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just been down to my plot and it seems weeds are winning atm ,always looking for an easy way out what are your feelings on using weed killer ,any fors or against on pesticides or is out with the hoe ?

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[Lardman]

Weedkiller takes too long 

How bad is it ? Annual weeds and a bit of grass wouldn't take too long to remove manually. If your entire plot is knee deep in couch grass, bind weed and dock chemical warfare is a better way to go. You'll still have to remove the roots by hand and keep on top of things though.

[simonwatson]

I use a pressurised hand sprayer to spot treat the weeds as and when I think it needs to be done. That's usually stuff like couch where I know there's a long root attached. I'll carry a hoe too to get everything else. Half an hour once a week is enough on my half plot to keep it under control.

[wil4025]

I bought concentrated round up  like product from ebay and use a pressure sprayer and make up 5l and do whole lot. I would say only do on hot day and make sure hot day (no rain) on next day as they stuff takes about 24 hours to work. Make sure not windy to.

[azubah]

I dig and hoe, my neighbour sprays. My plot is nearly weed free, his is covered.

[mumofstig]

I mostly just hoe  ......................................... but bindweed gets glyphosated 

[surbie100]

I keep glyphosate for patches of docks, rosebay willowherb and bindweed, usually spraying through the spout of a cut-down bottle.

For bigger areas I prefer to put weed membrane down and dig it over gradually. Weedkiller takes a while to work, digging can be speedier and easier.

But then I take a perverse satisfaction in grubbing out a weed's root system - as long as I don't have to dig to Sydney to get it out! 

[pdblake]

I keep glyphosate for patches of docks, rosebay willowherb and bindweed, usually spraying through the spout of a cut-down bottle.

Ditto. I use glyphosphate as a last resort and for where digging isn't an option.

[Armleywhite]

I'm fairly lucky that my plot is relative weed free, well, it is now

Hoeing and digging for me.  Going to stay away from the chemicals as long as i'm able to. 

[fatbelly]

Earlier this year I bought myself a Wolf Garten 'Allotment Hoe' and its great.
A 15cm blade that slices through both on the push and the pull. A really great tool.

[Wiltshire Worms]

I try to keep the weeds under control by manual efforts and then use minimal amount of weed killer(round-up) where necessary.....close weeding i use Mrs W

[yaxley]

Hand weed and hoe for me but im lucky i have not got couch or bind weed ...

[LilacSandy]

I have children so no weed killer for me.  I know they say that it does not stay in the soil but I am not prepared to take the risk, hoe and spade for me.

[Totty]

Swoe between the edibles, everywhere else is sprayed. Life is too short to hand weed flower borders.

Totty

[willp]

I tend to use a bit of glyphosate especially this time of year. I usually do a thin strip ( about 3" ) on the edge of my grass paths as it is a real pain to have to clip round the edges that the mower doesn`t touch - I use a push along and the wheels drop into the bed if I stray to close.

I also spray the path between my plots and the weed infested wildernesses that are the neighbouring plots.
Done once a year it maintains a sort of "cordon sanitaire" and keeps back most of the creeping weeds. The wind blown seeds are another matter......

Plenty of hoeing for the rest of the year though.

Will