Covered allotment

Hi everyone, The wife and I both new to gardening, so any help would be appreciated, but to get started our plot has been covered with carpet to reduce the weeds, and it seems to have worked, but what if any fertiliser or manure might be needed to spread or dig in?
We also have a lovely apple tree on our allotment but it is smothered with Ivy, any suggestions on how to get rid of the Ivy ?? Many Thanks.

Our rules say that carpet is not allowed. Mainly because weeds grow through it eventually and it can be a pain to clear away. One of our plot holders was digging out lengths of "string" and fibres from rotted down carpet for at least three years after he first dug over his plot.

At this time of the year with weed growth hopefully beginning to slow down, digging in compost and/or manure will improve the soil and reduce the need for fertilisers next season. Yes you should do it as if the allotment has been covered this means that no work on the soil has been done so it won't be in the best state. It will need digging over once the carpet has gone to let the winter weather deal with any pests in the soil (slug and snail eggs are the first that come to mind) you should get started and work gently from now on.

You may find that there is ivy in the area of the fruit tree and you need to move all the runners to stop it spreading all round everywhere. You could try cutting the ivy very carefully ground level to stop it growing any more but I am no expert in renovating ivy covered trees.

Cant comment on the carpet, but the ivy is a very important wildlife food resource over the winter.  It is the last to flower and the berries are important in the Jan / Feb period. 

So wait till March, but before the birds start nesting, and cut it off carefully a bit above ground level and pull as much out as you can. The rest will die off eventually (you will cuss the leaves when they drop). Then you can prune the apple before it gets to growing  and shape it up nicely.  Give it a good feed and mulch to get it going.  You will have to keep an eye on the ivy and just keep cutting it back until it weakens and gives up.  With luck the apple will be so happy you will have loads of blossom and fruit next year.

Welcome from North Derbyshire.

As well as cycle shops for card board , try appliance retailers. The packaging is also useful for lining the compost bin, made from pallets of course as it helps protect the wood to a point and will eventually rot down.

Barrow load of info on these pages and plenty of brains to answer your questions.

Don't go too heavy handed at pruning the apple if ithas neen neglected or you will end up with hundreds of 'water shoots'. Best to spread the regeneration over a couple of years.