Project Pathways has begun 😅 | Allotment Vlog 🌱 Ep.29 🌱

Hi friends, I'm finally back with the allotmenting! And today I have finally begun to reclaim my overgrown pathways... 😅 I can't quite believe how much growth has happened over the last few weeks ...😬
You can support my little allotment journey here on Ko-Fi! ko-fi.com/sere...
🌷 This was filmed on August 7th
🌷 The plot is 4 perches, around 5.5m x 12.5m and the greenhouse is 8x6 ft
🌷 I'm based in South Wales, growing zone 9a
🌱 Follow me on Instagram 🌱 / serensgarden
🎨 You can find my art here 🎨 serenmaddison....
🎷 Music 🎷
Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Drew Richmond - Jessie's Waltz - thmatc.co/?l=6...
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Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Andres Jacque - Elemental Movement - thmatc.co/?l=0...

[@thebrokenbarrell]

That plot was a complete dump when you first got it, i have watched your progress and regardless of how much produce you yeald this year you need to be very proud of yourself and what you have achieved, take a bow young lady!

[@serensgarden]

😭 awhhh thank you so much for watching and for writing such a kind comment 🥲 I appreciate it!! 💚✨

[@deborahoakey3560]

Instead of black plastic..cardboard will work just as well plus you get the benefits of worms😊 from Ontario Canada

[@serensgarden]

Cardboard it is! 🫡 gotta keep those worms happy! 😂💚

[@mySergeology007]

Maybe for now, put down cardboard in the path ways so the weeds/grass will die back. Also I would suggest to tidy up the far back area and establish a proper composting area with solid structures. Because this is the main area for all gardening maintenance, having an designated area will help to quickly get rid of small weekly chores like weeding. Great to see the garden growing and giving you so much abundance, good job Seren 👏🏽👏🏽🌻🌻

[@benny_vanlife]

Wood chip 🪵 paths 👍🏻 You know it makes sense 🫢

[@jaynekennedy8469]

I’ve got a battery powered trimmer which is great for the paths.

[@traceyschuster7067]

Definitely wood chip paths. It grows over too quick, and might keep you from doing more important stuff. The plot is very beautiful. Love the flowers!!

[@serensgarden]

@@traceyschuster7067 thank you so much Tracey!! And thanks for watching 🥰 yeahhhh I love the look of all the greenery… but also… yep it grows too fast 😂💚

[@christinerohrbach3726]

Grass paths are a nuisance. A lot of work and slugs hide along the raised beds. I started with woodchip and thought grass would be nicer and I don't have frequent access to woodchips. Now I started to skip the grass for woodchip again. It's amazing what you've achieved so far, keep up the good work!

[@LeeFrancis-f6y]

Allotments looking great Seren, Tomatoes are hungry feeders, never grew chilli peppers, but suspect they're probably the same. Beetroot can be tough & woody if left to get too big. Curling on tomato leaves is caused by too much heat. Make sure the glasshouse is well ventilated on sunny days. Did you sow a proper grass path? If so, persivere with it. Get a cheap second hand petrol rotary lawnmower and keep it locked up in a shed on the plot. Then you've always got the means to keep on top of the grass. Allotments are hard work, so make it as easy as possible for yourself. Enjoy the harvest, your doing very well.

[@julieballantyne5156]

I think the wood chip would highlight your lovely beds u will actually be able to see what u have actually grown. Start covering the paths with cardboard or weed suppressant in readiness for the wood chip delivery xx

[@lindacampbell540]

Wood chip is the ticket to show off those beds for sure. Love the grass paths but rather put all that upkeep into the beds.🇨🇦

[@serensgarden]

Cardboard collected ✅ Woodchip delivered ✅ 👀 It’s happening! Thank you so much for watching 🥰 I definitely agree that woodchip will make the beds stand out 🥰💚✨

[@serensgarden]

@@lindacampbell540very true! 🥰 thank you so much Linda! 💖🌱✨

[@AR-cp5dz]

I thought I remember you saying that the automatic vent in your greenhouse was broken. They sell new cylinders that can be swapped out on the opener. Looks to be a pretty easy task. Love your videos, keep up the great work!

[@serensgarden]

Yep it is stuck open! At the moment it’s not an issue because it’s been so warm, but it’ll definitely be something to fix over the winter 😄 thank you so much for watching!! 🌱✨

[@jellybean073]

The allotment is absolutely beautiful as well!!!

[@shellmcphee971]

Just gave my paths a strim and it's definitely time for another layer of cardboard and wood chip. It has helped keep down the goutweed very well. Bindweed is thriving here as well this year! 🌿

[@pencintaalpokat9929]

20:00 Kebun yang indah ...senang sekali menyaksikan videonya👍👍

[@Desert-Dweller]

It looks wonderful, so lush. My squashes failed time after time this year, didn't get a single fruit. Yours look amazing! 💚

[@LINDAWATSONGARDEN]

You have done really well in achieving an allotment which is so impressive for a new gardener. Well done you. I loved that dahlia you have.

[@fayethompson1697]

Gardening is like housework ...Little & often then you will never have a major job on your hands .

[@Sylvie_M]

LOL Beet pickles coming right up!

[@serensgarden]

@@Sylvie_M yknow what, I didn’t think of that 😂 I’m going to give making some a go!! 💜

[@lindacampbell540]

Yummy!!❤

[@doras.allotment]

Amazing to see the bees on your dahlias! I love grass paths for bringing some extra colour to the plot but yes feel you girl with the maintenance!! Plot is looking so healthy Seren 🌸

[@serensgarden]

Awhhh thank you so much Dora 🥲💖 hahah it’s a real dilemma 😂 I think I’m gonna keep a mini lawn in front of the greenhouse 😂 I love the green so much! 🥲

[@doras.allotment]

@@serensgarden that’s a good compromise ☺️☺️

[@Checheyigen1]

What a delightful surprise for the day!!! I just spent my morning out in my garden and now I get to enjoy yours too!!!

[@serensgarden]

Awh, thank you so much! I hope you had a lovely morning in the garden 🥰 It has been raining all day here! I can't wait to get back to the plot tomorrow 💪🏼

[@lobodo988]

You are a pleasure to watch. I appreciate your natural sense of responsibility, “I can’t just leave it like that” (oh but you CAN lol). You tackle your jobs and don’t stop til you’re tired, and your plot responds! It really does need you, isn’t that interesting. I think so. Lucky plot!

[@sindyspencer120]

With as much as you enjoy the bees, maybe you can look into getting a hive once you get the plot in the shape you want it.

[@serensgarden]

@@sindyspencer120 I would love to keep bees one day!! Unfortunately the allotment site doesn’t allow it ☹️ but maybe one day I will have a house with a big garden and enough space for bees 😅 I will keep manifesting it.. 😂 Thank you so much for watching! 🌸🐝

[@janeb3024]

@@serensgarden Sometimes, here in Ontario🇨🇦, farmers will allow people to use a corner of their field to set up bee hives. Perhaps you could do a deal with a farmer (bee hive space for jars of honey)?😉🐝❤️

[@robineasby5328]

Congrats on clearing thaat path. It's hard work but there is a great sense of achievement when looking at the area that has been cleared. I would cetainly use woodcjo for paths . Most of mine are woodchip and a lot easier to maintain than grass. Your plot looks amazing by the way.

[@ritafoster4958]

Wow! Just look at how your garden has rewarded you for all your hard work! It’s amazing. ❤️💐🇨🇦

[@serensgarden]

@@ritafoster4958 thank you so much for watching Rita 🥰💖🐝

[@ourfloridagarden4191]

Love how lush everything is this time of year. Blessings

[@serensgarden]

@@ourfloridagarden4191 thank you so much! 💖🌸🐝

[@MummyMcTavish]

What a difference that day made! Try to remember to look at how much you’ve done, not what’s left to do! A week or so of warm weather and rain just makes it all go wild, doesn’t it? And if you can’t get to it in that time then you have to crawl your way back through the weeds when you can get to it. Over time the weeds will fight back less and less… but the work to get there can feel so pointless.

[@myrustygarden]

My peppers were a total disappointment this year and tomatoes are far behind last year but 🤷‍♀️ that’s gardening. The weeds don’t seem to mind the weather 😅. Have a wonderful weekend Seren, Ali 🥵🌞🇨🇦

[@ShelleyAnderson-g9g]

Beetroot is lovely roasted❤ Lovely to see some bees at last.

[@serensgarden]

it's my favourite way to cook it! 😋💖

[@janeb3024]

Your energy is impressive and inspiring! Even with plants having gone a bit crazy this summer, it is still relatively easy to see the layout of your plot. And that will make it relatively easy to put it all in order again, I'm sure!❤🌱🌿🍃🌻🌸

[@Hhaahland4]

That’s some crazy growth going on there.

[@serensgarden]

@@Hhaahland4 it is crazy! 😂🌸🐝

[@petro3441]

Wow the plants have popped. The flowers are beautiful. Thankyou for taking us along your nature break😂

[@serensgarden]

@@petro3441 they certainly have popped 😬😂 thank you so much for watching! 💚

[@HonkyTonkSinger]

Love the sunflowers!

[@slashieboy]

You are so great I love your plot. Have been starved for more videos

[@leighmonty13]

From when you planted to now looks completely different looking so colourful

[@serensgarden]

@@leighmonty13 thank you so much! 🌸 yep, lots of flowers and green 🫣 even if some are weeds ahah! 🐝

[@susiespearing6165]

Just boil those beets and slice ,delicious 😋 Youve got a lot of work to reclaim all your hard work but at least you'll get some crops this time 😊

[@karenmackley9418]

What a lovely surprise to see a blog from you 😊. I feel your pain. Unfortunately it doesn't take long at this time of year for the weeds and grass to take over. I have always used a push mower for the grass paths but when it's all got too long, I've ended up cutting the whole allotment with shears. I tried a petrol strimmer but it was too heavy for me and was noisy. This year, I've invested in a battery strimmer (I'd always thought a battery one wouldn't be strong enough). Best allotment purchase I ever made! It's quick, not too noisy and lightweight and comes with 2 batteries. Each charge lasts around 30-40 mins. Worxx is the make. I think it was around £130 but worth every penny. Good luck and great to see you back 😊

[@helenagreenwood2305]

I feed my plants on Fridays 🌿🌿🌿 fertilizer Friday 😆

[@JoHarmon-hg7wz]

Doesn't take long for weeds to take over. We here in the Sonoran desert are in monsoon season and I have tons of weeds😮

[@debragarner3222]

Loved the vlog, satisfying to watch the paths re surface. Reality of gardening. Thanks for sharing this type of job as many seem to skip thinking it’s boring. But I love the clearing, and sorting. 🤩

[@MrsGisawesome]

such lovely,chonky bees!!

[@SirTeabag]

I do love the music you add.

[@jellybean073]

You can bake those beets like potatoes 😊 After they're cooked the thick skin will come right off, delicious!

[@serensgarden]

Baking them is definitely my favourite way to eat them! Think they taste so much nicer 😋 Thank you so much for watching! 🌱✨

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I decided against grass paths when I counted it’d be 128 corners to strim around for all of the beds… plus the mowing. Too time consuming. They do look amazing when first cut though. You’ve had a great first season with this plot. Hard to imagine where it was when you began. You’ve certainly worked magic on it

[@ChrisWijtmans]

cute bumble bee on the dahlia.

[@serensgarden]

@@ChrisWijtmans they are super cute! 🐝

[@marierobinson2681]

Everything looks amazing great job

[@helenstewart2085]

The problem with adding bindweed to the compost, is it will love it!!! I now have compost buckets and rubbish buckets, to dump the weeds not wanted inthe compost.

[@solrunnmfresvik7799]

Bindweed is a survivor, yes. I put problem plants like that in plastic bags, the ones you get soil and compost in. They last several years left out in the sun and light. The black inside turned outside, for less visual noise. Make some holes in the bottom, for air in, and for worms to escape. Then, after a year or two, empty them in a wheel barrow to check if there still are any living plants

[@jamiemittermuller6470]

Envious of your peppers, mine don’t seem to fruit (even pollinate them myself). Your greenhouse might do with some shades/ shading cloth to provide some shade in the day (you said it gets the sun all day). Absolutely don’t do grass paths, go on holiday for week, weather may not be good to cut the grass you then have a massive job to cut it all back, go with wood chip and deweed as needed top up as needed. Grass paths do look beautiful when manicured. For plant feed for tomatoes and cucumbers I have been using biobizz, had loads of cucumbers and tomatoes are coming, don’t feed my peppers with it (might be why I don’t get many fruit)

[@TheSnuffy1994]

I have a strimmer but still prefer to do it by hand 🙈 the thing is so loud and heavy. Cutting by hand takes longer but I just do a little bit at a time and that way it actually feels like less work than carrying that whole machine around

[@rachelboulton574]

Beautiful Seren stunning plot x🌻🐝x

[@grash4435]

Hi there my chillis and peppers are fantastic this year. My tomatoes are not great blight got them and cucambers outside don't like the weather. This year is great for onions they are huge.....and zucchini is too many of them. My dear girl your plot looks lovely and let face it on the plot you win something or lose something. Keep on with your good job. Good luck 👍

[@Blackhuf]

I love your videos! Especially the timelaps parts :)

[@AnikaL0vesCotton]

You should invest in some red worms for the compost.

[@Ragt0p]

I really like grass paths, but it’s quite a bit of work to cut/strim along the beds, then mow. So I’ve put down wood chips. They still require some care, but much less than grass. If you choose grass, I suggest a narrow battery mower and manual cutting along the beds. I havn’t found strimming to look good. It leaves tiny clippings plastered to the sides of the beds, and the grass look unevenly cut. Quite possible because I’m not good at it, but it’s nothing I want to spend time training for 😅

[@serensgarden]

@@Ragt0p oooh actually someone else mentioned that strimming next to wooden beds isn’t a good idea! Thanks for the reminder 😂 I’m still so torn on whether to do the grass paths or not 🥹 I love the greenery so much! And I think it’ll look so sad over there in the winter when everything looks brown.. the grass paths might remain green and make it look a bit more alive over there 😂 honestly don’t know what to do! Thank you so much for watching 🥰🌸🐝✨

[@Ragt0p]

@@serensgarden Then I’d keep the grass paths for now and mentally adjust for the time it takes to deal with them. If you don’t fertilize them, or leave clippings, the grass won’t grow very quickly. The lawn I kept is ok with a weekly mow, and every other week I cut along the borders that still meet grass. Perhaps it will be quite manageable next season when you don’t have as many new projects on the plot?

[@angelikalove3825]

If you do decide on a strimmer, bear in mind that the battery lasts 15-20 minutes. I bought a strimmer with a second battery, they take about 4 1/2 hours to charge up each. Mind you, by the time I've used up both batteries, I'm ready to pack the job in and go home.😂😂

[@bevtooth]

Think I'd be inclined to woodchip your paths. It would look so much nicer and less work too, you can have more time doing planty things 😊

[@meapantz1983]

Omg I have beetroot envy😂

[@swenger27a]

I think the paths being chipped might be easier to maintain. That is a lot of work keeping those weeds down. I also agree that back area really needs to be tidied up so that you can set up a proper composting area. Do allotments have a communal yard waste tip? If they don't I really feel like they should and that is part of the yearly fees. How do you ever get rid of all that junk. Your Dahlia's are so pretty! I have such a hard time keeping the petals on mine from getting chomped up. I am impressed by your overall growth even if it feels or looks a little chaotic it is impressive.

[@kathyaakananabluebird]

Ask for a strimmer/weed wacker for Christmas or Birthday!

[@skipper7216]

I got animal bedding pine shavings to make paths, i just oull the odd weed and top up with more shavings as they break down ..i put cardboard down first and then the shavings on top. You are doing a great job on your allotment! Just think how many hours it took to haul out all the trash and plastic a few montha ago and now you have beautiful flowers and food to harvest.

[@serensgarden]

@@skipper7216 ooooh! That’s a good idea!! How do you find the pine shavings on a windy day? 😅 they won’t blow everywhere, will they? 🫣 I think that will be the cheapest solution for the time being!! thank you so much for watching and for the suggestion!! 🌸🐝

[@skipper7216]

They get wet and form a bit of a mat and don't blow away in my garden.

[@chriseverest4380]

Seren Scissorhands : Grass paths are perfect - the best nitrogen source for your compost bins. Woodchip also good and can also go into the compost but takes longer to rot down. All the nasturtiums - more biomass. However : Silly question : what is a Marrow and how do you eat it😂?

[@Desert-Dweller]

It's a type of squash, I love them roasted.

[@maryhduke2307]

Garden looks great! Roadt the beets! Don't do tomatoes or peppers in pots next time!

[@DianaRausch-bi2tc]

Remember this is your first year, 1next year you won't have all the construction.

[@ГалинаСкроботова-н6т]

❤

[@traceyhand4750]

Hi, loving your uploads, can I ask what paint do you use on your containers. I'm planning on painting my plastic black pots but unsure the best paint to use. Thanks x

[@CraigShortland]

❤️🦋

[@twelvesmylimit]

🐝 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🏵

[@Truongthikimcuong92]

❤❤❤❤

[@WinterlandOrchids]

My mom and I love to watch your journey with your allotment! ☺️ I wonder if it’s possible to enable subtitles on your videos? My mum doesn’t speak english and I’d like to add swedish subtitles to your videos so she can understand everything(I can do the translations). Is that possible?

[@mogensdanielsen]

👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@Carol-oc7mx]

On an allotment plot the first job of the day should be WEED WEED WEED to stand any chance of keeping them under control. The problem with allotments is that usually pernicious weeds are already present by the time you get your plot and as you very rightly did you dug them out but you never get all the roots out but digging the young growth out weakens it over time. I think the mistake you made is in not dealing with the back section earlier on and the fact there are weeds coming through the back fence. Blink and it will take over which is a shame after all that hard work you have put in. Re the compost heap, as it is so full of weeds i would start another one somewhere else along the back. Weed the site construct the walls, do you still have the plastic pallets they won't rot, and then line it with something substantial and start a new compost heap. Deconstruct the old heap and thoroughly sieve the compost nefore using it. I would also consider adding a barrier along the fence line to hopefully reduce the amount of weeds from encrouching onto your plot. Both these tasks are jobs you could do over the winter time in preparation for next year. The other problem is you remove your weeds hopefully before they flower and they blow in from neighbouring plots 😮. This my sound very critical but I'm affraid its the reality of allotmenteering. You did a fantastic job digging out all those nettles etc. but thats just the start. Please please please do carry on, your work ethic is fantastic but keep on top of those weeds on every visit 😊👏

[@AndrewGraham-b5d]

Is your dahlia April Heather? Initially I thought it looked like a dahlia that I used to have called Teesbrooke Audrey, but the colours aren't quite right for that. April Heather looks closer to your colours

[@rolandhirons1940]

very disappointed to see allotment this bad serene it was lovely love the vlogs xx

[@shane1976irish]

No on can accuse You of not putting the work in when You are at the allotment, 😅 Have You ever watched videos of Anne of All Trades

[@Lynn_Up_North]

No I don’t think you will. And the upkeep and it sneaking into your raised beds will be a complete nightmare. Put down fabric, cardboard and woodchips. Oh jeez Seren, you need to get on top of the back of your plot or it’s going to take over the whole thing. You’ve done so much and it looks gorgeous, but I will admit I’m a bit scared for you.

[@kathyalsteen3579]

Why don’t you just pull out the weeds instead of cutting them off?

[@rolandhirons1940]

it looks worse now than when you took it over all that hard work for nothing xx

[@annettemartensson4523]

From a tip to a green paradise congratulations, can you put wet cardboard in the mainpath until you get wood chip… it’s so much work for nothing keeping it clean…you could use that energy for other things👩‍🌾🪴🐝🐞

[@CraigShortland]

❤️🦋