Lottie

[Joe c]

So tomorrow, I start work on my brand new allotment! I'm gonna be putting in willow edging, digging everything up and spreading some fresh donkey doo doo. As its quite heavy soil (clay I think) I may only get half done, but very excited!

[Bigmallly]

Is it a living hedge Joe as willow cuttings will root.

[Guest]

Sorry to question your actions but.....

Willow edging? is this fancy shop bought woven edging, I only ask because willow is quick to establish given half a chance and often when you might think it should be dead.

Donkey poo? don't put it where you intend to put root veg. Also you say fresh - too fresh and it may cause issues next year for your crops.

apart from that good luck, love the enthusiasm hope it is still there this time tomorrow

[Joe c]

I'm unsure? I'm a newb, I bought it in B & Q earlier, its just little willow sticks attached by wire, was going to use them as a border for the plot?

[Bigmallly]

I'm sure that will be fine Joe, I thought it may have been some cuttings you had been given.

[Joe c]

ahh ok, I read that as long as the manure is put down 120 days before you sow anything it will be fine?

[Joe c]

thanks Bigmally

[Bigmallly]

I would give it about 6 months before planting into it. It should make a big difference to your soil.

[Guest]

If its B+Q you will be fine (well and truly dead)

Blooma Willow Screening | Departments | DIY at B&Q this sort of thing?

[Joe c]

Natural Willow Lawn Edging Roll - (H15cm x L1m) £1.99 more like this Should I avoid putting the manure on then? What Should I use as fertilizer otherwise? Someone from the allotment just advised me to spread it on and let the worms do the rest (not trying to question your judgement just been told so many different things)

[Bigmallly]

That sounds like good advice to me.

[Guest]

Poo is good it is just a case of using aged poo rather than fresh. So if where ever you get it just heaps it up you want the stuff from the bottom area towards the middle (still not advisable for root crops tho).

Someone on another thread said about talking nicely to outdoor sports centres - cricket/rugby etc or even church yards or cemetries to see if you can get leaf mould that is a good soil conditioner.

In time you will be able to add your own compost. When you go to plant think of adding things like fish, blood and bone etc which is more about feeding the plant rather than improving soil.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Donkey poo? don't put it where you intend to put root veg. Also you say fresh - too fresh and it may cause issues next year for your crops.

Nah, it will be ok. Hee haw. hee haw he always does it

[Feral007]

Or have a look through the manure/comfrey/nettle teas threads. Interesting and useful. And something you might not have thought about before.

[Bigmallly]

It's also a great time to get a leaf bin set up Joe.