Congrats on getting a plot!!
Ours was empty for around 5 yrs - we have lots of bindweed and couch grass
as well as brambles and nettles to name a few. We cut down what we could, removed all the carpets left by previous tenants (Not an easy job), cleared all that we could of the surface roots and covered all of it, pulling back bit by bit as we had the time to clear.
This is our second season of having the plot (I was pregnant when allocated the plot so its this year we are really getting stuck into it). We had a few moments of thinking how do we make a start on such a big task
, but with that approach we managed to clear enough space to grow some potato's, cabbage, leeks, runner beans and sweetcorn oh and beetroot on what we cleared.
very satisfying :happy:
Best advise I can give from experience on the bindweed and couch grass is to get as much root up as you can. The bindweed is a bit relentless even if covered so you will find it peeping out at the sides looking for light and the roots go pretty deep as well any bit left will grow. We wanted to avoid weedkillers but did resort to round up finally towards the end of the summer. We put in plenty of time digging to lift roots and weeding every time anything popped up. Tho bindweed is a bit fidally between crops because of its roots!!
This year on the ground worked on last year, there is defnitely less evidence of bindweed roots, so we plan to leave it a few weeks to see what comes up and either dig up what we can or use round up again depending on the quantity.
There are others on the forum that will know loads more, but thought Id share our experience. Dont get disheartened focus on getting a bit of ground cleared ready for planting!! It really perked me up knowing I was going to the plot to tend some veg and not just weeding and digging!!