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Preventing weeds

LewisiumLewisium Posts: 122
in Problem solving
I've a double plot Allotment and I'm finally sick of the weeds infesting it. Is it more cost effective to weed membrane it as much as possible except raised beds etc and leave it at that and go nuts with the pegs? Or should I put gravel down on it? I already have gravel on some of the walkways I've made but weeds still come up through it just not as many.

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I've only have had half a plot for almost a year now and I'd say the only way to keep random weeds down in non productive areas is to strim them frequently. I use membrane to cover my no dig beds when they are not in use to stop the bindweed from flourishing and airborne seeds. I am aiming to use bark chips for circulation areas and bed surrounds eventually.
    Using membrane on non bed areas will just collect soil and those airborne seeds will germinate on the surface, plus it affects the health of the soil by blocking organic material feeding the fauna. 
    I have to say it was horrible when I didn't have a strimmer for a few weeks and tried to weed by hand...it was utterly demoralising. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • LewisiumLewisium Posts: 122
    amancalledgeorge said:
    I've only have had half a plot for almost a year now and I'd say the only way to keep random weeds down in non productive areas is to strim them frequently. I use membrane to cover my no dig beds when they are not in use to stop the bindweed from flourishing and airborne seeds. I am aiming to use bark chips for circulation areas and bed surrounds eventually.
    Using membrane on non bed areas will just collect soil and those airborne seeds will germinate on the surface, plus it affects the health of the soil by blocking organic material feeding the fauna. 
    I have to say it was horrible when I didn't have a strimmer for a few weeks and tried to weed by hand...it was utterly demoralising. 
    So you wouldn't recommend weed membraning it all? Just strimming frequently? My double plot would take considerable time to strim frequently. 
  • LewisiumLewisium Posts: 122
    The areas I'd be membraning are places I'd only walk on and not use for growing anything. 
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I have two plots and rely  very much on wood chip, dropped off freely by the tree gangs at the entrance. Sometimes I put large sheets of cardboard down first and wood chip on top.  If I think there's an increasing problem with weeds somewhere I apply another barrow of wood chip. I grow everything in raised beds which have a minimal weed problem and are hand weeded.  It works for me, not 100%. And it can be time consuming.  Some weeds you have to live with.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I got so fed up with weeds in my vegetable garden at my last house so I covered it with weed suppressant membrane, built raised beds. Cut the membrane out of the beds and put a layer of cardboard topped with lots of compost in them and spread a thick layer of bark chippings all around the walkways. I had a weed free, almost, couple of years then I moved house (but that wasn't due to weeds!).





    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LewisiumLewisium Posts: 122
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I got so fed up with weeds in my vegetable garden at my last house so I covered it with weed suppressant membrane, built raised beds. Cut the membrane out of the beds and put a layer of cardboard topped with lots of compost in them and spread a thick layer of bark chippings all around the walkways. I had a weed free, almost, couple of years then I moved house (but that wasn't due to weeds!).





    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I got so fed up with weeds in my vegetable garden at my last house so I covered it with weed suppressant membrane, built raised beds. Cut the membrane out of the beds and put a layer of cardboard topped with lots of compost in them and spread a thick layer of bark chippings all around the walkways. I had a weed free, almost, couple of years then I moved house (but that wasn't due to weeds!).





    That's what I want my Allotment to look like. I've heard the woodchips need replacing every few years though as they naturally degrade. But that setup looks ideal. I doubt it will of been cheap though. 
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Wood chip is free. It us a waste product. I top mine up whenever I am feeling energetic.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I don't have an allotment but have used years of thick layers of woodchip and have very few weeds. I got mine free from a local furniture makers. Local tree surgeons are usually happy to get shot of the chip as they usually have to pay to dispose of it otherwise. Allotments often get collective deliveries of chip.

    Chip won't stop bindweed - not much does. It will need dealing with separately.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Looking at the lovely pics above, they highlight my aversion to RB's which leaves sizeable chunks of a plot that are never used, unlike a conventional-type setting where everything gets its turn as crop rotation moves across the plot.  Looks fabulous but....
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