[stainesbloke]

Ello, forum newbie here. Obtained an allotment a couple of months ago and would like some advice on clearing the plot. So far I've cleared a third of it, main weeds are couch grass and dandelions. The rest of the plot is quite heavily weed infested, mainly with couch. I'd like to grow as organically as possible but am thinking of using Roundup to initially clear the rest of the plot. Is the best way to cut back the grass to a few inches above ground level, spray, wait a couple weeks for the weeds to die, then apply loads of manure and rotavate/dig it in? Thanks!

[DD.]

You need a good surface area of weed on which to spray and the weeds need to be actively growing, which I suggest is not just yet.

This very recent thread may be of interest:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=102857.0

[stainesbloke]

Thanks for that. Seems that opinion is very divided on the use of herbicides!

[surbie100]

It depends v much on your own philosophy of how you want to manage your plot - opinion is divided on many things here, you just have to go with what works for you. 

I'll use 'em on weeds with roots to the centre of the earth (docks  ) or persistent clumps of couch, but I'd rather dig it out by hand.

[pdblake]

I spot sprayed some couch yesterday. It's just starting to get going, but it's amongst the artichokes, which haven't sprung to life yet, so I thought I'd zap it while I could get at it. Anywhere else on the plot it would have got dug up.

I try to be as organic as possible, if only because I don't want to eat chemicals, but when needs must I'll get a squirty bottle of glyphosphate out, or a tub of slug pellets.

[mumofstig]

I don't think it's a bad thing for initial clearance, It's too easy to get depressed when there's a huge amount to dig and weed 

Once the plot is cleared - whether you ever need to use it again is your choice

[stainesbloke]

Thanks. Think I will use the weed killer just to kill the couch grass, will save my back some pain lol Never used a weed killer before, is it easy to apply and how long do I need to wait til I can dig the plot over?

[Benandbill]

I've read through this and the other link that DD has posted.  Some interesting thoughts from people.  I happen to have a large area of ground badly affected by mare's tail.  Have any of you had success in dealing with this weed?  Those of you who know what I'm referring to here will know how horrible this stuff is.  The other gardeners on my site say i'm wasting my time trying to get rid of it as it goes down to the centre of the earth.

Thoughts anyone>?

[ThatsNice]

It goes down to the centre of the earth.... 

Just keep hoeing it off frequently. Don't let it grow more than an inch or so and eventually it will weaken over time.. years.

[The Golden Heap]

The more greenery and more leaf the better the spray will be received, I am /was the same as you wanting organic but needing progress.  I was told many plot holders loose their way or patience early doors, so I sprayed last year in mid march waited a week ten days then covered the area with Terram.  Whilst digging as much as I could and planting as I went.  In my mind and often supported by the time I got to the covered sprayed areas it was weeks, my earlies were coming up in the ground I had hand dug organically.  The sprayed area I dug at my leisure adding muck as required etc, still have ten feet to go, it did kick start the process and no doubt made it easier, no chemicals have been on my plot for a year now.  Best of luck

[angelavdavis]

Stainesbloke,

I would REALLY recommend you google lasagne gardening and/or take a look at my diary on here.  I have successfully turned around 7 rods of couch choked allotment plot into really productive plots through using lasagne gardening.

Basically, you dig out the pernicious stuff - dandelions, dock, brambles, etc but leave the couch and then decide where you want your beds. 

You then get hold of as much cardboard, newspaper, grass clippings, farm manure, etc as you can get your hands on - I advertise on freecycle/freegle.  Any green and brown compostables you would normally put in a compost heap will do. 

You then start by laying your cardboard straight on top where you want your beds to be, then add a layer of manure (I have tried various ways, this is the best start). You want at least 2 inches of mulch for each layer preferably.  Ensure you soak each layer as you go.  You then alternate green layers with brown layers until you have used up all your supplies.  You top with compost and either leave to rot down, or plant straight in (I tend to plant plants I have started off).  You can top off the whole lot with a thick layer of newspaper if you want, sometimes I do if there is bindweed also in an area, and plant through it.

The piled mulch suppresses the majority of the weeds.  At the end of the season when you remove the existing plants from the beds and replant, you may have to remove the odd few weeds. 

I would also recommend you invest in a roll of weed suppressing membrane - mine cost £30 and lasted me three years!  I then covered all areas I planned to put paths - couch was about 4-6 inches high, but I just weighted it down with old bricks and wood that was on the plot at the time.  In time, I mulched this with free wood chip.

I am gradually building borders for the beds, but progress is dependent on what I can afford as I don't have a cheap supply of old wood.

I have had really good effects with this process and REALLY recommend it if you have couch grass and/or bindweed as your main enemy.  The reason is that you are not disturbing the roots, many times people disturb the roots and make the problem even worse.  This, coupled with mulching weakens the weed.  If your soil is compacted, it is worth pushing a fork into the soil, wiggling it about to loosen the structure, then continue every foot or so.

I have recently taken on another 2 rods, and, because there are so many changes of level in such a small area, I am forced to dig instead of just building lasagne beds.  I am truly hating it - progress is really slow as I am not a strong digger anyway as I have a weak back.

By the way, I am not against spraying, I just prefer to use it in isolated cases - such as on couch that crops up around the path edges (although very often, I simply scrape back the bark chips, add another patch of weed suppressing fabric and cover it up again!).  You can also only use it when weed growth starts, which is when you want to start planting really.

Re Marestail, I have read that a combination of constant hoeing, to weaken the plant, and very thick mulching (6 inches) is the best approach.  However, I say this only through research, rather than personal experience and there are people on here with more expertise than me.

[Sparkyrog]

Re Marestail it is my experience that you just have to live with it ! Myself and a neighbor I both have it, we have tried sprays total waste of time and money even if you use a garden roller to bruise the plant. He dug and cleaned every year , I just rotavated with in a month he would have as much as I did. It comes in from surrounding fields and I just keep the hoe going 

[mumofstig]

Not everyone wants beds ...........  just a thought  

[angelavdavis]

Not everyone wants beds ...........  just a thought  

You cover the area you wish to cultivate, it makes no difference if you have beds or not - the process is the same, you just have to tackle what you can with the resource available.