Is this worth a try?

[Cue the Toms]

As a new allotment holder I'm trying to think outside the box (so to speak)...

My plot is overgrown with weeds and I'm working hard to get rid of them...

My thinking is that... I do not want to turn up at the plot thinking that I have wasted the last visit everytime I return to it.

So,

If I encourage the weeds to grow until I have got rid of every bit of root that is available to poke it's ugly head through the soil, in the long term will this process be worth the extra effort?

Weeds will always be a part and parcel of having an allotment I accept, but I want to make it as easy as possible to make my plot a success from the start. If I can.

I am working on small areas of the plot at a time for growing, and covering most of the plot that I can't.

Thoughts on this idea?

[Capsid]

Yes, covering is good. But the problem with a weed infested plot is that it also has a weed seed infested plot, so the more you turn it over the more weeds will germinate. The only answer really is to keep digging and weeding. It should get easier, as you cultivate it more as the weeds should be removed before they set seed (except if you are next door to a weedy plot). Regular hoeing is good practice.

[Kleftiwallah]

Just keep clearing the ground, you will start to resent the other plot holders who allow 'their weed seeds' to blow hither and yon all over others plots.

Cheers, Tony.

[alldigging]

Strim, cover all plot.
Cardboard, weed fabric, plastic bags ... Cardboard from supermarkets - ask when they have it. Morrisons was full of it late this afternoon.

Dig a bed and plant it.
Dig another bed and plant it.
Repeat ..

You can look at lasagna bed gardening using tons of mulch and compost as a speedy way of getting beds done but sourcing materials cheaply enough can be hard. Again cardboard, paper, grass cuttings, garden compost, straw, soil, etc built up like wide flat compost heaps. Easiest to plant ready grown plants into new beds though. Although rocket will probably do well just sprinkling seeds on.

[chris]

I ended up doing it the hard way. I cleared my plot (knee high dandelions, wasit high dock, bindweed etc) by hand (turning a fork full of soil over and then picking out the individual bits... it was back breaking), then I was under instruction to get back on with working on the house. did that, went back tothe plot, again, covered in weeds.

Cleared it all again, we had baby #2 arrive. Again, forgot about the plot, came back and cleared it again (much eaiser this time), and now I can happily leave my plot with the odd visit for watering etc and only deal with small weeds.

It was very hard work - so I'd def say cover it with whatever you have to hand, on the bits you're not using.

[Rhona]

Get a mattock. This Silverline GT52 Digging Hoe: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools meant that we cleared a very large, very overgrown plot (like CHris, waist high dock, dandelions, bindweed etc) in half the time, with our backs intact. We also covered a large area, and planted through it (too late this year probably), so had some lovely butternut squash from an patch that would otherwise have been unproductive. But def get a mattock. Others may not be fans, but I don't understand why they're not handed out automatically (automattockally?) with each overgrown plot!

[Snadger]

An organic mulch will smother weeds,retain moisture, get the surface flora and fauna working the soil for you and break down eventually so adding organic matter to the soil.

You can also plant crops through it!

[Cue the Toms]

I dug out a bed today 4 square meters (14 x 14 foot in old money) to a depth of one spit. It wasn't too difficult to be honest. I should have taken a photo of the white roots I kept digging up, there was no surface growth from these roots at all. Any idea what they are? I will take a photo next time I'm at the plot if no one can tell me. I have covered most of the plot until I get round to digging it all over.

[chris]

White roots, wire like?



If so, get rid of it. All of it, it's couch grass.. Or does it look similar but more yellow? If so, that could be bind weed, which again needs to come out.

The couch grass is a pain though, do your best to get rid of as much as possible. It'll grow back into a coarse grass from the smallest bit of root. Bindweed will strangle/smoother your crops too if you turn your back on it.

[chris]

Oh, just one thing I'd point out - the wall (which will be great for retaining heat, especially if it faces south... ) will case a 'rain shadow' so if you plant right up to it, rain might not get to any crops near the wall.

[Cue the Toms]

White roots, wire like?



If so, get rid of it. All of it, it's couch grass.. Or does it look similar but more yellow? If so, that could be bind weed, which again needs to come out.

The couch grass is a pain though, do your best to get rid of as much as possible. It'll grow back into a coarse grass from the smallest bit of root. Bindweed will strangle/smoother your crops too if you turn your back on it.

I will take a pic today. I wasn't going to the plot but you have twisted my arm now

Thanks
Chris

[Kaiya]

An organic mulch will smother weeds,retain moisture, get the surface flora and fauna working the soil for you and break down eventually so adding organic matter to the soil.

You can also plant crops through it!

I do this, but I have found that you do need a hefty light/growth excluding layer for it to defeat the weeds. Neat compost 4-6 inches deep just fed the weeds in one bed I tried it on, and on a couch grass infested bed a few layers of newspaper with grass clippings on top did very little to stop the couch grass. However cardboard with grass clippings or soil on top sorted out turning a compacted old normal grass path into a bed in no time (covered path in wet cardboard, lumped about 3 inches or so of soil on top from adjacent beds, now has turnips, leeks, sweetcorn all growing in the 3 inches relatively happily and very little grass path regrowth).

[Cue the Toms]

These are the weed roots I keep finding?

[bojangles]

cough grass and maybe bildweed the bigger part in the crump of soil on the left handside. If it snaps apart easy its bilndweed Ive got loads of it!! My worst weed!!

[Cue the Toms]

cough grass and maybe bildweed the bigger part in the crump of soil on the left handside. If it snaps apart easy its bilndweed Ive got loads of it!! My worst weed!!

Thanks

Seems strange I have no surface growth of any of this within the area? I do have both weeds on the plot in other places though.

I'll search the forum as there undoubtedly will be threads on removing these weeds.