[Christine]

We've had so many problems on our allotments with carpet that the new rules have banned them anywhere. It's people who take advantage.

I think that mum is right to start off with membrane and black plastic as that will avoid the complications of stuff growing through carpet when she's trying to get the plot clear. I've had the pleasure of rolling off couch/nettle ridden carpet and having to dispose of it. It sure does not help a clearing project.

[Salmo]

Good luck with this. It looks a good plot. Cover it all with plastic sheet to keep the weeds in control. Dig a small piece at a time and do it properly.

Personally I would glyphosate the lot before you put the sheets on, but that is your choice. I would spray it now. It will work at low temperatures but avoid frosty days when you apply it. It will kill anything with a green leaf showing and there will no doubt be some further sprouting from dormant weeds. You then have the choice of a second application later, or dig.

[snowdrops]

Yesterday I watched the full Back to Eden film, I'd seen snippets before but now the full 11/2 hours is available for free, if it's mainly just grass type weeds, they dealt with it by covering with newspaper & then wood chips. But I think you'd need to wait a long time before planting would be successful, but you could do that on some of the plot & clear some beds for this years growing. I was quite impressed with it. I've been using lasagne style gardening for a while on some of my beds, which is a bit the same. It works well,but is hard graft to get the quantities of compostable mulch needed. I haven't done it on a plot covered in weeds though

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=122608.0

[mrsbean]

When i took over my half of the plot 12yrs ago we dug up 5 carpets at the bottom end. I moved a lot of my rhubarb last october and still dug up parts of same carpet. Rhubarb did ok there hope the flowers i put in instead do the same. Just shows how long things take to biodegrade. Could you rotovate the plot to speed things up to give you a small planting area to start with.

[mum51965]

Well I was down there this morning in the rain laying black plastic and starting with the clearing. The patch to the left is run wild (and council strimmed) raspberry canes. I hope to start on clearing them next week.

[Christine]

You've started - that's a good feeling. And you didn't go mad but did what looks like enough to make you tired. The soil looks nice but is probably in need of organic matter to help with fertility (that covers anything from manure to compost). After my experience with plot clearing last season, see what you can scrounge to help the soil along. You don't want to be spending energy for meagre rewards do you? Perhaps fellow plot holders can direct you to free sources of organic matter.

[mum51965]

On a good note, there are literally hundreds of earthworms, about 10 a spadeful. The soil looks great, but the council supply free compost at the dump so I will pop up there and load up the car a bit at a time.

[Plotmaster]

Check out your local coffee shop for coffee grounds to be used as free fertiliser and slugs and snails hate the stuff.