots of

DOH why didn't I think of that..... Off to the beach with a sack for me in the morning then.

Many thanks Peter.

S

[Lesley Jay]

I would wash it first to get the excess salt off it.

[Palustris]

If you take the seaweed from above the high tide mark then the salt content will not be a problem. When we lived on the edge of Cardigan Bay, we covered the garden every year with seaweed and had no problems caused by salt.

[supersprout]

... and if you are worried about salt in a batch, give your asparagus first dibs - they love it!

[STeALtH]

As manure is about as rare as the proverbial rocking horse variety round here and we have seaweed in abundance you've really helped me out there

Ready salted Asparagus, wicked!

S wanders off to check tide table...

Cheers all

S

[Peter]

As manure is about as rare as the proverbial rocking horse variety round here and we have seaweed in abundance you've really helped me out there

Ready salted Asparagus, wicked!

S wanders off to check tide table...

Cheers all

S

No worries, always glad to help.

It is supposed to be good with trace minerals etc.

[ilex]

When is the best time of year to put weedkiller on my plot?