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Pros and Cons of Weed Membrane on Beds?

Design BodDesign Bod Posts: 58
in Problem solving
Our garden wants to turn back to a meadow the minute we turn our backs and we're unundated with nettles and grass seeds growing ferociously in our beds. Many of the nettles our proving hard to pull out as they've now grown up through shrubs but we'll battle on.
 (This is a new garden we've taken on). Once we finally clear them we were thinking of putting down a weed membrane on some of the beds to try and reduce them.

However, this will be a big job as they're large and irregular shaped but don't mind if it helps in the long run. Although don't want to put it all down, cover it in mulch and then regret it and have to take it all up again!

So, I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons. I can see the obvious pros, but in terms of cons, I can see that I won't be able to turn the soil or put any fertiliser on it. Nor will I be able to plant bulbs under it (but so far the bunnies are eating any flowering plants anyway ...).

Hence, can't  decide and it was a job we were planning for this weekend so would appreciate any votes for and against to help us on this one. Many thanks in advance!




Posts

  • autumngloryautumnglory Posts: 255
    What are you planning on putting on top of it? If you use soil or bark the weeds will just grow in that too so it won't help much!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Don't bother with membrane ... As had been said you'll still have to weed if. Just regular use of a sharp Dutch hoe will do the job with far less fuss and expense. Little and often is the way  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Design BodDesign Bod Posts: 58
    Ok, thanks, well that's a job saved then! Is the best thing just to hoe and then mulch over the soil?
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    It definitely is, if you can keep on top of it. There is no way I could have done that, and I have used membrane a lot, both permanently and temporarily. If you are struggling and depending on the space you have, try cardboard and a mulch on top. 
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I use newspaper instead of a membrane.   I use 5/ 6 sheets thick. .....bulbs can come through and it breaks down 
  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,541
    I've been asked to use weed membrane for some gardening jobs I've done in the past and have found that birds and squirrels dig it up and leave bits lose and the weeds grow through anyway, think you may have saved yourself a job! 😉
  • Design BodDesign Bod Posts: 58
    Thanks All! Will get mulching 😎
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Mary had the best suggestion, of mulching over newspaper.  I do that, and it's really stopped many of the weeds.  It's easier to work with than cardboard for unusual shaped beds and around established plants.  Hoe over your soil, water, put down thick layers of newspapers, water again until they are soaked, then mulch.  If you get a weedy area, just pull back the mulch in that spot, handweed, then put down a new thick layer of newspaper and repeat the process.  It's good for about a year usually.. I put down fresh each spring.  Rake back existing mulch, put down fresh newspaper, reapply old mulch and add new mulch on top.  You still need to do a bit of hand weeding now and again, but it's been easier than bare soil and a hoe.  
    Utah, USA.
  • Design BodDesign Bod Posts: 58
    Thanks everyone, some great advice 😊🌸
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