When you take on an allotment plots, there are certain rules around cultivation and tidiness that you must adhere to. Every site will have it’s own rules, so do take time to read through your contract. Most allotment sites will ask that at least 70% of your plot is cultivated, which essentially means it must be useable growing space. On my site, covering areas with groundsheets and cardboard to keep the weeds down counts as cultivation, but every site differs. Keeping your plot tidy is also a must, no one wants to be next door to a plot that is covered in rubbish.
Keeping your allotment plot tidy can be a challenge sometimes, especially over the winter time when plots tend to look a little disheveled anyway. I’ve come up with a few simple tips to keep on top of the tidying!
- CREATE A COMPOST AREA
This will give you somewhere to put all those weeds and finished crops, as well as grass clippings and any fallen tree branches or leaves. You don’t have to be a composting expert to create a pretty good compost area. A few pallets can make a great place to throw piles of freshly cut things and a covered bin can be a great place to help it to break down into compost quicker. Just having an area to throw this stuff will make your plot easier to maintain.
2. KEEP PATHS TOPPED UP
I use wood chip on my pathway as its cheap, absorbent and easy to maintain. By keeping paths topped up regularly (2 or 3 times a year), I not only create a neat and tidy walkway, I also create a safer plot for myself. I don’t get covered in mud, my access points are safe and non-slippery and weeds are kept away.
3. TIDY YOUR SHED
Keeping your shed and/or polytunnels and greenhouses tidy and organised is essential. Not only is it so much easier to find the things you need, it also ensures you are working in a safe space (no one wants to step on a nail!) I use shelving, hooks and see through boxes to help keep my allotment plot shed tidy and organised.
4. TRY NO DIG FOR WEEDS
Not only is no dig far better for the environment as it keeps carbon in the soil and promotes bio diversity, it’s also great for keeping weeds down. If you’re someone who hates weeding or doesn’t have all the time in the world for it, this could be the solution for you. No dig beds produce far less weeds, and weeds are messy and problematic for an allotment site. When weeds are not pulled up fast enough, they produce flowers which essentially blow their seeds onto everyone elses plots, making it an ongoing problem for everyone!
5. DO A WEEKLY RUBBISH COLLECTION
I find rubbish on my plot almost daily and non of it is mine. Our allotment plots back onto peoples back gardens and a street, which means on windy days rubbish often gets blown onto the site. Not only that, but I often forget about little pots or random packets I’ve opened and dropped about my plot. To combat this, I do a weekly rubbish collection where I walk around my plot with a plastic bag, collecting all the little bits of rubbish and then taking them home to dispose of in my rubbish bin. This way, rubbish doesn’t pile up and I keep on top of it.
I hope these little tips help you keep your site nice and tidy over the coming growing year. Remember, little and often is better than one big old clear up once a year and will help you to stay on top of the work!
