[vetter]

hi i got a plot last year and half of the plot dug over and rid of any grass and like to knoe if there is any better way of gettig grass up rather of diging it up thanks

[penance]

er, not sure what you are trying to say!

If you are asking about removing turf the digging turf's off is the best method.

[woodburner]

If you had covered the rest of the plot with cardboard or black plastic or the like, you would have hardly any grass to deal with, by now, but if you want to plant stuff on that area this season, you will either have to get digging or stick to things you can grow through mulch.

[PAH48]

Hi... not so long back took on my second plot,
I've done it exactly as my first attempt,(plot )
covered whole area in viscrene (builders DPC plastic )
Sheets of black plastic, old compost bags and cardboard.
Weighted down with bricks ,old buckets..anything...

Left well alone since last November,
now marked out beds..to size I require-want,
moved the covering as nec' , dug a 6ft row at a time.
one spit deep, down on me knee's removed all weeds
and roots....
Sometimes spending a hour at a time , occassionaly longer,
go off do something else..just for the break...
I've now got 6 areas 6ft x 16ft, a few to go...
Started that only 10days or so ago...

As far as I know there is no quick method.
Bit by bit.. is the easiest way...
Keep the areas covered until you are ready to dig,
the grass and roots will be dying off all the while they are covered,
theres always tomorrow... enjoy it.. its fun   

Bye PAH

[sunshineband]

PAH you sound like a real hero sort to be honest. I stripped off turf and stacked it up behind the compost bins. Back breaking but nothing like the immense effoirt you have out in...admiration 

[galen]

PAH I'm glad it's  not just me  I've been digging weeding sorting etc my first plot and it's been taking me the same amount of time (6 feet an hour). I've actually had to take a break for the last couple of days as my joints need to recover, not use to the hard work

I confess I'm only going to do a quarter of the plot this way as I needed to do something, I've left the rest uncovered to allow the perenials to start growing and will be using "roundup" when the conditions are right. I've estimated I've got another 5 days of hand weeding on the quarter bit to go though

Nothing ever gets done in a day 

[woodburner]

PAH you sound like a real hero sort to be honest. I stripped off turf and stacked it up behind the compost bins. Back breaking but nothing like the immense effoirt you have out in...admiration 

Actually. I'd say PAH's method is the easiest. I've tried stripping turf with a spade . . . . .
















Never again!

[PAH48]

Hi..believe me , I'm no hero, I've taken the easy way out, 
At the bottom of my plot theres a mound of soil, clods and general
rubbish... now that, I'm certainly not looking forward too!!!
Its a pile other plot holders have dumped their clods ect. on.

It now must be 22ft x 6ft and at least 4-5ft high, as the area
has remained unused for a goodly while.

The carp that now grows from it, each year, absolutely covers and
flattens a beautiful large bed of autumn raspberries.

Its a job that has to be tackled soon. So as the sheets of plastic
become free to use, I will cover the whole mountain, so to speak,
as previously mentioned. Albeit at a later date, possibly during and
after the main growing season....But! cover ASAP... to limit the amount
of couch and all other nasties..growing and assisting in rotting
their roots.

18 or so months back I wouldn't have had a clue, how to go about
all this work...I've sat here read various threads on the subject....
made many a stupid comment on said threads..(recieved many a virtual
 lashing, for thinking I'd learn't  ) Still learning    ....
but listened and
learn't....made mistakes.. mainly by trying to hurry..You learn..!!!!
believe me...patients..a great asset in gardening.

The one point I would like make is, through this forum,
I can now" try " to  pass on, what others have taught me,
not what I have known for eons , so thanks to the Mods, John
and all participants..for your patients in answering the same old
questions time and again, its this rather than just reading book
after book, sat alone each evening....has become an extention
of my allotments and erge me gently on..Thanks...

Okay I'm going Bye PAH    

[sunshineband]

It's amazing what you can learn like this, and the gentle comments when  clearly you might be on the wrong road .... yes, virtual lashings is another way of saying this  for this, brings a sense of real support.


It's worth it all!!!     Thanks guys!!