New allotment advice please

Blondie73

Good morning everyone. 

So we have taken on a new allotment that is basically a field of dock. There are plenty of raised beds and the soil looks good. At first we attempted to dig out each root but it literally took hours for one bed. So we are now strimming the weeds down and covering with cardboard and weed membrane.  Is this a good idea please? Will the dock keep coming back unless we get the whole root out? Thank you for your advice 🥰

Pic so far

Posy

Dock is pretty tough stuff. I'd dig it out. You could be waiting for years to kill it off with bits of black plastic. Doing a good job now will stand you in good stead for many years to come.

scroggin

I agree with @posy, get as many out as you can by digging, I know it can seem soul destroying but set realistic targets and doing it bit by bit you'll soon get there. You've done the right thing by taking pics as it's a good boost to look back and see how far you've come. 

Woodgreen

I would add that removing anything that's shedding seeds or about to will save a lot of work in future seasons. 

Allotment Boy

I agree with others, try to get as much out as you can. Do one area at a time cover as much of the rest with heavy membrane or plastic until you're ready to tackle the next bit. Cover what you have done till you  are ready to plant. 

Blondie73

Thank you I will dig it out best I can 😭

Arthur1

I had the same issue with my first plot, so many weeds and not enough energy or time.  So some were dug out, some were buried under mulch and others were left in situ while I built raised beds over them. Now, 5 years later, most of those weeds are but a distant memory.