Paddy wrote:
:: Hi
:: I have taken over an allotment which has not been dug for at least
:: two years. London, so the earth has a fair amount of clay, hence
:: large clumps of earth hard to break up.
:: I was wondering if something like a garden claw might make the task
:: easier. At present we are struggling with forks.
:: Thanks for any feedback.
:: Paul.

The claw is OK for loose sandy soil, and even then only the top 2 - 3
inches...pretty much does what a hoe would do - just loosen the surface and
keep small weeds from getting a hold if done weekly....the only difference
between using a claw and a hoe for this is a hoe can be used at almost any
angle, a claw has to be stabbed from above, making it next to useless.

You can hire a large rotorvator either for a day or a weekend and go over it
a couple of times, but be warned - if you have lots of weeds like docks,
thistles and dandelions, they will multiply by about a thousand if you use a
rotorvator before killing the roots, each small piece of root will form a
new weed, my advice would be to do what Brian says WRT to a good dose of
'roundup' now and again in ten days time, leave it for another week after
the second treatment for all of the roots to be killed and rotorvate.


--
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.
They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country
and our people, and neither do we."
- George W. Bush, 5.8.2004