[stephent]

I have cleared the whole site and started digging a section that I intend to grow veg in.

I wish to plant some canes this winter in an area that has quite a bit of weed.

Now I have few options on how to do this.

1. Fully clear the weed and plant the canes This will take quite a while and will be a big job.
2. Dig trenches and clear as much weed as possible from those and plant.
3. Dig trenches and clear weeds, also dig around 1m either side of trench and clear best as possible. Then cover with a membrane and woodchip to walk on.

What do you guys think?

[Yorkie]

Clear the site before putting them in permanent planting position.

If you leave weeds they will just grow back.

[allotmentann]

I have to agree. Raspberries may be there for many years and you will be constantly struggling to remove the roots of perennial weeds, this is especially difficult with raspberries as they are shallow rooted and attempts to weed often uproot the whole cane. I know this for a fact as on the second plot I work the plot holder wouldn't let me clear the ground properly first and it is driving me nuts trying to clear it afterwards - infact in many places you can't without disturbing the cane. You can always 'heel' them in somewhere whilst you clear.

[stephent]

  looks like I will be busy this weekend then.

[stephent]

Oh well, change of plan. I started to dig the area I was going to dedicate to fruit seems to be the worst area for weeds. I have rescued some existing canes on the plot and put them into a pot for now.

I think I will need to cover and roundup this area as its so bad. Will post a few pictures in the weed thread.