Allotment final may have one soon

savemoney

Having applied for an allotment in June 2009.I got a call from council that I can view an allotment this afternoon. Not sure whether its half an allotment or a full one. It only 10 minutes at most walk away from my house

wellused

Go for it I have just been to the allotment this morning for a spot of clearing up and digging, got finished just as it started raining home for a hot shower and a bite to eat, now feeling slightly achy but pleased with what was achieved. Same again for a few hours tomorrow if the weather allows. Can't beat free exercise why pay to go to the gym.

savemoney

Well seen the allotment and whilst its been cut down the shrubbery/weeds, it needs strong weed killer, turning over and some sort of fencing. I officially get it in Jan but can start work now.


click to enlarge
[IMG]http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/<a href=http://postimg.org/image/caeqdee3p/ target=_blank rel=nofollow>[/img]

savemoney

Am I right in thinking its best to get the soil turned over with a rotovator and then in Spring spray all the weeds with a strong weedkiller in Spring when weeds will start to grow. I have seen one on ebay called Rosate 36 - 5L (Glyphosate)which says "After application, glyphosate is strongly adsorbed onto the soil particles and becomes practically immobilized within the soil. As a result, Rosate 36 has no further herbicidal activity and it is subsequently broken down by microbial activity. New crops can be sown or planted at very short intervals after application."

Also looking at a cheap way to get a fence maybe put tantalized posts and put a wire fence up

I later want to add a shed for tools, storage etc. I thought about getting one 2nd hand but then there is problem of transport. I have a car but doubt parts of a shed will fit in

Mojisola

Have you got your copy of the rules and regs for your allotment society? Don't plan fence/sheds/etc until you know what's allowed.

savemoney

Yes I have a copy it says I need to seek permission from council. Can't see it being a issue as most of the allotments have home made sheds, some look like they going to fall down or a few are pre built shed you buy

wellused

I wouldn't use a rotovator as it looks as if the ground hasn't been turned for some time and it will be full of perennial weeds, a rotovator will chop the perennial weeds up which will spread and increase them next year. If you spray in the spring your neighbours may have plants in the ground which the weed killer will kill if the spray drifts on to them. I would pull as much of the weed and grass out of the soil as I could and then cover the ground with a something to prevent light getting to the weeds, uncover sections and dig with a spade removing the weed roots as you go.

safestored4

From your photographs you have quite a big job on your hands and from experience of taking over a plot in a similar state 10 years ago my advice would be don't plan on doing everything at once.

It would be futile to apply weedkiller to the whole plot. The weeds will come back long before you have got all the ground turned over. The comment about a rotovator is spot on. The ground may look clean to start with but you will still have to dig out the perrenial weeds and small pieces are much harder to remove than long strands.

Start by deciding where you are going to put any permanant features - a shed, compost heaps etc. This area needn't be tackled at once for next years planting.

Unless rabbits are a problem why do you need any fencing?

Start clearing the ground on a systematic basis. For example, clear the weeds from a bed about 4 foot wide across the front of the plot.
Once this is clear make it your priority to go over this again for a few minutes every time you visit to keep it clean, and then make a start on another bed following the same procedure. There are variations on this approach, but you get the idea. Just make sure weeds don't get the chance to re-establish themselves in the area you have cleared.

While this is going on cover as much of the rest of the plot as you can with any weed suppressing material you can lay your hands on. Old carpets, plastic sheeting, cardboard etc. By excluding the light you will kil off many of the weeds.

I could go on all day but will finish by saying that it took me two years to complete the task but it has been worth it for the last eight. It has been most disappointing over this time, however, to see a steady stream of new plotholders arrive full of enthusiasm who go mad for the first few weeks, overdo it, and then get disheartened and give up.

Yorkie1

Roseate is a product for professional use only so I suggest you go for a different glyphosate based product, and as you say apply it in spring once the weeds are growing again (no point if they're not).

I agree with the others that rotavating is a mistake unless you're sure that the weeds are dead - it will just chop them up into lots of little new plants!!

warehouse

There is absolutely no need for weedkiller. Simply cover with cardboard and let nature do the job without poisoning the soil.

Just remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Mojisola

warehouse wrote: »

There is absolutely no need for weedkiller. Simply cover with cardboard and let nature do the job without poisoning the soil.

Just remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

I'm all for avoiding chemical weedkillers but nothing will get killed off by covering it with cardboard for just one winter.

If the ground is to be used in the Spring, the weeds will have to be physically removed or killed off when they start growing again.