New plot, is this ok to do??

**pipkins** · 31-08-2010, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by buela92 View Post

Hi, a bit of advice please...I've just managed to clear my new plot of the years of rubbish it has managed to acquire, and have dug a couple of beds. I seem quite fortunate as the majority of weeds appear to be mainly meadow grass (no couch so far), and it now resembles something similar to an allotment

My question is this. Am I ok to dig an area over, leaving the roots of the grass exposed and the shoots upside down so that it eventually rots down, or do I need to go through every inch of it removing the grass and roots? This is my first attempt at anything more advanced than weeding as a child so any advice is very welcome.

Hello and welcome

It would be better to dig it all up and find a corner to stack it so that it rots down.

Have fun

**buela92** · 31-08-2010, 08:37 AM

Hi sara, thanks for the welcome...Will give my shoulders a days rest before I start doing that!

**Two_Sheds** · 31-08-2010, 08:46 AM

I have dug up lawn grass (a lot of lawn!) and simply buried it upside down so it rots. You get a little regrowth, but not too much.

Obviously you can't do this with couch grass.

**Flummery** · 31-08-2010, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

I have dug up lawn grass (a lot of lawn!) and simply buried it upside down so it rots. You get a little regrowth, but not too much.

Obviously you can't do this with couch grass.

So have I - it doesn't re-grow if you double dig - remove the turf, dig out the spade depth underneath, put the turf in upside down then replace the soil. Easier to do if you do a row at a time so there's somewhere to put the dug out soil.

PS - ditto the couch - it's a beggar!

**buela92** · 31-08-2010, 09:30 AM

Thanks Two Sheds, also my soil is pretty stony, I have read on here that this shouldn't be a problem except for carrots/parsnips, and that most other things will grow without a problem. Has anyone had any experience with similar issues that can offer some advice. I know these questions might seem a bit daft but I have taken the plunge, and am pretty much flying blind at the moment!

**Bigmallly** · 31-08-2010, 09:45 AM

I run over my beds with a hoe every week & it seems to keep the weed level down & easier to collect.

**Keith2202** · 31-08-2010, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by buela92 View Post

Thanks Two Sheds, also my soil is pretty stony, I have read on here that this shouldn't be a problem except for carrots/parsnips, and that most other things will grow without a problem. Has anyone had any experience with similar issues that can offer some advice. I know these questions might seem a bit daft but I have taken the plunge, and am pretty much flying blind at the moment!

As I was digging over my very weedy plot, I got fed up of "Claaaaang" as I put my fork in, and the jarring was giving me a headache. So as I was bending down to pick out the weed roots, I started collecting up the stones too. I used them for making paths between some beds on one half of my plot.
It was pretty time consuming, but it looks quite good, and I'm not getting that annoyance of hitting stones all the time, so I am glad that I did it. There are so many you would think I had imported them specially!
(if you go on youtube and search for Keith2202 you can see the paths on video 5 "part 4")

As you say it doesn't really affect growing and stones help with drainage if that is a problem on your site.

**Two_Sheds** · 31-08-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by Keith2202 View Post

I started collecting up the stones ... used them for making paths between some beds

I do that too. 3 years on and my path is now oh, 8 feet long

**buela92** · 31-08-2010, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by Keith2202 View Post

As I was digging over my very weedy plot, I got fed up of "Claaaaang" as I put my fork in, and the jarring was giving me a headache. So as I was bending down to pick out the weed roots, I started collecting up the stones too. I used them for making paths between some beds on one half of my plot.
It was pretty time consuming, but it looks quite good, and I'm not getting that annoyance of hitting stones all the time, so I am glad that I did it. There are so many you would think I had imported them specially!
(if you go on youtube and search for Keith2202 you can see the paths on video 5 "part 4")

As you say it doesn't really affect growing and stones help with drainage if that is a problem on your site.

That sounds like a really good idea. I reckon I'll be able to give Hadrians Wall a run for its money!

**BUFFS** · 31-08-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by buela92 View Post

Thanks Two Sheds, also my soil is pretty stony, I have read on here that this shouldn't be a problem except for carrots/parsnips, and that most other things will grow without a problem. Has anyone had any experience with similar issues that can offer some advice. I know these questions might seem a bit daft but I have taken the plunge, and am pretty much flying blind at the moment!

in the autumn,dig a ditch,deep as you feel able,and keep throwing in the stuff you would normally put on compost bin,in february,cover back over,next year move ditch along and fill,i did this for 6/7 years when i started growing and turned yellow/red clay into black magic, the more you can put into the ditch the quicker you will have great soil..good luck...

.you can only keep picking out the stones,as has been said,when a slab cracks on patio,i use said stones set in cement to replace it.

**Angelmouse** · 01-09-2010, 09:10 AM

Hi.

I'm in the exact same position as you atm although this is my Third attempt in Four years (Moved houses and lost an allotment). My new beds are beginning to take shape, having dug them out and taken the top sods off. There is a lot of builders rubble coming out of them, most notably the sticky immoveable grey clay which turns to concrete, quite literally, in the hot weather. I've bought border boards and am in the process of putting them in to make raised beds. It means a spend out on Top soil but I think it's probably the only way I'm going to get anything workable.

I have dug over what's already there and picked out much of the clay stuff and stones (otherwise known as hardcore!) and I can see a nice little rockery coming out if it.

Probably not much help but it's always nice I think, to know that you're not the only one who's not a Gardening Guru.

Good Luck and just think of all the calories we're burning.

X

**buela92** · 02-09-2010, 10:32 AM

Yeah it is definately good to know I'm not the only one!

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