Hi everyone.
So I have a new Allotment which I've started out on.
I've a few beds going well with spuds, carotts and a few other things in.
Most people have warned me not to go mad in the first year so with this in mind I'm planning an easier way to clear the remaining Grass and weed covered part of my plot.
I'm planning to cut the grass, cover the lot in newspaper and then loads of compost that was already on the plot. Leave it until next spring. Maybe do some digging in spring once the grass and compost has broken down. Probably plant spuds into it and skip the spring digging!
Has anyone tried this or does anyone have any advice about this?
Will it work? should I add horse manure?
The area also has Bind weed in it it I'll probably just spot spray these *.
Many thanks in advance
Hi Richard,
As AllomentAnn has mentioned, I have used this process to good effect with raised beds. Three years on I have eradicated couch grass and practically eradicated bindweed using no dig processes from my first plot. I spent last year setting up new beds on a newly acquired 2.5 rod plot and have just completed 7 new beds in this way on a new 5 rod plot I took over in mid-April (the other beds were partly dug by previous tenants, so I dug them over and weeded well, but I have now noticed that the couch is slowly returning to these beds).
It is
not an easier option to digging. It is simply an alternative. As has been mentioned, sourcing and shifting large amounts of composting layers is not an easy job. I am fortunate that I have found a manure supplier that delivers cheaply, free grass clippings delivered by a local landscaping company, cardboard on freecycle and lots of stinging nettles and comfrey growing around the site that I can use in the layers.
I personally feel that it is the only method to remove the couch grass issue I suffer with on my plots. I hate digging and my back isn't keen on it either! I recommend using cardboard, overlapped by at least 15cm instead of newspaper as the initial layer and you do need to dig out as many perennial weeds as possible. I also tend to plant on top of my layers of mulch (which I top with compost) immediately, rather than waiting for it to rot down first. You need to ensure you water and compress each layer well to stop root-unfriendly dry air-pockets developing. Many recommend setting them up in autumn to overwinter instead though as you have suggested.
Come the end of the harvesting season, I usually find that the bindweed is seriously weakened and easy to remove by hand. Small, tenacious patches can always be spot treated with glyphosate as you have hinted you have no problem doing this. I have tended to do this around the edges where the beds meet the paths in spring in the first couple of seasons after developing the plots. I also don't keep grass paths, but use weed suppressant fabric topped with bark chips.
Contrary to Totty's experience, I have actually found it a very good process for setting up new plots - if you are planning to use raised beds. It is also excellent for maintaining the plots, although I don't tend to give the beds the full treatment every year, just adding a layer of newspaper and manure/HM compost more to keep down the surface weeds once a year (planting through this for long-standing crops such as brassicas and leeks).
There is a lot of information on no-dig online. Charles Dowding has been mentioned. I would recommend you google "lasagne gardening" and look on Youtube where there are lots of videos explaining the technique.
I have a diary on here that describes how I have used on my plots. Good luck with it!