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Covering to stop weeds

polbpolb Posts: 198
in Tools and techniques

Hi,

I have a large over grown vegetable area that I've cleared of weeds and I'd like to cover it to prevent weeds growing back, until I've worked out what to do with it. Can anyone recommend what to use and the best suppliers. I have horsetail throughout the garden as well as plenty of nettles and bind weed so it would need to prevent these weeds from poking through!

Thank you!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I used this - 

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006H1N1PC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    A weed membrane won't stop Horse Tail unfortunately. 

  • polbpolb Posts: 198

    Thanks for the link, looks good but if it wont stop horsetail its probably not worth it, as we do have a fair bit around the area. Is there anything else that we can use that's thicker but not too expensive??

    Thanks

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    Horse / mares tail is a nightmare and grows through pretty much everything unfortunately. Even concrete. I managed to keep it at bay at my last place but it was a permanent struggle. There's lots of posts and advice here on the forum if you search it out. It's very deep rooted and any root broken off whilst trying to dig it out will regenerate. After 'bruising' the plant I used to apply Roundup Root and Stump killer with a few drops of fairy liquid added which would help the Roundup stay in contact with the weed longer.

    Last edited: 07 August 2017 15:37:47

  • polbpolb Posts: 198

    Thanks, yes I've read lots on it and realise realistically we'll have to live with it! :-/

    I'd just like to know if there's a good quality cost affective option to cover an area of land to prevent weeds growing. If we can stop the other weeds that would be something! :-D

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    Something like Pete proposed would do the trick. You could then attack the horses tail individually when the blighters poke their heads through!

    Either pin the fabric down (you can buy 'membrane staples' on ebay etc in bulk with longer than standard leg length) or weigh it down with some old broken paving slabs or bricks etc. Make sure you overlap the fabric.

  • polbpolb Posts: 198

    Ok, I'll give that ago, thank you!

  • Robert343Robert343 Posts: 53

    As mentioned in the helpful tips post. Go scrounging. See where new houses are being built or where somebody is having bulk bags of soil/sand/gravel or whatever delivered. Ask if imageyou can

    have the bag. Maybe check out the local builders suppliers and ask where they are sending it too. I have collected ten in the past month. cut it into strips. No weed will get through it and it is porous. It will also take a lot of standing on. 

    Photo: Cut up bags for my next project.

  • granmagranma Posts: 1,933

    Hi Robert, 

    I'm in agreement with you about the bags.I've used these too .I put a double layer after a few weeks I lifted the layers and sprayed anything which had come through.  I found this  ...... the weeds after spraying  had died off . Supposedly the weed killer goes through to the roots  , stops it in its tracks 

  • Robert343Robert343 Posts: 53

    Granma. Thought of you today as I picked up 4 large bags from a site where they are making an old barn into flats. He said there were many more if I wanted them. These were a deep blue colour.

    It's a testament to their toughness that they use them to sling large boulders and tons of gravel in them.

    The young man even loaded them into the car for me! Thanks Simon.

    ?

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