[Moonshine132435]

After spending a while on my council's waiting list I've finally lucked into a plot at our local allotment; half of me is mad exited and planning away, the other half is a little daunted by the scale of what I'm taking on.

The plot is largely grass and dandilions, with a small patch of brambles. I chopped these down last weekend; my plan is to strim the whole plot down, clear the vegetation for composting, nuke the whole thing with some Roundup and then cover it up while I work out what's next.

Carpet is frowned on at my allotments (and it would take an aweful lot of it in any case) so I'm debating whether to go with some cheap blue tarpaulin which has the benfit of having holes at the edges so I can easily secure it with tent pegs, versus  the more common weed control matting I see a lot of other people use. The weed matting is permeable, but does that really make a difference when I'm just trying to discourage any weeds growing before I start digging?

[smud6ie]

If you strim off the growth you will have to wait for it to grow again to use the weed killer.
Those cheap polytarps let too much light through to kill off weeds,or the ones I've seen do.
smud6ie

[Yorkie]

Tarpaulins have their uses but they don't let air and water through.  This makes the soil sour over time, so isn't recommended.  It is also slippery when wet.

Woven weed suppressant of decent quality doesn't let light through, but is healthier for the soil and not slippery.

[Ice]

I would use the roundup and strim afterwards when it's dying back.  You need actively growing leaves for it to be effective.

[sunshineband]

Cheap blue tarp lets quite a lot of light through and so plants grow very happily beneath it 

[teamspotty]

Weedkiller then tarp it. I presume you mean the very large ones from B&Q, double them up, it won't kill everything but it will help 90%.

[Ice]

Weedkiller then tarp it. I presume you mean the very large ones from B&Q, double then up, it won't kill everything but it will help 90%.

I refer you to replies number 2 & 4 above. ^^

[Trillium]

Much as I hate to use it but Roundup does have times it's a huge backsaver.

As Ice says, strim, rake, then spray your weedy area. Once it dries, if you're keen to cover it, then spread opened cardboard boxes on top and weight them down. spread so that no gaps show and this will really put the death sentence on weeds. The cardboard will eventually compost down so you'll have nothing to lift.

[teamspotty]

Weedkiller then tarp it. I presume you mean the very large ones from B&Q, double then up, it won't kill everything but it will help 90%.

I refer you to replies number 2 & 4 above. ^^

Doubling them up will reduce the amount of light through and will kill 90% of the weeds.....

The important term here is *doubling up* - i.e. two layers (not a single layer which won't kill ANY weeds)....

[smud6ie]

As Ice says, strim, rake, then spray your weedy area.

Do they have Specsavers in Canada or any chance of a bottle of what you were on last night?
smud6ie
 Quote Ice  "I would use the roundup and strim afterwards when it's dying back.  You need actively growing leaves for it to be effective"

[Moonshine132435]

Thanks for all the answers guys; I think I'm going to stim it back a bit, rake it then nuke it. I like the cardboard idea, seems to be killing two birds with one stone.

[Yorkie]

There is no point in strimming before applying the weedkiller, as others have said.  You need the plant to be actively growing - and if you strim off the foliage first then it can't absorb the chemicals.

Nuke, wait a week or so for the chemicals to start to be absorbed, then strim, then cover.

[ulsterfairy]

Agree with the nuke it then wait before strimming comments!! 

Even with doubling the cheap tarp it didnt deter bind weed, docks or brambles on our plot (Which we strimmed before covering minus roundup), it did all the "weaker" weeds!! 

The bit we nuked end of growing season last year and didnt cover is now very manageable bindweed an all, any new weed growth is getting hoe'd apart from bindweed which  wiil be havin a visit from weed killer again!!

Plus the tarp does get very slippy especially doubled over in my experience (Yes I have landed on me behind!!) 

[teamspotty]

Agree with the nuke it then wait before strimming comments!! 

Even with doubling the cheap tarp it didnt deter bind weed, docks or brambles on our plot (Which we strimmed before covering minus roundup), it did all the "weaker" weeds!! 

The bit we nuked end of growing season last year and didnt cover is now very manageable bindweed an all, any new weed growth is getting hoe'd apart from bindweed which  wiil be havin a visit from weed killer again!!

Plus the tarp does get very slippy especially doubled over in my experience (Yes I have landed on me behind!!) 

yep only 90% of weeds, bramble will be too hardy and will force its way out, can get slippy (I hope you didn't injure yourself), but it does help and is cheap... (I think the huge blue ones from B&Q are £16)...

[ulsterfairy]

Teamspotty I have plenty of padding so no  :happy:

We do still have a bit covered in tarp until we get time to do that bit!!