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Overgrown plot to veg patch???

sue4000sue4000 Posts: 3
in Problem solving

I have a large overgrown garden with great potential. We are trying to make one part a veg plot. Currently this has hazel and plum seedlings, brambles, nettles, docks, green alkanet etc. but then this is most of the garden! I've chopped a lot back but the ground has so many roots and is very difficult to dig! We were thinking of covering it with something after putting some root killer down... Is this the right thing to do? Can anyone recommend a fabric to buy. Most of the weed suppressant is only 1m wide! I don't think cardboard would suffice and I don't have any carpet available!

Or if anyone has any better Ideas I'd be all ears.. we're possibly going to use raised beds but we need your ideas!

Thanks for the help.

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    I am a firm believer in a pick-axe, sharp shovel, garden sieve, bin bags and lots of time image

    but then I like a challenge and usually choose the hardest route. The only root killers I know that work need the ground left for months anyway, I have used them on brambles around the boundary where nothing was going to be planted. There are some really clever folk here who may be able to give you a better solution. Personally I have found carpet and cardboard etc. only puts off the inevitable which is fine if you are tackling bits at a time.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619

    It's highly likely root killer will leech into your vegetables from the soil- not to mention any of the other issues associated to it- usually a big sell for home-grown veg is that it's organic and not toxic!

    If you can't dig the roots out and aren't able/willing to hire or buy a rotavator perhaps the solution is to use raised beds. You can successfully grow root vegetables without worrying about stones!

    With regard to weed suppressant fabric, I really wouldn't bother.  After it's decayed in 2 years you'll find it harder to pull up than any weeds.  Once the weeds get a root underneath, when you pull them up it brings the sheet with it, making it far harder to get out and ruining your sheet.  Once you're up and running it's not so hard to keep on top of the weeds

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,145

    We found that roots from nearby trees grew upwards through weed suppressant fabric into the raised beds, as the soil there was moist and the trees were seeking water.

    Get rid of the trees/saplings/suckers properly by digging them out before trying to garden there - there is no short cut image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • sue4000sue4000 Posts: 3

    Thanks. I've been pickaxing the pathways to remove the green alkanet and couch grass that is also rampant! I just need more muscle I think! image

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    Don't give up! Especially with the couch grass image

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108

    Im a big fan of weed fabric, carpet, cardboard, and anything else i can get my hands on.  I use ground cover solutions for weed fabric it comes up to 4.5m i think.  Its a good product. 

    I dont think i would use it on a veg patch or for a temporary solution, its more for going permanently under gravel, chips etc.  

    I would forget the weedkiller and try cardboard.  Also try and get some carpet or underlay, you can usually get it free from freecycle or gumtree. 

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