Starting strong is the key to allotment success. No matter the season, begin working your plot from week one.
First few weeks
Aim to spend at least 4 hours a week on your plot.
You’ll be:
- digging and clearing
- tidying up
- preparing to grow
Digging and tools
Digging can feel overwhelming at first. Take it slow with short visits and follow a plan.
Use the right tools:
- a mattock (like a pickaxe) for tough soil
- a small fork for finer digging
Tip: Don’t pile soil at the end of your plot, it’s valuable growing soil, so leave it in place.
Tackling weeds
Many people prefer organic growing, but a careful, one-time use of herbicide can help control tough weeds early on.
If you want to avoid chemicals:
- cover part of your plot with weed membrane (like Mypex or black plastic)
- leave it for a year while you work on the rest
- when you uncover it, the soil should be mostly weed-free
Clearing waste
You may need to remove leftover rubbish from the previous tenant.
Take your time, but don’t burn anything that isn’t organic it’s against the rules and can harm the soil and upset neighbours.
