Clear allotment and use at same time!

[Raybon]

Am in process of clearing well overgrown allotment, taking ages .....have realised I can buy very cheap grow bags from well-known DIY store, lay them over grassy/weedy undug areas and plant out! The bags will kill off growth underneath, then can be dug in later when the season's over.....all that space in use while continuing to clear! Off to buy more seeds today!

[Alison]

I covered quite a large area with cardboard in my first year then planted into the actual soil below to grow things. Worked really well and even cheaper


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[Raybon]

Doing that too......but hopefully this way more nutrients for immediate planting, would have to manure/compost anyway eventually, so hopefully double whammy! The cardboard is great for suppressing weeds and softening hard clay soil, will stick with that on soon-to-be-dug areas!

[Glutton4...]

That's a great idea Raybon! You will have to be vigilant for slugs, though. They love hiding under sweaty plastic, but at least they'll be easy to find!

[Raybon]

Slug City

Thanks for the heads-up on that one!

[mothhawk]

They'll take a lot of watering. Have you got water on tap there?

[Raybon]

Very punny! Am conveniently placed between two hosepipes and two water tanks, plus run-off from communal greenhouse. So no excuses for allowing to dry out......will lay out a manageable number of grow bags, maybe the plastic will even serve to conserve moisture?

[Glutton4...]

Yes, it will possibly conserve water, as they won't drain. However, they may cause the compost at the bottom rot if allowed to get too wet.

For every positive there's bound to be a negative....

[Raybon]

OK, will slash a cross or two in the bottom to allow some drainage before planting......I guess you do this with grow bags anyway? Thanks.

[Raybon]

Clear allotment and use at same time!

Hi, I have given this info under title 'Jolly Wheeze' but realise this does not explain/ encourage exploration, so here it is under a new title, hopefully helpful!
I will be laying cheap grow bags on overgrown areas; this will kill the grass/ weeds underneath and I can plant immediately! At the end of the season the contents will be dug into the soil....slug pellets will go between bags and will not contaminate the compost. Soon-to-be dug areas are covered in cardboard, which softens heavy clay soil and kills off the baddies.
In this way you can use all the space you want this season!

[Methe]

Won't you just get a grid pattern of weeds, spend a fortune on grow bags and spend half your life watering?

I've just covered mine and am uncovering it as I plant.

[Two_Sheds]

I will be laying cheap grow bags ...

Will you be puncturing the underneath of them, so that your plants' roots can go down into the ground? If not, they're going to be drying out double-quick (and you'll have to feed too)

[Raybon]

You butt the grow bags together, the odd weed poking up won't hurt, you'd have to compost/manure anyway to replace nutrients, grow bags can be bought very cheaply from well-known DIY store. Actually works out cheaper per litre than buying bags of manure. There's no way I will ever have enough homemade compost to cover the whole site! Cheers.

[Raybon]

People use grow bags on greenhouse floors, don't see it will be any different from that? Obviously selective as to what to plant......not suggesting the whole plot, just extra space while you dig the rest.

[veggiechicken]

I've merged these 2 threads since they are, basically, the same. Makes it easier to see all the comments in one thread.