Grass removal
tinribs75
Posts: 2
I hope someone can help. I took over an allotment in summer last year and spent some time removing some of the long grass and covering the rest. Where I removed it, I double-dug in a lot of compost (the allotment hadn't been used for a few years) and got it ready for sowing in the new year. This was a couple of months ago. However, a lot of grass started to grow on these patches and when I checked this week it was almost a lawn!!
I'm very new to gardening And I don't get much time to look after the patch. I assume I've done something wrong and need to put it right over the next 2 months.
So, can somebody help with the best way to remove the grass and weeds for good without using any weed killer? And what did I do wrong...?
thanks in advance. Tim
Posts
There was probably a lot of grass seed in the mix. In the warm damp weather it has germinated. If they are just seedlings, hoe them off. If they are the perennial couch grass type, fork it all over again, removing any piece of root you can find. Burn or council bin it. (Do not compost it) Then cover it for winter with thick black plastic or layers of cardboard. When you remove it in spring, it should have warmed the soil and be ready for sowing.
how long did you leave the cover on before you dug it?
if it was only a few weeks you basically fed the weeds and then left them to go bonkers!
if you're covering an area with plastic/card board etc. I would recommend leaving it down for at least 4 months, 6 would be better.
an allotment takes a lot of work, you need to be there at least one a week in winter (to make sure the site is still ok, buildings or greenhouse haven't been damaged) and at least three times a week (or every other day if you can) in summer (to keep on top of weeding and harvesting)
Last edited: 18 November 2016 10:31:42
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll be spending the day hoeing and covering the patch tomorrow.