@Hostafan1 I take your point about membrane being horrible plastic. There are roughly speaking two types we have used over the years. One is very thin and soft, a bit like a finely woven cotton, and this snaps and breaks down very quickly. The other is more like a tough plastic, made of small strips which are interwoven. In our experience this does not break down quickly at all, we've had some for decades which has not decayed. It will stop the worms breaching the surface, but we usually find there are lots below the level of the membrane.
Shoving aside the (not inconsiderable) problem of plastic/worms, the tougher membrane is one of the best ways of reducing weeds in our experience. Yes, there will still be some weeds that will self-seed and grow through the membrane, but if substrate on top of the soil is kept to a minimum, and weeds are kept on top of, then it is much less labour intensive than weeding an open patch of soil.
@Zahid_63c If you can accept the environmental consequences, then I would go with the tougher membrane, covered with a gravel of your choice. A more pretty and eco-friendly option would be to use planting to form a dense ground cover. Pachysandra terminalis or Vinca would be a couple of suggestions. Others on the forum may have some other recommendations. This may mean more investment in buying these plants, and watering them to start with, and you will have to do more weeding to start with than with membrane, but once they form dense ground cover, you will hopefully have not too many weeds (and a much prettier and nature-friendly garden).
I'm with others and have used weed membrane in the past. It is truly horrible stuff and most weeds have wind-blown seeds which germinate happily in the gravel and grow in the (also wind-blown) dust which will slowly collect on top of the menbrane', in and underneath the gravel. Some of those weeds will have roots which can even penetrate the fabric and are then more difficult to remove than if they were in soil. The soil below will slowly degrade and contain less and less life.
However, because this will be a new border, there won't be a problem with existing perennial weed roots, so the only places weeds will come from is via the wind, bird droppings or from seed already in the soil. If you finish off the bed with a 3 inch layer on top using something free of weed seeds, such as commercial compost, soil improver or chipped bark, you'll only have to deal with wind/bird-borne seeds as the mulch layer will prevent weed seeds in the soil below from germinating. By doing this, your soil will improve over time, too, beneffitting your own plants and your whole gardens' ecosystem. The top layer (mulch) can be added to each year to keep up the soil improvement benefits and doing so will also keep it looking smart.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I really appreciate the comments I think that is a good idea then Topsoil and then finish off with mulch Will most probably go with compost or stones They can be used for the same purpose right? Compost would be more user freindly with kids and I'm guessing stones do not stay how they look on pisinterest pics with the rain and dust settling?! Am I right in thinking that?
The white gravel I used on a path turned green after a couple of years but maybe some types are better than others? I think mine was limestone-based but perhaps quartz-based wouldn't get green algae growing on it? Anyone?
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Weed membrane. I use it for newly established fruit canes and hedging, down a couple of years, remove it. Also under hard features like patios.
I would simply weed a border regularly. Don't forget you will want the broken soil for mulching too.
My neighbour saw I use weed membrane and bought a lot for a border thinking it was some sort of permanent solution.
They now have just as many weeds on top of the membrane as they had before and plenty growing through it, because in the past 4 years they have done nothing at all to maintain it. Soil gets on top of it, leaves rot on it, things will then grow on it.
I think we all agree that membrane isn't useful on a garden border...:) How wide should a border be ideally to be able to grow plants etc My garden not very wide(approx 5/6m and I have turf on either side),so I wouldn't want something too wide but don't want to make error of making it too small and wasteful...
1m is usually considered the minimum width for a border. Too much narrower than that and everthing will look like it's planted in a line which often doesn't look appealing.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I was thinking of planting something like this...whats best for easy maintenance,evergreen and also looks good Whist I'm getting answers could anyone please tell me if I need lock paving between turf and sleepers or turf touching sleepers is fine? I mean would it be an issue whislt mowing,I'd rather not have to do sides separately but mow all in one go
Posts
Shoving aside the (not inconsiderable) problem of plastic/worms, the tougher membrane is one of the best ways of reducing weeds in our experience. Yes, there will still be some weeds that will self-seed and grow through the membrane, but if substrate on top of the soil is kept to a minimum, and weeds are kept on top of, then it is much less labour intensive than weeding an open patch of soil.
@Zahid_63c If you can accept the environmental consequences, then I would go with the tougher membrane, covered with a gravel of your choice. A more pretty and eco-friendly option would be to use planting to form a dense ground cover. Pachysandra terminalis or Vinca would be a couple of suggestions. Others on the forum may have some other recommendations. This may mean more investment in buying these plants, and watering them to start with, and you will have to do more weeding to start with than with membrane, but once they form dense ground cover, you will hopefully have not too many weeds (and a much prettier and nature-friendly garden).
I think that is a good idea then
Topsoil and then finish off with mulch
Will most probably go with compost or stones
They can be used for the same purpose right?
Compost would be more user freindly with kids and I'm guessing stones do not stay how they look on pisinterest pics with the rain and dust settling?!
Am I right in thinking that?
I would simply weed a border regularly. Don't forget you will want the broken soil for mulching too.
My neighbour saw I use weed membrane and bought a lot for a border thinking it was some sort of permanent solution.
They now have just as many weeds on top of the membrane as they had before and plenty growing through it, because in the past 4 years they have done nothing at all to maintain it. Soil gets on top of it, leaves rot on it, things will then grow on it.
How wide should a border be ideally to be able to grow plants etc
My garden not very wide(approx 5/6m and I have turf on either side),so I wouldn't want something too wide but don't want to make error of making it too small and wasteful...
Whist I'm getting answers could anyone please tell me if I need lock paving between turf and sleepers or turf touching sleepers is fine?
I mean would it be an issue whislt mowing,I'd rather not have to do sides separately but mow all in one go