[bonjives]

Got our new allotment 2 weeks ago, really pleased with this one,  we had one last year and it was vandalised.  The trouble is that it is nearly all nettles, a few brambles and the dreaded mare's tail. We have sprayed  them all with Round-up, 13 days ago to be precise, everything is starting to die back except the mare's tail, any suggestion's would be appreciated. We are new to growing veg, so what would be the best things to grow first.

[shaun]

hi bonjives and welcome,
as for the mare's tail its a bit of hard case when it comes to killing it off,
I would fork it out by hand 1st removing what roots you can then use a rotavator after that as often as every few weeks and eventually you will win.

[little sweetpeas]

I don't think you can kill it my spaying.  I have just dug it out and then just kept ontop of it.  

My sister in law rotivated her plot and is really suffering now because it just made the problem worth.

[little sweetpeas]

Sorry worse not worth and welcome  

[shaun]

just using a rotavator once is the wrong thing to do you have to keep using it on the new young shoots every few weeks and it will give up the ghost and die off.

[flowerlady]

Hello bonjives,

Nettles will give you a great source of nitrogen  and because the roots are so shallow they will have broken up the ground for you too

Always try to save a small corner of them ... great plant food when rottted into water and the butterflies love them too for egg laying  

They are also a great compost activator  

[bonjives]

Hi every-one, thanks for the advice about the mare's tail, seems we have got alot of hard work in front of us,      never mind enjoying the hard work so far!!!. Really pleased with this web site at least I know that if we need some advice there is always some-one out there willing to help us out. Cheers every-one.  

[grunt&groan]

welcome to the site, bonjives. i found this  very helpful http://www.allotment-garden.org/articles/Weeds_and_What_to_do.php  ,and think it is working for me  
good luck