Preparing the ground for the 1st time

[samk1970]

Hello,

I'm a newbie & complete novice. I'm incredibly excited & so impatient to start growing. I can't wait!!! I'm almost already eating the veg!! For the last 2 evenings I've been so disappointed when it got dark & I had to stop. I really want to do it right, so am being meticulous, but perhaps too meticulous.

I'm double digging the area where I play to put the raised bed. It seems to have a lot of roots & a fair amount of stones in it (I think, I have nothing to compare it with), so I'm literally sifting through it (going about 1 1/2 feet down).

My fiance thinks I'm mad, his dad never really worried about weeds until they popped up & grew loads of veg apparently. Do I need to continue doing this?

Many thanks!

Sam

[zazen999]

It depends on what the roots are. If they are for example, couch grass or bindweed then yes - it is best to remove them. Otherwise, you'll never get on top of it all.

I'll bet his dad DID worry about weeds, he just didn't talk about it!

[Victoria26]

You can't help being a metivulous gardener Sam. I am too so I feel your pain.

A lot of people on my new allotments have plots full of weeds with the odd veg plant thrown in but I have been working hard to make my plot as pretty, well planned, clean and maintained as I can!

It's been a lot of hard work and many nights of sore backs but all the allotmenteers have been popping over to see my progress and have been commenting on how you can easily see where all the hours of hard labour have paid off!

If its making you happy then its surely worth it!!

[DexR]

Same Here

Just took on an allotment on which only a quarter had been used, rest had just been left, so digging for victory over grass, weeds , docks & others I have not been bothered to find the name for.
Doesn't help when all of the other "allotmenteers" keep walking past & just happen to keep mentioning "roundup".
It will take time, but hopefully will be worth it
Take it easy & enjoy

[samk1970]

It depends on what the roots are. If they are for example, couch grass or bindweed then yes - it is best to remove them. Otherwise, you'll never get on top of it all.

I'll bet his dad DID worry about weeds, he just didn't talk about it!

Wow, I've just Googled both, & yes, it is them! I'm quite enjoying getting rid of the couch grass. There are really deep, very thick roots which seem to be red on outside. I can't cut all of them as they're so hardy. Could these be couch grass.

There's a lot of old bindweed that looks like it might be dead. I haven't been taking out every single piece of that as it's all amongst the soil throughout.

Thank you all, now I know my hard work is worthwhile!!

Best

Sam

[samk1970]

Thank you all very much & keep up the hard work, your veg will be worthy!!!!!

[rogesse]

It never hurts to be too thorough the first time - a stitch in time and all that. Learn from one that was not (me) who has had to do it all over again this year because she didn't think weeds could get that bad

[Sweepster]

For the last 2 evenings I've been so disappointed when it got dark & I had to stop.

You could get one of those miner's headlamp things and keep going through the night

But perhaps a bubble bath would be wiser... I keep straining muscles I didn't even know I possessed...

Happy vegging!

[womble]

Wow, I've just Googled both, & yes, it is them! I'm quite enjoying getting rid of the couch grass. There are really deep, very thick roots which seem to be red on outside. I can't cut all of them as they're so hardy. Could these be couch grass.

There's a lot of old bindweed that looks like it might be dead. I haven't been taking out every single piece of that as it's all amongst the soil throughout.

I hope you are right about the roots being dead you will soon find out, I bet they're not.

The big red roots sound a bit like tree roots, have you got one close?

[snakeshack]

just discovered I have mares tail.
damn I didn't know anything could grow that fast!
I thought I had been really thorough

[Demeter]

The red roots are not couch grass. Couch grass roots are long and white and no more than about 2mm or 3mm in diameter. They tend to be within a fork's depth of the surface. If you find any yellow roots they are likely to be nettles, can grow quite thick but also can be long and slender like couch. Red roots might be buttercups ? as I think they are red (not sure, this is where my knowledge runs a bit thin lol).

Mare's tail - you'll never get rid if t. When we have a nuclear apocalypse, they will be the first plants back. Just pull it up when you see it and thank your lucky stars that it is spindly and will not shade out your other plants. On the plus side, the silicone that makes it so indestructible will also (once composted down on the heap or turned into tea) give your other plants a shot in the arm so it's not all bad!

[Two_Sheds]

Keep on going!
Don't be tempted to leave any roots behind ... or you'll have to do it all again

[Sue]

Re the bindweed
It's more than likely not dead - sorry, if its anything like mine it seems like loads of spaghetti like roots going nowhere and then you find the odd bit going green at one end and getting ready to take over the world. Just keep digging and if you're not planning on using all the ground this year, go down the cardboard and compost route - lots of threads on here about it. By next year the worms will have started your work for you and cleared all but the perennial weeds but with the ground softer to work and top growth dead, they're a lot easier to get rid of.
Best wishes
and welcome to the vine
Sue

[di]

I'd get as many out as you possibly can,but don't lose sleep over it.Chances are you won't be able to get rid of every last one anyway.This time of year the thicker roots will also have lots of new spring growth(far featherier/thinner roots),which you're going to really struggle with to rid totally.On the plus side,when they do regrow the ground will have been worked,making it easier to prise them out.
Are there any raspberry bushes on your plot?Their roots are red,ranging from really thick,to quite thin & they can spread loads.If it is,they'll probably have the occassional white/green shoot on them now.If it is & you want to save any,then cut a few inches either side of the shoots & pot up.(probably best in a pot,so you can check that's what they are!)

[samk1970]

You could get one of those miner's headlamp things and keep going through the night

But perhaps a bubble bath would be wiser... I keep straining muscles I didn't even know I possessed...

Happy vegging!

ha ha! I might just do that. I want to go badger watching too, so it could have a dual use!