Weed surpressing membrane

[Loudbarker1]

Heavy-Duty Ground Cover - Harrod Horticultural (UK)

Also known as ground cover weed control fabric, by Harrod Horticultural at least.

I have an area of about 200 m2 to turn into a veg and fruit patch, currently a scruffy filed (alo lots are area to be truend intolawn etc. My plan is to put down a 6 or 12 inch layer of straw and then to cover with the membrane and leave until (more or less) this time next year. Someone commented the other day that teh supressant fabric doesn't work, and my own expreience with the light gauge supports that.

So my question is: do people think that my plan with the heavy guage membrane (as on the link above) will work to kill the vast majority of the weeds over a year? Or do I have to think of something else?

LB

[vikkib]

I'm using a slightly more heavy duty weed suppressant fabric (108gsm rather than 100gsm) on my plot and it's been great.

I've covered areas of grass as well as soil I've prepared and it's defeated the grass etc. and kept the cleared areas clear of weeds.

I got it from this place and their prices are quite a bit cheaper than HH and the fabric is a heavier duty.

Weed Control Fabric Woven (3, 4 & 5m wide) | PolyFast.co.uk

[SarzWix]

Some weeds are very good at defeating woven weed suppressant, notably couch grass and horsetail, by sinuously sliding between the fibres to find the light If you have those, then you might be better off with something solid like damp-proof membrane?

[rustylady]

Thick cardboard would be a lot cheaper. I'm thinking packing for bicycles, fridges, freezers etc. Stores are usually happy to give it away.

[Creemteez]

Straw, cardboard and heavy duty membrane! Come on weeds do your worst!

[Veggielot]

It does depend a lot on the type of weeds some like couch grass and horsetail will find some way through, and how much light gets through the covering. Cardboard is good because it is good a blocking the light and with a bit of luck free however won't last 12 months so would need replacing. I put cardboard on my beds to protect them over the winter and it has pretty much had it, on the plus side it is organic so can be dug in.

[Loudbarker1]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Yes, an extra layer of cardboard beneat the straw would be best and I ill use it if I can find it, but really my quesion was whether, if I can't find enough, the straw plus membrane would do the job. Clues for shops likely to give cardboard away would be gratefully received!

SarsWix - I'd prefer not to use somehing that is impermiable to water since I want the rain to keep the straw damp and hence help it rot/be eaten by worms.

I don't mind investing in the membrane, as long as it works, since I plan to reuse it in a fruit cage/around fruit trees and elsewhere as the garden evolves.

[rustylady]

Clues for shops likely to give cardboard away would be gratefully received!

Bicycle shops, electrical stores - do you have a retail park near you?

[sowitgrowit]

I like Morrisons - they give away banana boxes (mine do, at least) at the end of every till. I suppose most go to market traders, car booters, those moving hosue, etc. I open them out and get a long sheet of card about a foot or so wide. These can then be laid between strawberries, sweetcorn, etc.

Edit: Of course, larger flat sheets of card are more useful for beds, etc.

Here they are as the base of an on-going mulching job between strawberry plants:



Of course, they're ugly as hell until they are mulched a little on top, but free and long-lasting as they're very strong card.

[kathyd]

We've used quite a lot of weed suppressing fabric in various areas of the garden in order to get it under control a bit, and I've found it hugely helpful. As others have said, it'll kill off lots of stuff but not the most vicious. I use it over heaps of turfs to rot them down too. Not tried it with straw underneath, but can't think why it wouldn't work. You could always plant through it for a while anyway, if it still has a way to go in a year's time. I've planted fruit bushes through it, and am in the process of applying mulch to the top to hide the fabric and protect it from the weather, and we also have it under some of our raised beds. Yes, it does push things like bindweed sideways, but my first priority is to get usable areas clear first, and then I can fight with the naughty stuff later!

[Loudbarker1]

Thanks everyone!

[Chef_uk]

I put mine down 3 years ago and placed the kids 14ft trampoline on top and its still as good as it was new. Covered half my veg patch (50sqm) with it and only the odd piece of couch comes through. Certainly nothing on a level that needs major attention.

The only problem I have is at the ends where each weave straggles off. The cats around here love to pull at them so the edges are slowly creeping in so don't do what i did and just peg it down at the ends but make sure you bury the ends.

[sowitgrowit]

I know of a few people that have the woven sort which frays - they use lighters/small torches to melt the edges as well as burying