[Lady Lottie]

hmmmm ....I have read such horror stories about bindweed!  Oh and even WORSE - the bowling secretary tells me they have got Japanese Knotweed on their land..towards the allotment end of the area!    Hope it flippin' stays there! :blink:

In the end though, after much pondering, I thought I would just TRY the black plastic and "systematic digging of small areas" route first.  I may well be back here in a month or two pleading for advice on how to administer the most evil weedkiller legally available!

[SnooziSuzi]

Wow!  what a good job you've done there so far!

I bet that most folks would have been put off taking on that plot because of all of the brambles etc but with a bit of patience and hard work you'll have it looking like you want it to in no time (but be aware that it takes years to get it how you want it  )

Re the bindweed and brambles reappearing;  just keep at them in the bits you cultivate and don't be afraid to use Roundup or similar on the bits you are keeping down; even if you plan on doing it organically you will need all of the help you can get to start with.

I was dead set against using it when I took my extra plot on, but one of me and 2 full plots full of weeds and rubbish is no easy task to master.  Lots of folks use it as a last ditch effort to rid themselves of persistant weeds - just use it on a dry still day when the weeds are actually growing; ie april onwards.

Congrats, good luck and welcome to the site 

[poultrygeist]

The topic comes up now and then.

This is quite an informative one...

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=25153.0

It may be worth taking advice on knotweed if you think it is there. There's a link to the gardenorganic webiste that may help with the bindweed too.

Rob

[Bombers]

Hi LL and BTW. welcome to the site.

Pesonally, I would take the following approach...

[Lady Lottie]

Thank you SnooziSuzi

I was dead set against using it when I took my extra plot on

  ooooo....that sounds scarily like me!  I'm gonna end up caving in aren't I?  I can see it coming!

[Lady Lottie]

ahhh dear. pmp Bombers.

WHEN ARE YOU FREE?? We can take the Japanese Knotweed out as well!

[Bombers]

ahhh dear. pmp Bombers.

WHEN ARE YOU FREE?? We can take the Japanese Knotweed out as well!

Sorry LL, Gotta date with a load of Black gold this weekend. I'll give you a call.

[Lady Lottie]

That's worm poo right...?

[Bombers]

That's worm poo right...?

Well, Big black 'n white worms with udders... if that's what you mean!

[Lady Lottie]

Oh!!   I didn't realise there was more than one! lol  Oops!

[Lady Lottie]

The topic comes up now and then.

This is quite an informative one...

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=25153.0

It may be worth taking advice on knotweed if you think it is there. There's a link to the gardenorganic webiste that may help with the bindweed too.

Rob

Thank you...gosh it seems there are ENDLESS theories about this dastardly weed!  I even read something about pulling all the leaves off it to exhaust the plant - must have been talking about a smallish crop then!?  I just hope and pray I never see it - ever, ever, ever.

[alfman]

 LadyLottie, I wouldn't bother with grass clippings from the bowling club,they are not any use for anything I've found. They're no good as a feed and they don't even rot down. They just go slimy and black. the only thing I've used them for is a mulch for beans and peas.

[Lady Lottie]

Oh....okay alfman, I'll bear that in mind...I had a mind to mix them up with any fallen leaves they ALSO seem keen to give me!!  Think they view me as their personal waste tip really....it is obvious they have been fly tipping on the unused allotment plot over the fence for years.... cheeky devils.  The only difference now it seems is that they are ASKING! lol  Maybe I will just politely tell them they will have to get rid of their waste elsewhere as soon as my compost bins are full.....wonder whey the grass clippings don't rot down though..that's just plain weird....any ideas..?  Would the addition of lime help..?  guessing here....

[Yorkie]

To make good compost you need a good mix of soft and hard material.  Grass clippings are really soft, they decompose quickly but need some more solid stuff layered in or they simply become a slimy mess, as alfman said.  You need to be really careful not to add too many clippings at once, just use a small layer of different things in turn.

adding lime won't alter the basic composition of the grass.

[Lady Lottie]

Ahhh....thank you Yorkie1 - I will remember that for the future.  That is also probably why my compost bin at home has been a total failure -  it has things growing in it! :blink:  Not enough careful layering and too much "chuck  it in and hope for the best" I think!  Its not as easy as it sounds this composting malarkey is it??