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cotton bed sheets as weed suppression?

treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
in Fruit & veg
Just wondering if anyone had tried using cotton bed sheets as weed suppression material, we've been offer a load of old 100% cotton sheets from the local 2nd hand shop (they're worn/torn and they don't want to just throw them away) and have been trying to think of ways to use them on an allotment and i was thinking weed suppressant with a mulch on top?

has anyone tried using cotton sheet before? i'm assuming as they're 100% cotton they'll rot over time, but maybe not as quickly as the corrugated cardboard i usually use?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They'll only work as weed suppressors if they cut light to the soil and prevent plant growth and/or seed germination.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    If you are putting mulch over them, I think they are better for the environment than the black plastic weed membrane. They will rot down if they are pure cotton.(not polycotton) It is a similar idea to using hessian backed carpets. I found to my horror, don't use nylon carpet to clear areas, the back rots and you have lots of bit of nylon tufting to pick out.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2018
    Hold them up to a light at night ... if light comes through the sheet then sunlight will pass through it to the weeds ... and they will photosynthesise and grow  :/  You'll need to use a very thick mulch over the top.

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





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you have enough, maybe try folding them so you have several layers - more chance of blocking out the light.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    thanks, i see some experimentation in my near future!
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    You could also use them as shade covers over your lettuces to stop them bolting when the sun is too hot!



  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    How about home made growbags, two layers of cotton with a layer of black plastic in between?  If you have the patience, you could cut some into strips to use as plant ties.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I use a line of old sheets in the garden when trimming hedges - makes clearing up quicker and easier.
    I also spread them on the grass when I'm doing massive cut backs in the border. Much quicker just to lob prunings and cuttings in that general area than try to keep things neat and tidy in sacks and buckets.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I think you'll find 100% cotton will rot very quickly. I use mine as suggested above for hedge trimming bits.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    You could use old sheets and then masses of newspaper on top and mulch on top of that - a la lasagna.
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