New allotment

I got my new allotment in November. It too is overgrown. I started trying to clear it with sheer hard work but have quickly decided to go down the blast with chemicals route. I am now waiting till spring to do that.

each to their own though for everyone who says that they will use chemicals you will find another who says cover it and another who says hard graft is the way to go.

Good luck and congrats on your Lottie

I favoured the cover and dig as you go method with my overgrown plot , but like you say each to their own.

If you do some digging now you will start to get a feel for your soil and what it needs. there is no right answer but did you get your plot solely to provide food for the table in which case wait till next spring or do you like me want to get outside and enjoy doing something and also put food on your table in which case get down the plot and start digging.

Even in this cold weather i do down to my plot when not working take a radio and flask down with me and enjoy the solitude and watching the birdlife on my feeder whilst I am digging.  

Hi, Just got my allotment this Oct. faced with lots of grass, thankfully not much worse, decided to remove the grass and the top inch of soil (using this to build a compost heap in the corner) then once removed just single dug it. The plan is to do a bit at a time, and by spring should have enough to start planting in.

Reading all this thread with intrest seems alot of us in the same boat at the moment.

Nice link Richyrich have been thinkin best way to go about it for few weeks now most helpfull.
 
Have decided to cover method and do a bit at a time. So whats the best/cheapest covering material to use ? and also where to i go to buy this stuff? If anyone can point me in right direction that be great.

MW, I posted this on your welcome thread but you may have missed it, so apologies for repeating myself.

If you're actually looking for weed suppressant mulch, Barnitts in York certainly until recently had a good deal on this.  1.2m (I think) x 13m for £5.  It's pre-rolled and packaged, standing in a circular bin just to the left of the horizontal loose fabrics.


I've got some, though haven't yet used it so can't say how thin or substantial it will be.

I also got some heavy-duty woven stuff for paths from Brunswick Organic Nurseries, or Pextons should be able to stock something once Christmas is out of the way.  After that, there's always the big sheds like B&Q on Hull Road.