Ask Me Help Desk - CB's Serious Project

Well we've moved into a new house an have an allotment plot at the end of the garden.
These are situated on the other side of our row of houses "service road" well more of a track really.
The plot is about 40' by 89' and has been left to grow wild.

At present it is mostly bramble up to about 7' feet high in place.
I have found an old tree stump, but what else if buried is anyone's idea.

So my mission, should I chose to accept it, it to clear the plot and grow veggies.

We already have a lawned area for the kids to play on so this will be a working allotment.

I have also included a picture of our neighbours plot to see what has been done else where.

So I'm open to advice on the best way to clear all of this and also to keep track of my progress.
I was thinking of hiring one of those petrol brush clearers, but either way I'm looking at some serious sweat..

Attachment 24289

Attachment 24290

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Nextdoor neighbours plot:

Attachment 24293

Here's my advice in a nutshell - move back to your old place.

(Or hold the AMHD 2009 reunion at your house and tell us to all bring electric garden tools.)

Holy-crap-on-a-stick. Wow. That is a lot of weeds. I wouldn't even know where to begin to clear all of that. It looks like someone had bushes and ornamental grasses that were allowed to go wild for the last 5-6 years. I would suggest hiring someone to clear it. Someone with some serious power tools.

I wonder if you spray it first would it help.you'll also need a skip to haul it all away..

There is always the option of a mini digger that you could hire,and work yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Here's my advice in a nutshell - move back to your old place.

(Or hold the AMHD 2009 reunion at your house and tell us to all bring electric garden tools.)

Two very good, and viable options.
eddie sez he'll fly me over the pond, but I'll have to 'chute my way down...Geronimoooooooo

Quote:

Originally Posted by hheath541

holy-crap-on-a-stick.

It's been a while since I've heard that term... Very apropo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hheath541

wow. that is a lot of weeds. i wouldn't even know where to begin to clear all of that. it looks like someone had bushes and ornamental grasses that were allowed to go wild for the last 5-6 years. i would suggest hiring someone to clear it. someone with some serious power tools.

Another very good suggestion, but lets look at a different angle to "serious power tools"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlyben

So I'm open to advice on the best way to clear all of this and also to keep track of my progress.
I was thinking of hiring one of those petrol brush clearers, but either way I'm looking at some serious sweat..

So, your thinking of playing with fire, eh?
Have you considered:

Personal injury to yourself, others?
What does the neighbor think?
Is that the top of his Greenhouse I see in the fourth pix?
5-6years is a fair estimate, there will be a lot of
deadwood in the undergrowth, what if?
The fire gets out of control, and attacks his greenhouse, and
what looks like his storage area in the background?
The dirt a "green" fire produces?
You'll probably still need to rent a skip/dumpster.
Have a chainsaw?
Fire extinguishers?
Who knows what's in there, you could end up being the
proud owner of an abandon car or some used appliances.
Can you talk to the neighbor, to find out how the lot was used?
What's that lying in the foreground of pix 4?
Will you be on holiday/vacation when you plan to do this?
If not, then plan on at least a three weekends to finish.
The burning laws in your locality
If you can burn, do you need a permit?
Do you need to notify the local fire Dept.?
They may need to be on site, on the service road on standby.
A contribution to the Fire Co. The tip isn't included in the permit fees.

Since your in the mode to hire/rent something, redhead35's suggestion to hire a small loader/bobcat, and to have a skip on hand to clear the area is excellent!
Here the general practice to clearing land is to bring in a Track Loader, and truck it out to a landfill.
I've included pix to show what it costs to rent Loaders/backhoes, and bobcats here in the States.

I would go with the backhoe, in case you need to dig stumps out. You could probably get away with the first one. (the 20horse, with 8' 1'' reach)
The rental place should be able to deliver, and pick-up, and the delivery driver can give you the lesson on operation. Skip rental here runs $300 for a small one, 'bout 24cu. Yds. Don't forget these prices may be higher or lower for you.

After you check all these prices follow hheath's suggestion, 'bout hiring someone, you may be surprised, If the difference is within a couple hundred, I'd have him do it.

"keeping track" is a good idea, you may need it for insurance purposes. :rolleyes: God forbid!
Do You have a video recorder, and tripod? Set it up on your main property, and aim it towards the work area, set it on SLP an let it run. You may or may not have sound, and you'll have to keep track of the running time.
If you hire the service to do it for you. You could still do that, and have DW change the tapes until you get home from work...

Hi! Curlyben'swife :) ::hand wave::hand wave::
As for me, I've already created folders for this thread in picasa and open office.

Yes, it will be a lot more expensive, and you will still be "looking at some serious sweat", but you, your wife, and children will reap the benefits.

K

Wow!!
Good luck with the clearing Ben!
I can imagine the before and after pics for this one.

Your neighbors plot doesn't look like they used the available space well.
Maybe you can plan your garden better with more variety.

I love the layouts in this link, they even have a kiddy layout.
http://www.squidoo.com/VegetableGard...module44589112

I think CBW would love this one though :)
http://www.countryliving.com/cm/coun...e-26486100.jpg

Thanks for that Kuxj, so great ideas.

There's some confusion on the Brush clearer, I'm not thinking about burning it all out, as that's waaaaayy too fool hardy even for me.

What I meant was one of these:

http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2...ST-BC415C-.jpg

Then I can really get personal with the brambles ;)

I didn't think about hiring someone to clear it, but I'll have a search around and see what I can find.

FB, I thinking of load raised beds built from railway sleepers, very much like you second link.
I'm sharing this plot with our other neighbour, as it's basically a double sized one as it's on the end of the row. So I want to make it was simple as possible to use, as I don't like all the back breaking bending ;)

Don't want to bend Ben? How about a hanging garden with raised beds?:)
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uima...6_garden01.jpg

K,
Is drip irrigation the best way to water veggies? It looks like less work too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlyben

Thanks for that Kuxj, so great ideas.

There's some confusion on the Brush clearer, I'm not thinking about burning it all out, as that's waaaaayy too fool hardy even for me.

What I meant was one of these:

http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2...ST-BC415C-.jpg

Then I can really get personal with the brambles ;)

I didn't think about hiring someone to clear it, but I'll have a search around and see what I can find.

FB, I thinking of load raised beds built from railway sleepers, very much like you second link.
I'm sharing this plot with our other neighbour, as it's basically a double sized one as it's on the end of the row. So I want to make it was simple as possible to use, as I don't like all the back breaking bending ;)

Aww hel! No!! That's for weeds, what you have here is a forest!! How about a bush hog!!
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:j...ogPullType.jpg

My apologies, Ben. I saw petrol, and went off on a tangent. I had this vision of you going in there “Terminator” style, http://www.ugo.com/games/best-weapon...amethrower.jpg and burning everything to the ground.
What's that eddie?....Yes it would be quicker, but don't you worry 'bout it....You just keep makin' those little parachutes I need.

Now where was I?. Oh yea, I can see you using every blade shown, so you might want to consider hiring two, with different blades mounted on them.
That way, if you run into something thicker, It's just a matter of swapin' one out for the other. Will the “other neighbor” your sharin' with, be helpin' you? If so, then he could use the other one.
Have you ever used one? It doesn't show in your image, but a shoulder strap is a nice accessory.

You'll also need, shovels (square, and round point), rakes (soft, and hard tines), and pitchforks. It's amazing what a fork can pick up compared to a shovel.
A diggin' iron would be useful for leverage. If you can get a chainsaw, get it.

Another idea, can you hire one of these

http://www.drpower.com/Content/ProdI...ab_wb_deck.jpg They'll go through 3” saplings or the tow behind

http://www.drpower.com/Content/ProdI..._tb_offset.jpg

'bout hiring a skip, usually the further out one is from the general population, the less people worry 'bout burning, even if the Township has burning laws. Some see fire or smoke, and automatically call dispatch.
When I burn, I always make sure I have barrels of water, and 5gal. Buckets nearby with my water-hose there to replenish. Plus shovels, rakes, and the pitchfork. Your hose should stand up to some driving-over, where it crosses the service road, If in doubt lay a sheet of plywood over it (parallel to).

My local fire co. still likes to be notified, in case a worried neighbor does call, and they have to show up, and check it out.
The chief walked up to me and asked “whatcha' burning”?
Just by Providence, I had put some foil-wrapped potatoes, and corn near the edge of the fire to cook, and I said “taters an corn, you guys want some”?

He said,
“oh, so your havin' a bar-b-que”?
I said
“yes”,
He said
“Naw, we have some back at the station, but next time call us first! Okay”?
All this, while my fire was shooting 20-30' flames.

The next time, it was just the chief. He still has to check, but he knew my set-up, and didn't have to send a unit out.
We shot the breeze had taters with butter, and he left with a :) on his face.

*****************

For FB,
Drip irrigation (DI) design seems to have two camps. One advocates that drip is very simple and easy to design and install. The second takes a more technical and practical approach, indicating that a certain level of expertise is required to design a properly functioning system.

I've always felt the drip is the way to go, and still do, but lately there have been concerns 'bout replenishing the local aquifers, and what I get out of it is, the concern is aimed at large scale operations, and not the little guy.

Good 'ol wiki
Drip irrigation - Wikipedia
Near the bottom it has Advantages-disadvantages

Wiki external links “Efficient” Irrigation Tool May Deplete More Water”:
Agricultural and Biofuel News:

Technical report on the effect of DI on aquifers. Nov. 2008
Proceedings of the National Academies of Science. It's a little on the dry side. (No pun intended)
Water conservation in irrigation can increase water use ? PNAS.

Notice USGS doesn't list any dis-advantages. May 2009
Pictures: Drip irrigation

Here's one example of a “home made” PVC system:
http://extension.usu.edu/juab/files/...from%20USU.pdf

Drip Irrigation System Design Guidelines

K

I was seriously considering the green option.
Rather than simply dumping the cut brambles, I was going to chip/shred it and either compost it or use it as the base for the raised beds. After all it is all very green material and should make for good mulch.

Something along these lines should do the trick:

http://www.hss.com/imagshop/imaggrup/large/62806.jpg

But knowing my luck I'll end up needed one of these instead:

http://www.aggregatepros.com/images/Dop_DH910_cntr.jpg

I was thinking along the lines of Railway sleeper raised beds.
Something like this:

http://www.railwaysleeper.com/Duncan...rs%202_WEB.jpg

My neighbour, who shares this plot is an older lady that looks after her 80+ year old mother, so it was intended as a nice gesture that we could both enjoy.

That first one's a good choice, just point it in the direction you want the pile, and let the chips fall where they may. (pun intended)

You might still want to leave a deposit on the tri-axle... :p

Are you going to use the soil that's already there or are you going to have a starter load trucked in?

I was thinking of "acquiring" a load of top soil and probably mixing it with compost, but we'll see.
Better learn to walk before I can run ;)

You probably already know, it is better to layer your compost, than to have one thick mass.

Ben

Got to looking around, and came up with...
This shows a flailer
Flail Mower --- Speedy Hire

I think you've been here
HSS Hire › Keeping Businesses Working

Here's two that offer Scythe's. They also offer chipper's
0520 Scythe Petrol
http://www.toolhirelondon.co.uk/imag.../Gardening.pdf
Same Scythe Petrol different site
Brandon Hire All Landscaping And Gardening Equipment Hire

But if you call this fellow he might be able to steer you to a hire shop that has those DR field and brush cutters.http://www.drpower.com/uploadedImages/tom_fab.jpg
He's one of the International Dealers for DR DR® Field & Brush Mowers

Rochford Garden Machinery Ltd.
Contact: Peter Rochford
Wincanton Business Park
Wincanton
Somerset, BA99RS England
Telephone: 011 441 963 8280000
Fax: 011441963828001
[email protected]

I'm liking the idea, but as I'm not aware of what is actually under all the bramble growth I think I'm best off starting with the Brush cutter.

Once the bulk is out of the way then these beasts will work wonders..

Quote:

but as I'm not aware of what is actually under all the bramble growth

In lieu of some type of imagery device. Do you have Google earth?
I was looking at West Kingsdown, and could plainly see cars in their driveways.

The image date was from 2001. Granted a little old, but it might tell you something.

Good thinking there Batman, but, as I'm in a small(ish) village we don't warrant hi-res pictures. Can't zoom in enough to be of any real use :(

I have to say I'm a big fan of roundup don't get the kind that comes with a sprayer its not as good and the sprayer is crap I could buy a round up concentrate and hand sprayer just the bottle keep it simple and spray a couple days later another coat after a few weeks you have nothing but sticks to cut and gather I live one a acre and it looks like your pics on two sides and I fight it back by using the round-up a bottle of concentrate is around 45$ it will not affect the soil just spray the leaves of the brush you have..

I didn't really want to resort to chemical warfare on this as I'm going to make us of the bramble heap ;)