advice please

:cnfs:

Part of my allotment is thick with long grass, I've cut it down to ground level but the roots are really thick and compacted, really don't know how I'm going to get rid of them.

Do you think if I put weedkiller down this year and leave it empty til next year it'll be ok to plant veg there next year? will it affect the other parts of my allotment?

Another question... why do the damned rabbits only eat the stuff you plant and no the weeds and grass that grow like wildfire??

Thanks in advance

Kerry xx

 

Hi again kerry. You could try weedkiller. The thing is, it needs the weed (or whatever) to be in active growth and i'm not sure that grass at this time of year is that active. If it was me, I would probably cut the turves, turn them upside down and store them somewhere for use later on. That way you can get on with the digging. Of course, it's hard work, but worth it, I think. Cheers...freddy.

 

Hi Kerry.

I'd also check that's it's ok to use weed killer on the site as some don't allow it.

Jo

 

Good idea freddy, I'm sure ti'll not be as much hard work as trying to get the grass out any other way.

I didn't know that sweetpea, I'd better check for future reference.

 

Hi kerry. I should have also said, IF you have couch grass, you will need to remove the stringy looking roots as you dig otherwise it will be back again next year. Of course, you could use weedkiller on it then, but it would be somewhat awkward if it's amongst your veg. Cheers...freddy.

 

looked at some pics on google images, doesn't look like couch grass

 

Hi Kerry we are having the same problem at the moment on the paddocks one guy told us to use glyphosate but upon reading a box of the stuff (in store) we found out that it was no good for soil used for culitvating on so had to settle for Weedol 2.

We did get a bargain as Focus placed the box in the wrong place and where the 12 sachet carton was the 18 carton was placed and as the 12 was on offer for £11.99 the store allowed us to have the 18 sachet carton for the same price of the 12 as it was their fault placing it there now all we need is a dry clam day and away we go!Hel.xxx.

 

We use Roundup all the time and find it is very good stuff.It is a systemic weedkiller so gets right down to the roots of whatever you spray it on thpough for some things like brables and nettles we have found it needs a couple of applications to get the job done.

Any spray that falls onto bare soil is neutralised so doesn't do any harm to the soil and seeds can be sown on that same soil.

The best time to apply Roundup is on a nice dry day preferably in the summer although it can be sprayed on sunny days at this time of the year but takes a bit longer to have an effect on the weeds.There should be no breeze if possible to avoid spray drift on to other plants and I think the possibility of no rain forecast for 6 hours after spraying is reccommended.

If the Roundup is sprayed at this time of the year try to make sure that all foliage is dry and that there isn't any dew on the plants that you want to spray so that it clings to it and gets to work straight away.

 

Roundup (glyphaosate) is excelent for use as a pree cultivation blitz, also as a burn off to create a stale seedbed.

No harm using it on a veg bed as it breaks down upon soil contact.

Weedol however used to be based upon paraquat, whilst paraquat neturalises in a similar way to roundup the concentrate and solution is toxic.

 

Thanx for that Paul we have treated one area in the paddock yesterday with Weedol and will see how that goes. If we are not happy with the results then we will remove the top bit of turf/weeds and stack it to be made into loam..... after all we have now got plenty of room to play about with.Hel.xxx.

 

Helen, Please dont buy any weed killers from shops as they are all watered down versions. If you know a farmer in your area ask him for the real roundup cost £10 a litre and it is neat. I use 30 mls of this neat roundup to 5 litres of water. I got rid of all my twitch , bind weed and other weeds but not mares tail. The weeds never come back.

1 litre should last you a year. You have to spray this stuff. Plant veg after one month of spraying.

 

My kids are all grown up JWK yes I do keep it locked up also please wear gloves when handling this weed killer. It is really good stuff.

Before I take ths weed killer to the allotment it is already mixed at home ready to go.

For those of you with little children like JWK says be careful and do keep it locked up in the garden shed not at home. The liquid looks like washingup liquid SO PLEASE MUMS AND DADS BE CAREFUL.

Thank you for that JWK