Firstly watch your back – don’t do too much at once. The soil on this site is heavy clay and if the plot you have taken on has not been dug for some time the ground will be rock hard and difficult to work. My advice is to first cut down all top growth with a strimmer if possible (petrol ones can be hired from the site shop at very reasonable rates) and then cover the whole plot with either heavy duty plastic or carpet to stop any further weed growth. This will enable you to work on one small section at a time. Do not leave carpet down over the growing season as weeds will grow through it and then it will be a nightmare to take up. If you are not intending to use organic methods on your plot then weed growth can be sprayed with a weed killer such as glyphosate which kills the roots as well as top growth, this may well need re-applying two or three times to be effective.

When you start digging all perennial weed roots will need to be removed. If you do not they will regrow through the crops you plant, competing for water, light and soil nutrients and will be a nightmare to remove later without taking up what you have planted. Building raised beds using planks will help the soil to drain and warm up faster in the spring, clay soil is 

heavy, wet and sticky so this often extends the growing season. Finally I suggest when you have cleared and dug an area cover the soil surface with compost or manure which will protect it from capping (forming a crust) and also prevent annual weeds in the soil from germinating. Also do not tread on the soil once it has been dug, put planks or membrane down as paths as soil compaction will make it poorly drained and lacking in oxygen!

Good luck! TW

I’m only in my 50’s with a garden the size of an average car and only enough energy to grow grass. Is your Tom (people profile March 08) for hire?

R.Shaw, Bromley