Using old carpet.....

[Floyd]

I'm planning on building some large raised beds using sleepers with gravel paths around them. My idea was to use my old living room carpet underneath the gravel to supress the curse of bindweed which seems to run everywhere under my garden, but searches of the internet seem to just throw up conflicting advice on the use of carpet as a weed suppressant. There seems to be a general consensus of not using it where crops are planted, but nothing on using under surrounding pathways. Any thoughts or advice?

[WendyC]

Generally not thought of a good idea these days due to the possibility of chemicals leaching out. If this is so then chemicals won't necessarily go straight down and may go sideways into your beds. Secondly it's a nightmare to get rid of when it eventually breaks down.
Many people use cardboard but this probably isn't durable enough for you but it is free!

[Two_Sheds]

Garden Organic doesn't allow the use of carpet.


"Stain-proofing chemicals and the latex backing on many carpets release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as 4-phenyl cyclohexene, toluene, and styrene. ..Some of these chemicals are suspected or known carcinogens."
Johns Hopkins Magazine -- September 2000

^ just a quick for-example link

[Penellype]

Wow, I didn't know that. learn something new every day on this forum.

I used to use old carpet as a mulch many years ago, mainly around apple trees which were inffested with convolvulus. The damn stuff just grew through the carpet.

[binley100]

and then you can't get rid of the carpet cos stuff's grown through it.

[Alison]

Previous person on my plot used those carpet samples on the paths. By the time I got to them they were falling apart and a nightmare to remove. Basically don't go there.

[Vince G]

Carpet is not exactly banned on our lottie, but people who have it down receive considerable encouragement to remove it.

[Olorin2001]

Having recently had to remove carpet from an allotment that had been down for many years, I would never advise anyone to use it as weed supressant, it doesn't work and eventually someone has to cut it into small squares with a stanley knife to get it up.