black plastic / weed suppressing membrane?

[*Lavender*]

Hello,

I was thinking that as I dig each new bed on my allotment I should cover it with something before I'm ready to plant it up - to stop the weeds and to warm the soil up.

I'm wondering what to use! Would it be worth getting some weed suppressing membrane as once my beds are ready I could then use it to line the paths I'll make?

Any ideas on what / where to buy? I don't have any plastic sheeting or similar lying about that I could use.

Many thanks!
*Lavender*

[broadway]

Hi Lavender,

Don't see why not especially if you then reuse it for the paths. Another option I'd consider is to cover the beds with cardboard?

[matthew2riches]

Cardboard is more enviro friendly and also easy to clear up... you just dig it in

The membrane can be rather expensive and in my opinion, unnecessary.

Spend your money on seeds

[binley100]

We have weed suppressant membrane but when we take it off we fold it up and then reuse it . Our paths have got thick layers of newspapers soaked so they go like papier mache underneath bark chippings. Seems to work so far.

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

I use old compost bags cut along the sides so they lie flat. Works for me.

I am thinking about putting membarne in front of our shed, use to have slabs until they were stolen, but I have some membrane laying around.

Membrane is usually costly however I got mine several years ago from Lidl.

Binley100

You must be near me!

[Two_Sheds]

I cover empty ground with crops, wet newspapers (weighed down with soil) or green manures

If you don't cover, then weeds will quickly colonise

[binley100]

Hi

I
Binley100

You must be near me!

OOh someone else from here! Whereabouts is your lottie?

[*Lavender*]

I completely forgot about cardboard! Thanks!

I was up at my plot yesterday and actually there is a fair bit of plastic sheeting lying at the bottom, so I can use that for some beds, and I have loads of cardboard boxes at home I've been meaning to get rid of, so now they have a use!

I'm thinking the cardboard may be a better bet anyway as the soil doesn't look in too great a condition, plus it's free! I'm also not sure of the exact layout I want yet, nor what will work, so I probably won't make any permanent beds or paths this year anyway, now that I think about it!

I'm also going to look into green manures as being realistic, I don't think I'm going to get the whole plot into a useable state this year, and I'm hoping it might also help to improve the soil.

Thanks again for all your suggestions!

[stupot]

Same as Pukka old compost bags are great as well as cardboard. If you know anyone getting a flat screen tv or new furniture then those boxes that these come in make excellent cover that last months. Once they're wet throught you don't even need weigh them down.

I know a lady through Freecyle that has a Guinea pig business, she gives the piggy bedding which in this case is flax straw mixed with piggy poop and bits of food. It's a great mulch, weed suppressant and feed when put under courgettes and squashes.

Freecyle is your friend - manure and cardboard are two things that often people have to pay money to dispose of so are only to happy for someone to take.... freecylce is often a giggle too reading the cheeky scrounger emails (i.e. car for family of four with a MOT needed - WTH?)

[Snadger]

Orrible looking stuff, black plastic sheet.: (always reminds me of an opecast coal site)( Maybe suppresses weeds but looks bladdy unsightly (IMHO)
Better using an organic mulch of some sort, cardboard,manure or better still a green manure!

Or better still than all of these.......grow a crop of some description in EVERY bit of soil available, at ALL times!

[eieio]

I did not know any better so have used that black plastic stuff on half of mine. Am getting a rotivator soon so looking for ways to cover over the other sections until I plant in them. What is a good way to great paths? My lottie neighbour has let his all go to grass - tried that with mine but mine went to weeds!!!!!! How does newspaper work and what do you weigh it down with?

[harrybrew69]

We covered most of our plot with carpet (cause of heated debate on here) then, when we were finished with, it i cut it up and covered all the paths between the beds with it. any that was left over gets slung over freshly dug ground until planting time.
Its free, lasts ages and is reusable year on year, when its not in use it gets folded up and sits on the compost heap to keep it warm, like a blanket.
Works for me!

[binley100]

How does newspaper work and what do you weigh it down with?

I only use newspaper under stuff like bark chippings (on paths) and lawnmower clippings (as mulch round raspberry canes )

[purplekat]

How long does the cardboard/newspaper under bark chips last for before it needs replacing?

[Alison]

Newspaper and card etc is much better than plastic bags as it will let the rain water through and will gradually break down into the bed which is generally good for the overall texture of the bed. I covered a reasonably large area with a large old tarp that was going to be left at one end of the plot for about a year (there was no way I could get it all cultivated in a year) which was OK but the area covered in card was far better.