I want my soil back aka separating roots from soil

[jonahjonah]

This trench business is so organized! I think we've accidentally been doing something similar with the less problematic areas. (To be fair, I did do some research. I'm not 100% hapless . Maybe 75%...). Thanks for these details. It's always helpful to get specific feedback.

[rary]

One other thing, there should be no need to remove any material from the garden, by that I mean weeds or plants etc. if you are clearing out plant bushes and even brambles they can be chopped up and placed in a water tub for several months or for non pernicious weeds and plants, simply buried

[SarrissUK]

I would absolutely go with the no dig method, after having tried to sort out an allotment that had been over grown with brambles for years. I gave up in the end, and only learnt about the no dig method afterwards, which is a shame. Good luck!

[jonahjonah]

Thanks, everyone. I very much like the idea of everything staying on site. Too bad I didn't realize it was possible before the first go at lugging off my soil-greedy perennial weed roots. Live and learn, I suppose.

[rary]

Just to add jj the water that you steep any weeds etc. in can be used after several weeks as a feed for your plants, generally a can full to a watering can

[jonahjonah]

Just to add jj the water that you steep any weeds etc. in can be used after several weeks as a feed for your plants, generally a can full to a watering can

Thanks, rary. I have a small bin filled with weeds and rainwater that will hopefully be useful for this purpose, provided I ever get anything planted outside and it stops raining

I have been working back through my bagged up root/soil clods. I've recovered a bunch of soil and set the bulbs and dreaded white roots aside for drowning. I've also made a couple of small piles of the remaining clods. My allotment will never look very tidy, but I'm winning the soil battle and the place looks a bit less worrying.