[Cirrus]

We have just taken on a new allotment plot. We have scythed the tall grass down to ground level and cut down a lot of bramble and small self seeded trees. The ground has lots of roots and mini stumps etc. in it. To make digging easier, we are planning to cover the ground with a mulch and then black membrane until next Spring. I know that won't take care of the roots but I'm hoping they will be slightly easier to dig out? One thing I have noticed is that the ground is really, really uneven, it's almost hilly! Does anyone have any idea why this might be? I think there are a lot of ants nests, and quite a bit of buried carpet etc. which I expect to find next year when we start digging. What is the best way of getting it level next year? Would it be rotavating?

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you.

[rowlandwells]

well cirrus it sounds like you've taken on quite a job of bringing that plot back from nature to a plot where you can start growing again

I'm not going to tell you what to do only what i would be doing in sort of situation because i had something like you've taken on a few years ago and yes i scythed all the tall grass down cleared of the plot then sprayed the hole plot with proper a roundup mix

after around 3 weeks i scuffled the plot with my tractor pulling all the dead grass  and weeds together with a few bramble bushes i used a tractor because it was quite a large plot to clear by hand

i stacked all the grass and rubbish in a heap to sort out at a later date but the ground was once again looking like an allotment plot and  not a neglected dump then i just kept keeping the plot weed free till Autumn i then ploughed the ground about 9 inches and left it overwinter then come spring i used my rotavator to cultivate the ground that came down to fine tilth so we planted all of it with a crop of potatoes and harvested a very good crop that year

as for the heap of weeds and rubbish i sorted that out in the winter months and when it was dry burnt it i have to say when i cleaned the plot so it was clean and tidy the  council ask me if i still wanted to carry on renting it needless to say they got there answer and i still rent it