Battling against the docks

[johnty greentoes]

Have just taken over a 250m2 plot in hull - completely covered in docks and grass. Some neighbours are offering chemicals - I think I want to do things organically.

Should I strim first then start digging out roots or just start digging? Or should I hit the chemicals - just this once!

[nick the grief]

Hi Johnty,

Welcome to the vine. My first allotment was like yours. The only answer is it depends on how "green" you want to be. If you look on our website (se below) there is a beginers page on there that may be of help.

Personally, I hit mine with round up and that saw the docks off (especially if you use a sprayer rather than a watering can) but the problems will come whenyou start to dig, you'll have a wonderfull flush of weeds from all those dormant seeds (1 years seeds = 7 years weeds - my dads old saying) so you may need to give it a second blast.

Either way you'll need to remove the whole root as the slightest bit will resprout. Also if you have loads of docks it's a good indication of an acidic soil, so try testing the PH and then apply lime to bring it back to a neutral PH (6-7 is OK) as it can lead to problems with clubroot in brassicas and scab on tatties.

Don't let that put you off though as it's really easy to get on top of things and you'll love it.

[sewer rat]

Hit the chemicals !! One or two sprays with roundup or a similar glyphosate weedkiller will kill off all your perennial weeds and give you a head start.
I know you say you wanna grow organically, but even the Soil Association recommend this to commercial growers, as a one off teatment.
Good luck

[Two_Sheds]

I had the same type of Allotment as you - covered in head-height (I'm short, ok) deep-rooted perennial weeds. It had been Roundupped before I got it, but you couldn't tell! 1 year on its all cultivated, hardly any weeds at all; I didn't use a single drop of chemical. I strimmed off top growth, then covered the ground with carpet until I could dig it. The roots are much easier to dig out when the plant has been 'in the dark' for a couple of months. As soon as you dig a patch, plant it with something useful, don't leave the ground bare. Good luck.

[johnty greentoes]

Thanks to you all

I think I'll roundup as a one off - just to get things going. I've never used chemicals in my house garden, so it doesn't feel right - but when I look at acres of docks.........

Many thanks

[rustylady]

I had docks and brambles. Didn't use chemicals, just digging. Eighteen months on it's looking good. The roots go down forever, though and it's true what Nick says - keep looking out for seedlings. They keep popping up and you need to get them out asap

[johnty greentoes]

Thanks for this

I've set up a blog site to record my progress. You may wish to visit. Cheers. http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

[Lesley Jay]

Thanks for the link to the Grapevine on your blog Johnty!

[Brookfield Growers]

when we were looking for an allotment we visited two sites, one plot on offer was covered in glass (old greenhouses!) and brambles and the other on another site was covered in dock. We were chatting to an old boy who when asked for advice said that the only thing to remove dock successfully was napalm! we took the one with the glass and brambles - good luck once you have veg growing it will all be worth the effort.

[LostthePlot]

Am I imagining that I read something that said if you make a 'tea' from dandelion/ dock or similiar and feed the plant with it ie dandelion - dandelion tea, then this will kill off the plant? Can anyone clarify this or have I got an overactive imagination?

[madderbat]

What an interesting idea. I'll have to explore this one. Sounds very much like the old principles of like affecting like. Will get back to you.

[JennieAtkinson]

It would be wonderful if it was as simple as that! They are a big problem here, and grow enormous root systems.

[sewer rat]

Not sure about that one Ltp,
I've heard that a preparation from the root can be used as a plant food - probably based on the principle that as it has a very deep tap root, it can bring a lot of nutrients up from way down in the soil (similar to comfrey)
If you find out different I'd like to know too - they are spreading all over my garden - I suspect it has something to do with my daughter using the seed heads as "clocks"

[bubblewrap]

Have just taken over a 250m2 plot in hull - completely covered in docks and grass. Some neighbours are offering chemicals - I think I want to do things organically.

Should I strim first then start digging out roots or just start digging? Or should I hit the chemicals - just this once!

Sorry to be late on this one I WILL NOT use chems, my lottie was quite overgrown when I took it over (Sept 05) and I dug It (more than once) it worked Weeds now under control.