clearing a new allotment

[Twoflower Two]

I need some help. I have a new allotment. I am not someone who can dig over a piece of ground. I cannot kneel down.
It is covered in tall grass, wild flowers (aren't buttercups lovely?), and brambles. Advice needed to get it cleared. 1) strim and find out what's in there and get help to dig it over? 2) install raised beds immeidately and deal with other issues later on? 3) beat a path to a point where I can start a compost and, perhaps a single vegetable bed 4) other ideas

[Baldy]

Welcome along.
I'm mostly a no dig gardener - my general advice would be to strim it down, figure out if there are plants in there that are worth saving - consider where to put things like sheds, greenhouse, compost bins etc.
Don't try to do too much in one go - divide the plot up into sections - even if its just in your head - then get one section sorted at a time.
I'd use cardboard or weed suppresant to cover the ground, maybe build raised beds on top of that cover.
As you might imagine this subject comes up a lot - someone will be along shortly with some other advice and links to more info - best of luck

[Scarlet]

I am not someone who can dig over a piece of ground. I cannot kneel down.

Have you got a garden at home? How do you keep that free of weeds?
There is a fair amount of work to get a plot ready to plant in it. Cover the whole lot with card and build raised beds? Slowly, one at s time at a height that is appropriate - get in some help?Though even doing that there will be some kneeling.

[Squingy]

To add to advice above

My old plot neighbors have an amazing plot they never kneel or dig as they have knee and hip height raised beds full of compost, and wood chip in between. They did spend a lot on compost and wood.

With yr plot it would be a lot of work to get cleared because of the bramble - I imagine you'd have to lean low to snip it at the base.

A Dutch hoe, if used properly to mind your back would get rid of a lot of soft weeds without kneeling/digging.

Try dropping black polythene sheeting on the sections you aren't going to develop yet, and just leave it months for the weeds to die. Used like that, I think that's the best. The heat and lack of light kills weeds and seeds. Too besides, stuff like mare's tail grow right through the some of the other breathable type weed control fabric - waste of £.

Cardboard can be used too, but it disintegrates when wet and the weeds catch up if yr not always replacing it. Doesn't generate the heat like the polythene sheeting. (Don't use the sheeting under the beds though as they'll get waterlogged.)


Good luck Twoflower

[chillithyme]

congratulations on your new allotment! I was a bit excited and daunted when I got mine in the autumn. Your plan sounds good. As I was told when I had my new plot, don't do it all at once, just a bit at a time

-Start off with the strimming, then cover the plot with carboard, tarpaulin or weed control membrane(the ones with lines or squares on it)This will help keep the growth down whilst you work on each bit at a time
-if there isn't a path then plan for one at some point, so that you have easier access, maybe leave a grass path as your main path from the strimmed down grass for now
-Give yourself a rough plan of beds and paths, and then start on one thing e. g your first bed.
-Then get growing in it, it will be nice to see something growing,even if in just a small part of your plot, it will give you a boost whilst you work away on the rest of your plot.

-If you don't have a shed, and would like one, then plan where you would like one, you could always do that later on down the line.

-If you are not able to kneel, then weed suppressant fabric is great to grow veg and fruit through, holds the weeds down and less weeding and kneeling.
-If you have trouble kneeling, then raised beds may help

Good luck

[chillithyme]

if you do raised beds, then check to see if your local council have any compost at the tip, our local council allows us to fill a few big bags a day for free of council compost.

[Cadalot]

Here is my take on clearing and allotment Alans Allotment: Clearing a New Allotment Yes No Dig is all the fashion and to some extent I do that now I have it cleared and a structure of paths and beds that don't get walked on. But if you can't bend or get down on you knees then you will need high beds.

Not cheap but look at https://www.woodblocx.co.uk/raised-beds they will last and can be built to a variety or shapes and size. Get help to do the initial clearance and remember shifting shedloads of compost can be just as damaging to your back and joints so take it slow.