[siouxzie]

Hello everyone,

I must apologise in advancement as I am a complete novice about gardening.  After a long time on the waiting list I have just got myself an allotment and had a look and it is completely covered in weeds and docs.  I must admit that when I seen it I thought "oh my gosh"  but I am so excited that I just want to get my hands in the muck so-to-speak.

Now the problem is I spoke to one of the other allotment holders and she told me just to use roundup to kill it all.  I dont think it has been "worked" before so it looks a real mess.  Can somebody advise me what I do next?  Do I use the roundup and just leave it uncovered for 2 weeks or so and then go back to start digging the weeds/docs out or what do I do?  if someone would be kind enough to list me step- by-step then I would be so grateful.  I must say that I am not scared of hard work and looking for an easy option, its just that I do not know what to do next.  Please for give my ignorance.

I look for ward to any advice that I can get.

siouxzie

[mumofstig]

Hello and welcome to the site 

This link will help, I'm sure 
http://www.allotment-garden.org/articles/Clearing_a_New_Allotment.php

[siouxzie]

thank you...im just getting used to navigating the site also!

I also wasn't sure if roundup would work on the weeds as we already have frost where I live in the east coast of Scotland.

[arugula]

Hi siouxzie and welcome from the other side of Scotland. Its not the ideal time of year to apply round up as the weed growth will be slowing and being a systemic weedkiller it works best when weed growth is in full flow.

[sunshineband]

Good old digging, a sectionat a time, is a great way to clear it all, and the link mumofstig has given you ill certainly help.
 
slow and steady, careful not to over do things and don't walk across the bit you've already dug until you've decided where you will have paths
 
you'll soon have it done

[TerryB]

Hi Siouxzie
As the others have said just dig it over.
Your've got all winter and the advantage is the weeds will not be growing as fast as your've turned it over.
Have a look at the post above " Rough Bit Of Ground".
Get one of the digging hoe's advised because they do make the digging easier.
Good Luck and Enjoy.

[jmc1949]

Welcome to the site. Congratulations on getting your allotment. I've had mine for a month and all I seem to be doing is digging the weeds out!!!  Enjoy your plot.

[gavinjconway]

Hi and welcome to the forum... Loads of good tips here.

I got my new plot a few weeks ago and I have started to get the infrastructure sorted... shed etc. Then I have had to remove a lot of Laurel and dogwood hedge and now starting to clear... digging with a pick and sifting out all the weeds and roots. I know it's not the right time of year to apply roundup but |i did it all the other day. My thinking is that I cant dig the whole plot in a few weeks so let the roundup do some good then dig anyway.. 

[siouxzie]

Thank you to everyone that replied    the info you have given me is very much appreciated.  I think I  panicked and suddenly after waiting so long on getting an allotment I didnt know where to start.  It is a bit daunting when I see all those weeds but to be honest the thought of eventually producing something that I have grown by myself makes me really happy.

I have had a quick visit to the library and bombarded their shelves, so Im gonna read up on a few things and make out a plan....dig the weeds out first of course!  So here's to a day of digging tomorrow and I will let you all know how I get on.

many thanks again for everyone's help.

Siouxzie x

[gavinjconway]

Dont try to dig it all in a day... you will hurt yourself!! Take it a day at a time and do it well. "They say" it takes 3 years to get your plot to your liking...

[shoozie]

So here's to a day of digging tomorrow and I will let you all know how I get on.

Welcome and enjoy your digging 

[Dominic]

A bottle of glyphosate concentrate is only a couple of pounds.
Its not the ideal time to use it, but its going to have some effect, and if it doesnt, well, its only a few pounds.