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Mark Luck

Rhubarb and Rubbish Recycling: Creating an Allotment Space

As back gardens steadily become smaller and more expensive in large cities, it can feel hard to get in touch with nature and enjoy gardening. Thankfully, there is a solution. Allotments are green spaces, dedicated to allowing locals to grow their own plants, fruits and vegetables. You can easily rent these plots as an alternative to gardening at home, allowing you to let your skills flourish.


In this article from Mark Luck Ltd, you can find everything you need to know about renting, clearing and creating an allotment plot. You’ll also learn how employing our professional waste management services can be beneficial.


The Benefits of Allotments


If you’re considering an allotment, it can be helpful to know some reasons why renting a plot is certainly worthwhile. From helping you to meet new people to providing an area for you to enjoy gardening, you can find many advantages of renting these spaces. Read on to find out more about the benefits of renting an allotment.


Connect with New People


If you’re looking to create new friends or join a friendly community, allotments provide the perfect space. When creating your garden, you will likely meet other tenants with neighbouring plots. By speaking to one another, you can get some great tips on growing methods as well as potentially starting an entirely new friendship.


Grow Fresh Food


Interested in cooking? Nothing tastes quite like fresh food, which can be grown in your very own allotment plot. In an allotment, you can choose the fruits and vegetables that you grow, tailoring them to your tastes and preferences throughout the year. You’ll also learn which plants will flourish in your space and therefore offer high-quality fruits and vegetables, helping you to enjoy only the very best food in your home.


Enjoy the Outdoors


Important for a mentally healthy mind, the outdoors isn’t easy for all of us to spend time in. With office jobs steadily growing more popular, many of us spend most of our daily lives inside. Thankfully, renting an allotment space can grant you the freedom you need to enjoy the outdoors. Allotment plots are generally quite quiet as well, meaning you can enjoy nature even if you don’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of nature reserves.


Personalise the Space


Allotments are wonderful places to simultaneously grow plants while establishing your identity. Many people who rent an allotment will take the time to express themselves on their allotment, using large items like scarecrows or painted sheds, for example. Others will choose smaller decorations, such as painted stones or handmade items instead. However you choose to personalise an outdoor space, an allotment is a great space to do so.


Clearing the Leftovers


As an allotment patch is rented, you may likely come across some plants or structures that the previous tenants have abandoned. From rotted wooden planting beds to damaging roots, you might find all sorts of surprises left over by the tenant who previously rented your patch. Addressing each type appropriately is important for efficient and safe removals, so read on to learn more about the different types.


Weeding


Left unchecked, weeds and plants can grow freely in places where we would not want them to. Given the time it takes to secure your allotment, you might find that the space has become overrun with these unwelcome plants. From stinging nettles to dandelions, removing these is the first step to creating a successful allotment.


To get rid of unwanted weeds, you’ll need a bag to store them within. Green waste can be recycled, should it be separated from other types of waste. Similarly, any soil that has become unsuitable for planting can be removed from your site, even if it has become contaminated, using a professional waste management business. 


Dismantling Structures


Many tenants who rent an allotment area choose to build a structure on site, whether it's a small greenhouse or a shed. Greenhouses are excellent for growing plants that need warm weather to grow, while sheds provide shelter and storage for tools to stay on site. However, when abandoned, these can become unusable and unsightly over time.


Starting afresh with any structure you might like to build is certainly worthwhile should you want to spend a lot of time in your allotment. Before building your new structure, you’ll need to dismantle the existing one. Make sure to employ the services of a licensed waste disposal company to remove these leftover materials.


When dismantling any existing structures, it’s important to do so carefully. When performing this task, look out for hazards such as:


  • Broken glass

  • Rusted nails

  • Splintered wood

  • Unsecured chemicals


Creating a New Garden


Once the clearing and tidying project has been completed, you can finally start creating a new and rewarding space in your allotment. Whether you’d like to build and decorate a shed or create dedicated gardening beds, you can find everything you need to consider in the below section.


Building Materials


To start creating your new structures, you’ll need strong and sturdy materials. Recycled aggregates can be wonderful options, for example, for creating a surface for a clear and direct path to your gardening beds, particularly helpful on those muddier days. Stone can also be used within a greenhouse, providing a flat surface for shelving to be placed within.


Similarly, you will need strong and high-quality wood to create new wooden areas. Beds can be constructed to help you easily access your new plants, with drainage made simpler for the plants themselves. New beds made with wood also provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for you to fully enjoy in your leisure time.


New Soil


Often, untreated soil won’t be the best for growing new plants. Similarly, damaged or contaminated soil won’t often provide a friendly place for your seedlings to grow. Instead, purchasing high-quality topsoil from a reliable source will help ensure your seeds have the best start. 


Inserting Supports


For climbing plants, you may find that you need to provide supports or trellises for the best growth. Opting for recycled materials such as long wooden pools is a great way to use up any leftover wood from other projects, however, it’s vital to ensure that it is safe for this purpose beforehand. Gooseberries and peppers, for example, will require strong supports to grow properly, so make sure you provide substantial supports if you intend to grow these plants.


Picking and Planting


After building your beds and adding supports, you’ll need to find the seeds and seedlings appropriate for you. Some plants are better for the experts, while others are great for beginners. Seeking advice is a great way to learn what may be best for you, which could even be sought by speaking to your allotment neighbours. Remember to recycle or responsibly dispose of any packaging you may use during the planting process!


Precautions


Before making any major changes to your allotment, it’s important to speak to the authority that you rent from. They will inform you of the changes you are allowed to make, as well as those you should not. By knowing the restrictions beforehand, you are far less likely to mistakenly breach them. Get in touch with your authority now for further information and confirmation that you may make changes to the area with the help of professional waste management services.


Our Services


At Mark Luck Ltd, we take pride in helping our customers reach the end of any project satisfied. Our company offers waste management services, from rubbish recycling to dealing with contaminated waste. You’ll find high-quality services with our team, helping to provide you with the fresh start you need with any and every project.


For a specific allotment project, you can also find the building materials needed to create your ideal plot. We’re proud to be professional aggregate suppliers, offering both primary and recycled aggregates to our customers. So, to find out more about us and to meet our team, please visit our website today. Alternatively, get in touch with us for further advice and support.


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