The dodgy end

[muddled]

The very end of my allotment needs sorting out.
It's the last that I haven't done anything to because it's the only bit that was 'cultivated' when I took the plot on.

When I say 'cultivated', I mean there are neglected fruit trees and blackcurrants poking out of the couch grass but thats enough to keep the council off my case.

The area is too dry and too full of roots to dig and I am unable to get down and grub the couch grass out by hand. I have laid thick cardboard and newspaper all over (was a bit of a jigsaw type effort between the trees and bushes) Which I have covered with a layer of woodchips 3 to 6 inches deep. I hope that by autumn the couch will be weakened, the ground underneath softer and my health better to deal with it properly.

Now, what to do with it in the meantime?

I could just and a bit of compost/topsoil and sow some pretty annual flowers there. They would encourage bees to pollinate the fruit and look nice til the autumn....but my plot is so expensive £100 a year per half plot) that I really need every bit to be productive.

I could plant my strawberries there. They would enjoy the woodchips and it would mean most of my fruit was at one end...but then I'll have to disturb in the autumn if the couch is growing through.

I could add mounds of well rotted manure and chuck a couple of pumpkins or courgettes in there. Would they need absolutely masses of watering though being mounded up like that? The area for some reason is the driest of my whole plot.

Please help me to decide the best use for this spot (any other suggestions welcome) c'mon vine....do your thing!

[ESBkevin]

If you have just woodchips they will rot in time, the rotting process is said to use nitrogeon and so adding free nitrogeon in the form of grass clippings on top and if you fancy it some urine will speed up the process and encourage the worms to break up the soil underneath faster. Certainly if you plan to crop it later this year thas a good idea. I plant my strawberries through woodchip laid on cardboard and they thrive, plus the soil condition improves greatly for the second year. Size and type of woodchips determines the speed of degradation too.
If you mound up anything on the mulch you will find it requires less watering because mulch helps moisture retention, cover your rotted horsemuch with some more mulch too.

[bario1]

What about bags of spuds? Or even just spuds, planted through the mulch? They should help break up the soil underneath?

[SlugLobber]

I'd put some containers there - whether it's spuds or carrots in buckets, or growbags...something easy to lift in the Autumn.

[Penellype]

How about putting the strawberries in grow bags on top of the woodchip. That way they will help suppress the couch and can stay there as long as you need. Then when you are ready you can propagate some runners for more permanent planting.

[Greenleaves]

I am with the container/grow bag camp as well, it is still productive use of the space and experience tells me one season won't do that much to weaken the couch grass. Keep an eye on the edges of the area as those underground runners will search out light.

[Lumpy]

How about a mini wildlife park? Bug hotels, piles of logs, piles of bricks and a hogitat?

[muddled]

I want to do all of these ideas.....I really need a bigger plot!

I'm going to measure up and make a proper plan over the weekend....and see just how many of these things I can squeeze in

[planetologist]

How many fruit trees and blackcurrant bushes are there? Once they've come into leaf will there be any space left? Mulching them was a good idea. Maybe it's time to let it be and observe.

[Paulieb]

From the first part of your first post I'd say that you've done all you need. The trees may also block out a lot of light once they leaf out depending on how big they are.

I'd avoid a perennial (3yrs) like strawberries as disturbing them next year will be unnecessary work. Just stick to annual 'veg of which there is loads of choice.

Sweetcorn, sprouts and PSB grow big roots which if left in the soil once they're finished will rot down and loosen the soil slightly.

Potatoes will only break up the soil when you dig them up which may be quite difficult if the ground is hard.

[Paulieb]

I'd perhaps ask go for things like salads in grow bags.