[MustbeMad]

Hello all,

Been lurking for a while but I've eventually got an allotment so thought it time to join 

Horsetail on one end and bindweed everywhere in the forest of weeds and I don't mind a bit!

That's what being on the waiting list for more than 6 years does to you 

I'm bound to have lots of questions,

Happy growing

MBM

[Fairy Plotmother]

Hello, glad you came in. Most of us had a good lurk first.

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site and, erm, congrats on the new lotty I think 

[New shoot]

Hello and welcome.

Lots of help and advice on here so ask away 

[snowdrops]

Hi there, if you don't mind spraying get it done pretty soon & that should see off  most of the weeds & a fair bit of the bindweed. As for the horsetail I had it terribly on one of my plots, I got really stressed about it & nearly gave it up but then I looked into it & realised its roots are so long it doesn't take anything from the crops & I read if you let it grow to 7-10 cms & then gently pull it up with as much root you gradually weaken it as it has put all its energy into getting to that point. I also dig any I come across when I'm digging. It's also said never let it see a Sunday, so hoe it off or pull it out. Hope you have fun & most of all enjoy it & take it slow

[MustbeMad]

Thankyou all for the welcome.

Snowdrops - great advice, I wasn't planning on spraying but I think I will make an exception in this case.

I have some old carpet so I will also cover the area up and just have to remember to behead anything I see when it appears - I have a child who will happily wage that war!

MBM

[snowdrops]

I prefer not to spray, really try to be as organic as possible but some situations I feel it is acceptable, if you get glyphosate usually marketed as roundup, it takes it down to the roots. Certainly gives you a head start, then you can decide on what approach to take in the spring. Covering up is great but be careful of leaving carpet down for too long as the weeds can grow through it. Also some allotment sites don't allow it because it can cause problems for the next person if left, also some people voice concerns that chemicals can leach out into the soil.