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New Allotment - Manuring and or covering with sheeting
amycomrie18
Posts: 2
Hello,
A few months ago we got an allotment, it was extremely overgrown and the soil is full of weeds. We've since cleared the plot and laid a plastic weed membrane on top and are now gradually putting in some raised beds. There has been some manure left by a local farmer which we have laid on top, but have then re-covered with the plastic weed membrane.
My question is, is this correct? Do we need to cover it, or should we leave it uncovered for the frost to get to? I'm worried that if we leave it uncovered all those weeds we have managed to kill will grow back.
Thank you
0
Posts
Brilliant - thank you for your advice, we will dig on!
Sorry to say you will never get rid of weeds BUT you can keep them under control
Have had an allotment for a few years and use a bit of both , covering with plastic until spring
and weeding a bed & cover with a manure / compost mulch
Do use weed killer on paths , with Bark chipping and edging
We also use weed killer on horse tail
Best of luck
NB . This is a great site for practical advice
I do both.
Also, covering, first with cardboard, muck then plastic works well, the worms pull the muck into the soil whist the dark will kill the weeds due to lack of light.
In April or a couple of weeks before planting, pull back the plastic, dig the soil over removing all further weeds and leave for a couple of weeks, any weeds which grow dig out again before planting out.
Good luck and happy growing.