My garden is too overgrown how do i clear it?

[ilex]

Hi everyone!

I could really do with some advice. My back garden which i plan on using for a vegeatble plot is really overgrown. Lots of long grass, thistles, brambles, 5ft weeds, bindweed etc . and I've tried clearing it before but found that just weeding was ineffective and they would grow back within the week. I also find it difficult to keep on top of the garden as I am only 16 and am taking my GCSE's this May so am revising lots! I would really love to be able to start planting some vegetables this year in my back garden so can anyone give me some ideas on how to clear all that land?

P.S it is about 20x30ft

[Alice]

Hello Ilex, you've got a big job on there but it's not impossible. The way to do it is one bit at a time. Choose where you would like to start growing your vegetables , poke in a few sticks to mark out one or two square metres and clear it thoroughly. When you've done that mark out the next area and clear that. You'll soon see yourself getting places and should have a nice area ready for planting this spring.
Some weeds will come back and you just have to go back over the areas you've done regularly to keep on top of it. They do give in eventually.
Also is there anyone in your family, or a friend, you could interest in the project and get them to help you. It could be fun working together and planning the project.
Good luck and let's know how you get on.

[yoanbob]

know how you feel, i have lots of exams coming up too.
get somone with a strimmer to strim it all down then rake it all up, dig in some beds,(thats the hard bit) raised ones are easier too look after but just in the ground would be fine, then cover the beds over with weed repressing fabric (or heavy duty black plastic or even a couple of layers of card board, your local shop will proberbly let you have boxes) till your ready to plant. then just keep on top of it.
good luck!

[OverWyreGrower]

One part at a time!!

Mr OWG and myself have taken a huge garden and field on (about 1/3 of a acre), and were starting to get a bit over-awed with it!

We're taking on a small bit at a time - veg bed sized, and once it's cleared, putting down manure and then old cardboard on top, weighted with bricks.

We'll probably leave it like that until we're ready for planting and then dig in any manure that's left (beware, because it will make your carrots fork!)

We were going to plough the whole field up, but it's too much of a big job, so we're cutting "holes" in the grass for beds and preparing them that way (plus we've got ready made paths of weeds/hardy grass stuff to walk on)

Good luck with it and the exams.... (I know that I'd rather be gardening than doing exams, but needs must and all that!)

OWG

[supersprout]

Very impressed Ilex

If you love digging and have time to do it, good advice above.

If you want to save time or don't/can't dig, and like the idea of beds:

Strim/scythe down all weeds
Cover the whole plot with cardboard or thick newspaper which will act as a weed-suppressing layer.
Mulch over the top with any organic matter you can find (spent hops, compost, manure, veg peelings, straw, spent compost, shredded paper, comfrey or borage leaves, plant shreddings, coffee grounds etc.) to a depth of 8 " if you can. Black plastic will substitute if you can't find enough organic stuff.
Plant seeds in modules from March, leave the garden to itself until April.

In April:

Mark out beds and paths with string
Rake up the 'stuff' on the paths between beds and put it in the bed areas
Cover the paths with newspaper and cardboard, and cover that with a thick layer of woodchip or straw - you will never need to weed them again.
Level the 'stuff' on the beds, and plant seedlings into it from April. You can dig it over if you like, but you don't have to.
If you mulch <8" between rows, you won't have to weed and it will suppress all but the fiercest perennial weeds.

Good luck Ilex, nice to think of the worms working hard on the plot whilst you're revising!

[ilex]

Wow thanks for the great advice!

If i use newspaper or cardboard Supersprout, will i have to remove it before i start planting?

Ilex

[supersprout]

No. The cardboard or newspaper is an organic weed barrier, it will rot down sooner or later and get churned into the soil by worms. Dib straight into the bed to make planting holes for plugs or seedlings, the dibber will go through any unrotted material like butter and into the soil, and the seedling will suppress weeds around the planting hole!

Some people call this the 'Lasagna Method' - a rather wordy but comprehensive overview here:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...agna_Gardening

[JennieAtkinson]

Worth trying the no dig method ilex - it worked for me on a small part of the plot last year. Hope you got the advice you need. A little bit at a time is the best option.

Good luck with your exams!

[NOG]

We have had this question before and I think my answer was...................
Burn them....burn them all.......

The only thing a week respects is a good burning. then cover it all in newspaper about 10 pages thick then plant through it.

Next go online and copy all you course work from some one who did it last year.

Sorted.

[ilex]

Cheers NOG

the "burn it all " method sounds interesting lol and my c/w well if it gets to that!i reckon i'll do something about it this weekend and hopefully i can start planting in March

Ilex

[pigletwillie]

Move house!!!!

[nick the grief]

Buy a piglet that will clear it all then you can eat it next Christmas !!

It looks daunting but the way to doi it (whichever way you choose) is a bit at a time.

the Black plastic method will work especially if you can put a layer of well rotted muck ontop of the cardboard (that takes about 6 weeks to break down) . One of the first crops I'd reccomend is the humble spud as these can be planted through the plastic & then when you dig them up come september you'll be clearing a good chunk of it anyway.

All the best Ilex it's good to see young folks interested in gardening but I wouldn't neglect you studies but use the gardening as a break from them to help you to relax

Sorry if I sound like your dad But i've been through this with my two in the last two years

[ilex]

I know what you mean but i've got my gardening and my school stuff sorted as I grew some stuff this year at my Nana's (courgettes, pumpkins and runner beans). So i just need to clear some ground at home!

If anyones got any more techniques i'm happy to hear them!

Ilex

[nick the grief]

You could spray the rest with Round up ( wait till the summer when its dry & hot) that will kill off any perenial weed. but once you dig you will get a real flush of new weed seeds - as my Grandad always said 1 years seeds = 7 years weeds!! they will lie dormant for a long time. but if you go at it a bit at a time you'll get there.

How many are you feeding I wonder? as it may pay you to go for the square foot method & if you want spuds just grow som earlies in tubs

[nick the grief]

http://www.squarefootgardening.co.uk/

Link for you