Newbie needs advice

[SuzanneG]

Hi everyone

Complete beginner here! Have had my half plot for 3 months and have dug it over, back to bare soil and covered it. The plan was to green manure it in the next 2 weeks and rotavate it in in April (I just can't face digging it all again). But.....should I weed killer it before I green manure it? Have I left it too late, if I weed killer it I can't plant my green manure for 6 weeks, then it might all get killed off by the frosts. I really would rather not use weed killler, but we have lots of bindweed and my neighbours have said that was the only way they were able to get a foot in the door. My plot has been unused for at least 2 yrs and was very overgrown.

I really have no clue what would be best. Eventually, I intend to use some wooden beds I have made out of pallets, not as raised beds, just more to segregate areas, with lavender and marigolds in between.

Any and all advice is welcome - Thanks so much
Suzanne

[freddy]

Hi Suzanne, and welcome.

Some folks here will probably poo poo the idea of using weedkiller. Myself, I have no problem with it, indeed I use Glyphosate twice a year which I find VERY effective. The good thing about Glyphosate is that there is no residue, and only works by contact. All of which means that after a few days, there is no problem with sowing as normal. The only thing is, that for it to be effective, the weed needs to be in growth. Wilkinsons have their own brand, the name of which I can't remember, but look out for the main ingredient, Glyphosate. The cost is around £10, but it IS in a concentrate, so should last you. Hope this helps.

Cheers...Freddy.

[Nature's Babe]

Hello Suzanne, welcome to the forum. Weedkiller or not, is personal preference, there are different kinds, some are spot weeders where you just treat the plant. It depends if you wish to garden organically, and your feelings about pesticide in your food. I wouldn't rotovate it though, because every little bit of bindweed that the rotovator chops up will regrow again quite rapidly. Weedkiller would slow your plans, and doesn't always kill it all off. I would plant your green manure which will suppress weeds generally, and then take your time digging out each bit of bindweed that shows up very carefully, try to remove it when the soil is workable, if the soil is hard then tiny bits break off to regrow again, if the soils workable then its easier to pull it out in one piece Its a persistent weed but it's worth persevering to clear your plot. Dispose of the bindweed on a bonfire, if you put it on the compost heap it could spread.

[freddy]

and your feelings about pesticide in your food.

Hi NB. That's a bit extreme isn't it? After all, 'they' DO state there are no residues. Is this not so?

Btw, I never burn anything, very anti-social

[Nature's Babe]

I did say it's a matter of personal choice Freddy, so I don't think i was being extreme, but seing as you raised it, here is a fact sheet on glyphosphate for folk to make up their own minds. You did well to purchase the more expensive product because the cheap ones contain the more toxic surfactant additive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate

Also some are pressing for a review at the EU, as there is some evidence it can cause birth defects

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/EU_Regulators_M ... xicity.php

Out of interest Freddy how would you dispose of bindweed? I wouldn't want to put it in the council bin in case it spread the problem.

[freddy]

"but seing as you raised it,"

What's this? A point scoring exercise?

I think that whatever ones view is, there's always a link to support it. I think it's all about being sensible, and accepting there's always a risk attached to every activity.

Bindweed. If I were to choose the organic route, I'd dig it out, which is virtually impossible, and dry it for a few weeks (like my father used to) and THEN add it to the compost bin.

Cheers...Freddy.

[SuzanneG]

Thanks for the info. Just need to keep digging for a bit and then make up my mind at the weekend. It is good to see that whatever I do I will probably be doing it right

Thanks loads
Suzanne

[peter]

If you do decide to use any Glyphosate weedkiller you can't delay too long as weeds have to be in active growth for this herbicide to actually work.
Absolute waste of time using it otherwise, so once it's too late to sow any seeds outdoors (e.g. seeding a lawn) don't use it.

[Nature's Babe]

Peter is right, it will only kill off what is actively growing above ground, and as with most gardening dilemmas it is what is best for you as an individual and your own particular plot, whatever is right for you. I like your lavender and marigold idea, I grow flowers in with my veg too, it will attract pollinators to your plot.

[SuzanneG]

Thanks Natures Babe. I have grown plenty of veg in pots in the garden this year and noticed the bees travelling from the Lavender to the veg, so I have taken some cuttings so I can transplant some. One of my neighbours has a truly inspiring plot and it looks beautiful with a path of Marigolds down the middle. Bit despondant tonight, just completed an hour of digging and seem to have got no-where! I hate days like these

Thanks for all your help
Suzanne

[Nature's Babe]

Take it easy Suzanne, look after your back, little and often is best. It will all be worth it when you harvest your crops.

[Parsons Jack]

Hi everyone

Complete beginner here! Have had my half plot for 3 months and have dug it over, back to bare soil and covered it. The plan was to green manure it in the next 2 weeks and rotavate it in in April (I just can't face digging it all again). But.....should I weed killer it before I green manure it? Have I left it too late, if I weed killer it I can't plant my green manure for 6 weeks, then it might all get killed off by the frosts. I really would rather not use weed killler, but we have lots of bindweed and my neighbours have said that was the only way they were able to get a foot in the door. My plot has been unused for at least 2 yrs and was very overgrown.

I really have no clue what would be best. Eventually, I intend to use some wooden beds I have made out of pallets, not as raised beds, just more to segregate areas, with lavender and marigolds in between.

Any and all advice is welcome - Thanks so much
Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

Welcome to the site

As they say, if you ask a dozen gardeners a question, you'll get a dozen different answers. So, here goes with my personal opinion

I think that covering the plot just gives a nice comfy home to all the slugs and snails and any other pests and vermin looking for a home. Also if you have already dug the plot back to bare earth, there will be lots of weed seeds ready to germinate. I would let them germinate now and keep hoeing them off before they get too big. If you leave the plot covered, they will all germinate next spring instead. The bindweed can be constantly hoed off every time it shows it head as well. Regular hoeing keeps weeds at bay and you may not need to use weedkiller.
I haven't used any chemicals for many years now, and find that I can cope quite well without them

Depending what you have in mind, it is not long before the time to plant garlic, overwintering onions, and broad beans is upon us, so try to get some stuff planted this autumn to keep you keen through the winter.

Just my personal opinion as I said

[Nature's Babe]

Besides the crops PJ mentions, spring greens and chard could go in too.