Mark’s
March Allotment Update
Welcome to Mark’s
monthly allotment update. Mark, the newest member of “The Green Team”, has been
an avid allotment gardener for many years. Through our blog he tells the story
as he gardens through the year on his brand new allotment plot.
This month’s update concerns those pesky plants
we could all do without! March was so warm that they shot into active growth
earlier than usual and with this wet spell they will soon take over if we
aren't ready. Within my raised beds I shall either hand weed or hoe throughout
the season to keep them weed free, but the paths inbetween are a different
matter. When we either move house or change allotment' plot it's always
exciting to see what plants we have inherited and to make the decision whether
to leave alone to flourish or to compost those surprises. I have to say that
all I have ended up with are large areas full of bindweed and jerusalem
artichokes !
I have several options, like trying to dig them
up, weakening them by regular use of a hoe or the third option ..........using
a herbicide. Like many people I have a busy life and really don't want to have
to be constantly weeding on my precious days off. I also want the problem
sorted soon as I'm covering the paths with both weed control fabric and a thick
layer of woodchip.
Weedkiller seems to be the way forward. Like
many chemicals on the market today, manufacturers make them as safe as they
possibly can for domestic use that sometimes strength of the active ingredients
is reduced. This is great for the environment and just means that several
applications may be needed. Anything with Glyphosate listed on the bottle/pack
is of great use for this type of job; great for tough perennial weeds and
becomes inactive when it either dries or comes in contact with the soil.
Roundup is an easy one to remember, but there are many others to chose from, but
just remember to use on a calm day, when the weeds are actively growing and to
shield any plants you want to survive ! As I'm covering the area with weed
fabric then I will only use one application. By the way, if there were only
annual weeds in the area I wouldn't bother with the weedkiller as the fabric
would cut out the light and soon kill the weed seedlings.
Next to tackle is the dreaded bindweed.
Bindweed is, of course, a cousin of the
delightful morning glory. Must say it's such a pity that the former is much more
prolific, hardy and tougher than it's rather delicate relation. The new growth
emerging within the path area will be treated and killed with the herbicide, but
the patches I have discovered already growing through my herbaceous border are
a different matter. Digging out the roots is too difficult within such a bed, but
there is a way. I have found that if you push a bamboo cane into the soil near
each shoot, then it will climb up it (away from your plants) and this lush
growth can be painted with a herbicide gel. Make sure you let the plant reach
at least halfway up as the more leaves you coat the quicker it will die.
Hopefully that will do the trick,but be patient as bindweed is surely in the
top five of gardeners' worst weeds to control.
Next time we will have had some nicer weather
(we all hope),so I will have done some sowing, planting and some of the more
fun jobs within my plot.
