Any ideas on how I can define the perimeters of my allotment plot?

[Samuel1988]

Afternoon all,

I was just wondering of any ideas of how I can 'section off' or 'define' my patch as currently, due to the weeds I need to finish clearing and same with the newly taken on plot next to me, it is hard to see where my plot starts and the next one begins.

I don't wish to shut anyone off but something small which can give me a hard outline would be lovely.

Also, do you HAVE to have a grass path either side of your allotment patch (so between yours and your neighbours allotment)?

Its just I don't have a lawn mower neither does my neighbours. Although come to think of it its mostly weeds anyway! Could a wood chipped path be suffice?

Many thanks,

Samuel

[Samuel1988]

P.s its approximately 25-30 metres long my patch

[Martin H]

For my allotment I knocked in pegs, sticking up a foot or so, at the corner of where each bed was going to be. This helped me with the digging and also signalled my intentions to anyone else who was interested. On the two sides where it wasn't obvious where the line should be, I talked to my neighbours on that side to make sure they were ok with it. A few inches either way wasn't going to worry me.

For the paths, it should say in the rules you signed up to when you took over the plot. Usually they say that there needs to be a path on all sides. You'll want one anyway so you can get around your plot. As to whether it should be grass or not, unless there are specific provisions I wouldn't worry. The grass will soon grow into the woodchips anyway. Quite a few on our plot have used old carpet, but that is now explicitly banned (and quite right too in my opinion).

[Samuel1988]

Thanks for that

Out of interest, what is the issue with old carpet? Does it contain some sort of chemicals or hazardous substance?

Samuel

[Dorothy rouse]

I think chippings are fine, but put some membrane fabric down first that will help stop the weeds coming through.

[Jeanied]

A lot of carpets have non- biodegradeable fibres and some of them have nasties in there as well. Hessian backed wool carpets are ok but nobody has them anymore!
I have used a line of raspberries down one side of my plot (not the whole length) - the wires make a bit of a barrier.

[Martin H]

I'm not an expert but apparently modern carpet contains all sorts of unpleasant stuff that is released into the ground when it's exposed to the weather. Also I know from experience - the previous holder of my plot must have owned a carpet store - the artificial fibres in there stay around for ever and are a right nuisance if someone wants to remove the carpet afterwards.

[Veggielot]

Check with your site to see if there are any rules first just in case there are any restictions, you dont want to put something up only to be told to take it down.

One of the most common on my site is pallets, however I wanted something a bit more open and neater so went for wooden posts with plastic mesh fencing. You can go for some sort of hedge but you would probably want to agree with your neighbour.

[Paulieb]

I don't have an allotment, but I would go for some fruit bushes which can be fan trained close to the boundary. Apples and pears etc would be too high (and shade part of your neighbours plot), but gooseberries, red and white currants, or jostaberries can be trained as fans and kept fairly low to avoid shading. Though they'll need a bit of support which may or may not be in the rules.

Alternatively you could just grow standard bushes a bit further in which won't need support.

[Olorin2001]

Stakes in the ground at corners of your plot, and perhaps also marking corners of beds, shows you where the boundaries are and give you a guide when digging.
But make sure the stakes are taller than your weeds ???

[The Cobra]

You could just stake the boundary and run string between the stakes

[plotman]

Its strange listening to the variety of opinions regarding carpets being layed down over allotments. Different views on chemicals and bugs and things.
Yet for me the most horific crime is its incredibly unattractive to look at. I love looking over all the allotments, Different layouts and amazing variety of greenery. Oldy worldy sheds that somehow remain upright, and a few oldy worldy allotmenteers like myself who also mostly stay upright.And thankfully no household throughouts sprawled across plots turning soil sour. ) Thats my reason for no carpets

[Bill HH]

A line of scrap cars would be my ideal, they offer everythinng, somewhwere to shelter wherever you are on the plot, they make wonderful places for birds to nest and bugs to crawl.You can even grow plants inside them. Co-operation with your neighbour is essential as you would own half of each car or alternate cars perhaps. Cars with sun rooves would be like cold frames or you could grow trees through them. A boot could be used as a composter or to grow spuds in. best to check the site rules first though

[Snadger]

A line of scrap cars would be my ideal, they offer everythinng, somewhwere to shelter wherever you are on the plot, they make wonderful places for birds to nest and bugs to crawl.You can even grow plants inside them. Co-operation with your neighbour is essential as you would own half of each car or alternate cars perhaps. Cars with sun rooves would be like cold frames or you could grow trees through them. A boot could be used as a composter or to grow spuds in. best to check the site rules first though

At £150 a pop it would make an expensive boundary!

There would certainly be plenty of comfy seating to while away the hours though!

[Bill HH]

At £150 a pop it would make an expensive boundary!

There would certainly be plenty of comfy seating to while away the hours though!

Is that the price of a scrapper nowadays? we used to have to pay to have them taken away. Oh well at least it means im driving around in an expensive 12 yr old motor.