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Stopping a weed takeover from an abandoned allotment patch

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  • #1

    Stopping a weed takeover from an abandoned allotment patch

    Evening all,

    I have been lucky enough to take over half my neighbours allotment patch. Trouble is the two neighbouring plots have been abandoned and are full of weeds.

    I really want to avoid any potential of a weed takeover if for any reason I can not get down to the patch as often as I would like.

    To reduce as weed takeover from both sides I was thinking of making slightly taller raised beds running down the sides of my patch in addition to planting taller crops. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any good vegetable plants which I could train to help make a 'green wall' in addition to the raised beds to help stop any seeds from these weeds blowing over to my patch. I know Tomatoes and Beans grow tall but I am not sure of any other good vegetable types which could help do this job for me. Any advice?

    Thank you for your time,

    Samuel
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  • #2
    My question is - what sort of weeds? Are they spreading by the root ones like creeping buttercup or ones with windblown seeds like dandelions and thistles? You won't stop those however high your raised beds - only by removing the seed heads.

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    • #3
      I have the same problem and just cover as much ground as possible with weed control fabric or big pieces of cardboard. The raised beds don't seem to make much difference as wind blows the seeds up onto them anyway

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      • #4
        Ask what is being done about the weedy plots.

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        • #5
          anything to stop you going onto the vacant plots and strimming them before they set seed?

          “If your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.”

          "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

          Charles Churchill : A dog will look up on you; a cat will look down on you; however, a pig will see you eye to eye and know it has found an equal
          .

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          • #6
            Yep I'd definately ask what they were going to do to stop the seeds. But if they aren't or don't do much I reckon a quick strim and then if you could get some cardboard down, it would stop it. Not sure if they could complain about you on other plots............but just send them an invoice for the work you've done, if they do.
            Ali

            My blog: feral007.com/countrylife/

            Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints!

            One bit of old folklore wisdom says to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm enough to sit on with bare buttocks. In surburban areas, use the back of your wrist. Jackie French

            Member of the Eastern Branch of the Darn Under Nutter's Club

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            • #7
              Originally posted by weekendwellies View Post
              anything to stop you going onto the vacant plots and strimming them before they set seed?
              The fact that they're not your plot so it's probably trespass..........

              Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

              Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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              • #8
                I've had trouble with weed seeds from weedy plots blowing onto my plot before. I resorted to shearing the danelions off, however I did let the allotment Secretary know my intentions first. This time of year though I guess it's not seeds.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Samuel1988 View Post
                  Any advice?
                  - do not leave any bare soil on your plot, ever. Cover the soil with a mulch or a green manure at all times, this really works at keeping weeds to a minimum

                  - weeds are (usually) only a danger when they're seeding: so strim or hack them down when they come into flower. Yes, I know it's someone else's plot, but I don't care. It's soul destroying to see weeds seeding uncontrollably
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Alison View Post
                    The fact that they're not your plot so it's probably trespass..........
                    Technically probably, definitely, almost 100% certainly, however if the plot is vacant, then who would give a damn? Except for the landowners, (the council?) who are not doing their job by ensuring the plot is kept tidy and free of weeds and is cultivated.

                    “If your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.”

                    "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

                    Charles Churchill : A dog will look up on you; a cat will look down on you; however, a pig will see you eye to eye and know it has found an equal
                    .

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                    • #11
                      I had the plots on either side of me absolutely plastered in dandelions one year. In the end I asked permission to chop them down, but it was a bit late by then and I still have a big problem with them in less cultivated areas of my plot

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                      • #12
                        Sites should chase up weedy pots though.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Alison View Post
                          The fact that they're not your plot so it's probably trespass..........
                          That's what we're told too. On the other hand, we are obliged to keep the neighbouring weeds under control (on the communal paths that surround our plots).

                          So, if I'm controlling some weeks and not others, it's a bit daft. I'm a chopper downer. You can scythe or shear a whole plot in about 20 mins, and it'll save you years of future weeding
                          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                          • #14
                            Has anyone actually put this as an issue to your allotment administration??

                            I'm not involved with an allotments but I'd have the right hump if someone else's plot was downwind of me and seeding my plot with weeds ...... surely you must all have access to clear an unused site under those conditions??

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                            • #15
                              Afternoon all,

                              Thanks for all the advice - I am going to bring back (or take some photos if the sun decides to come out!) some weed specimens to I.D. and learn how they spread.

                              Will take the mulch advice on board to minimise any spreading.

                              Thanks everyone,

                              Samuel

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