Brambles, bindweed and overgrown veg plots

As we emerge from winter and look at our veg plots, it’s clear that the weeds haven’t been resting! This week, I think about bramble and bindweed, and reach out for some advice.

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This post is the result of a chance conversation I had with somebody the other day about growing veg. They told me that they had been allocated an allotment, but that it was covered with brambles aka blackberries (Rubus fruticosus). What would I recommend? My first thought was to ask if there were any other allotments available, the reply being he had asked, but the other available plots were even worse!

So how would I proceed? I have had to tackle a similar plot in the past. My approach was to take a brush cutter and chop everything as close to the ground as possible and then cover with wool carpet to protect the soil, exclude light, but allow water to soak through. And then proceed to tackle small areas, one by one, rather th…