Weed membrane recommendations

But you wouldn't be able to bury the stems (which makes a BIG difference) if grown over membrane, unless you either made some cuts through it, and a single use cheap sheet would be best for that, or gradually rolled it back as the plant grew over it, although if I see more at half price it would only be £1.12 per giant marrow plant single use.

I know how much time I spent weeding last year, probably less than one hour having a go a whatever came through the planting holes in ''mypex' type membranes.

 

If growing Sweetcorn through it, consider cutting a separate sheet just for them, as it's really difficult/impossible to extract their roots from the soil through it, and needs the membrane lifted around the perimeter to slice through them just underneath the sheet. Or just accept those areas are single use at a (full price) cost of 4p/plant.

If you plant them in the middle of a sheet, you wont be able to deal with their roots until you've cropped everything on 3 sides of them, so avoid planting leeks one side and sowing parsnips the other side.

 

Yes, from this thread http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/planting-through-weed-membrane.107645/

Spuds are another crop that needs to be planted at the end of a sheet (or their own sheet) so you can get at them.

Parsnips sown in bog roll tubes are ideal for planting through Mypex, and another crop that needs their own sheet or located at an end.

Have some ant powder handy for getting rid of any nests under it.

 

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=31824

 

Good find, the 2 x 5m is a usefull size to minimize fixings and having planting holes at different spacing s in each sheet to move them around for crop rotation.

Can't find what the g/m2 is, might weigh some in Lidl. According to their latest online leaflet they're in the Garden Offers that start on Monday 14th March
http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?id=787 Lidl appear to have been selling them at this time of year since 2014, originally for £4.99, but I can't find any online reviews.

P.S. I see that somebody's got an advert online, trying to re-sell the 10 x 1m sheets at £10 each + delivery!

 

The Lidl membrane is 90g/m2 according to the packaging.

The store I checked in only had about 10 packs each of 10 x 1m and 5 x 2m.

Lidl membrane is 10m2 x 90g/m2 =900g for £3.99 = £4.43/Kg

I weighed Wilkos membrane @ 70g/m2, so 12m2 x 70g/m2 = 840g for £4.50 = £5.36/Kg.

Lidl's stuff is therefore 20% better value, but if you find Wilkos membrane reduced by 50% towards the end of season that will be cheaper.

 

@JWK How to you intend holding it down?


I'm going to use my £2.25 50% off sheet from Wilkos under 2 Giant Marrows and see how they compare with those grown on bare ground. I'll know whether it's worthwhile using before their September reductions come round again.

 

http://www.less2build.com/blocks-bricks/damp-proof-course-membrane-all-sizes

The one I bought was £40 4m x 25m 1200g which is House damp course material

I am quite happy with it, I have not used any yet as new to the allotment, maybe in June I will wish I had :-)

Jack