[tallgingerbloke]

Hi,

My plot is gradually getting greener with weeds and I have set myself a target of clearing it over Easter in order to have it in good condition for planting.

I have heard that digging and weeding in sodden soil is bad for it, destroying the structure. If this is the case then has anyone got any techniques for getting all the weeds/ couch grass out without destroying the soil ?

Very grateful for any help, don't want my plot to become a mess.

Cheers Tim

[Salmo]

This weather seems to have no end but Spring will arrive eventually. You need to be patient and keep off the soil while it is so wet. If you handle soil when it is wet it will go very sad and slump. These are gardening terms for a mess.

If it is greening up with weeds and too wet to handle you can spray the weeds off with Roundup. They will then be dead and easier to dig when the ground does dry.

Get hold of a scaffolding board or similar and stand on it when you dig or cultivate the soil.That will stop your feet from compacting the soil. That applies even when soil is dry.

[crh75]

Depending on your situation, I would...

If your soil is well cultivated and the weed seeds are just starting to germinate, I would rake over the soil to kill them.

If you are starting from basically uncultivated ground (at least not cultivated in the last few years) I would not worry too much about the structure now and concentrate on digging it over.  The soil structure will come from the following years of working and incorporating organic matter.

[simonwatson]

Rake or hoe with a long handle from the edge of the bed. That way you have some chance of keeping control without ending up with compacted concrete come spring. Assuming we get a spring.

[tallgingerbloke]

Thanks for the help, planks of wood and a hoe I think :-)

[Ivor Backache]

This weather seems to have no end but Spring will arrive eventually.

                                                                                                                                                          Actually it's the day after tomorrow.