My garden is too overgrown how do i clear it?

[GeordieVik]

Hi Ilex,

I think Roundup works best when the weeds are actually growing - so poss in Spring - I'm sure one of the gurus will be along soon to confirm.

Good luck with the clearing - we took on our lottie at the end of August, so this will be our first year growing fruit & veg - can't wait!

Think how much time you'll be able to spend gardening once you've finished your exams - bliss!

Vik

[Peter]

GeordieVIK is 100% right.

You need to wait until what you want to kill is in full active growth. i.e The Spring.

Sorry, but you'll waste time & money if you use it before then, also bindweed is dormant now so you'll miss that completely.

[nick the grief]

and it need at least 1 hour of dry weather ( more is better)

[supersprout]

Last three points are spot on - I'd add to wait for 3 weeks, then re-spray new green bits and wait another three weeks. It's quite a long time to leave the plot tatty, but well worth it - like Pete says, it's an expensive way to clear, so you may as well get the most from your money

[Peter]

Remember there are a number of alternatives to spraying off a severly overgrown weedplot, but usually they will involve more manual labour. "The best weedkiller is the gardeners shadow", meaning always there and hoeing or weeding. The choice is entirely yours.

Also remember, weedkillers are safe for a given value of safe.

Always read, understand and follow the advice in the safety information on the packaging your weedkiller comes in.

A neat, but potentially risky trick with weedkillers, have the hose ready.

Once it has all gone dry dead brown, burn it off with a flame gun or roofers propane torch. This works well on an allotment, but might be a bit too risky in a garden environment.

What it does is neatly dispose of the dead stuff, break dormancy on a lot of weed seeds lying on or near the surface, kill off bugs and mould spores.

Also the next flush or growth is easier to see and easier to spray as it is not part hidden in the dead stuff.

Glyphosate based liqued that you dilute is the best compromise for convenience, effective killing, speed and safety. (NB yes safety with a poison is relative)

Wait until vigerous growth is apparent, not the odd shoot, but rampant hey get the mower out growth.

Then spray on a dry windless (amazing how far spray can drift) day with an expected dryness lasting for some hours after you finish, using appropriate equipment and safety precautions (good chemical proof rubber gloves (try the red things from DIY stores), then wash everything you used (tools gloves etc), being careful how you dispose of the washing water, put your clothes straight in the wash and thoroughly shower or bath yourself.

Wait until it is dry dead brown, then burn if you are totally confident you can completely control the fire with no risk to, life, property or relations with neighbours. Failing that rake and scrape off as much of the dead thatch as you can.

Then either dig and plant or wait until a new flush of growth appears and repeat the spraying

Repeat as time and patience allow for a lower regrowth level each time, but remember this will never be 100% as something will come in and germinate, you never get rid of weeds, you just control them.

With a vacated allotment you kill couch grass and bindweed appears seemingly from nowhere, it was lurking underneath all along.

[ilex]

Lots of advice
Thanks I haven't even started anything yet as I have a very bad back at the moment

But have sown some Banana Shallot seeds from Pigletwillie

[supersprout]

I've finished preparing many a bed in order to take module seedlings crying for a home - good idea to sow seeds, whatever works to get things going!
Love your signature btw Ilex

[ilex]

Its quite good isn't it!