[fatbelly]

Hi,
In late May of this year I got a half plot and was very happy even though the plot was full of Dock, Couch and Mares tail.





So to get rid of this lot I initially decided to use Round Up, which had some effect but not on the Mares Tail. A friend of mine said he had some weed control fabric at work and did I want some.
Of course I did and on it went round about around about early August. Up to this point it was taking me ages to hand weed each segment.



Now in September and only six weeks later this is what the soil looks like when the fabric is peeled back



This makes weeding soooo much easier all thought the fabric has not been on the plot long enough to kill all the weeds. The light deprivation has only been four weeks and I know it won't yet kill the weeds, but it does seriously weaken the blighters making digging much much easier.



As you can see I still have over half to do but the weed fabric has Organically made the job so much better.
What I do is peel back dig with a fork and then hand weed. Then leave the bit that I have done for a week, then hoe to bring any seeds that are in the soil to germinate and then lightly dig over again with a fork to get rid of the weed seeds that were in the soil and have germinated through the digging and hoeing.

I can't wait for next season.  

[agapanthus]

What a great result Fatbelly...well done and hears hoping for a great 2008 harvest for you!

[new_2_veg]

looking good, great start for next year

nathan

[gobs]

Good job, you are surely in for the rewards!

[muntjac]

bet ya not such a fat belly turning tha lot over matey  

[fatbelly]

bet ya not such a fat belly turning tha lot over matey  

Funny you should say this because when I started in May, I commented to my Wife that ALL of my fellow Plotters were slim ands since I have started the Old Fatbelly has definitely decreased.  

[muntjac]

who wants to pay for slimming diets eh mate    

[Trillium]

Good catch on that heavier weed fabric, Fatbelly. Can't wait to see next year's growing results  

[John]

Well done but I'm afraid the horsetail might well come back on you - the only thing I've found effective against it is a weedkiller with ammonium sulphamate in it - like brushwood killer.

[muntjac]

my monsanto glyphos werks john .if i could get it through the post id send ya some lol...... great for vandals and conifers

[John]

Ordinary glyphosate knocks it back but it recovers - maybe more effective at this time of year as the palnt takes it down to the roots. That's the problem with horsetail, bit of live root and it's back.

[shaun]

great job belly soil looks great . I cant see no marestail in your pics

[ness]

:oops:  :oops: Misread the title and was expecting wedding photos!
I do love a good wedding! Still looks good though!

[Little Miss Muffet]

looks great.here hoping you to have a fine 2008 harvest.