"Little Weed" wrote
i have just taken on an allotment, surrounded by books, magazines,
offers of "good advice". trouble is - how do I start? I have the option
of a strimmer, a chainsaw or a flame thrower Definately a case of
can't see the soil for the undergrowth! I'm really up for making a good
job of this but don't need to make heavy work of it unnecessarily - any

I took on an abandoned allotment in late May, so I sympathise with you! Cut
or strim down the weeds (start your compost heap) then you can better see
what you're up against. Do you have horsetail? couch grass? annual weeds?
Roundup is my weapon of choice, followed by rotavator after the weeds are
dead, but if you're organic it's just a matter of digging.

Couple of websites with good info:
http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/Documen...oretheplot.pdf (excellent
leaflet on tackling derelict allotments)
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/publi...allotments.asp