Polythene Mulches For Weed Control

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by misterroy, Jan 3, 2009.

  1. misterroy

    misterroy Gardener

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    misterroy, Jan 3, 2009
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  2. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    Very interesting misteroy, particularly the references to mineralisation of nitrogen. I've been using polythene for a few years now and find it very effective for both weed control and as a soil warmer. Up to 2007 I used unperforated sheets, but last spring I spotted some perforated black polythene in Tesco and tried that on my brassicca bed. It worked a treat!
     
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  3. misterroy

    misterroy Gardener

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    I saw some perforated plastic in the local garden centre today, 3 meters wide at £1 per meter in length. Is this the kind of price you paid? With care they reckoned 2 to 3 seasons of life outdoors.
    How does your experience of the stuff compare ?
     
    misterroy, Jan 6, 2009
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  4. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    I can't recollect what I paid for the stuff from Tesco, but it was about 2m and quite flimsy - OK for one season though as it was pretty cheap.
    The other stuff I use is the 3m heavier unperforated variety. I've had one section that I melted holes in for my leek bed and it lasted three seasons. (I used woven fabric with holes last season) It would have lasted a bit longer but got torn lifting leeks. I've other bits that I just use for soil warming/weed supression that isn't laid for more than a couple of months and that looks like it will last for several years.
     
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  5. oktarine

    oktarine Gardener

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    I use weed supression fabric , its cheap and does the job well.
     
    oktarine, Jan 11, 2009
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  6. misterroy

    misterroy Gardener

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    got a weblink to what you used oktarine?
     
    misterroy, Jan 12, 2009
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  7. oktarine

    oktarine Gardener

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    Sadly no,
    I buy mine from www.stonesgardencentre.com

    a local nursery.

    See my recent posts on the allotment link below.

    It comes in a roll, 1.2M x 25M, £4.99

    If I can find a label I will let you know more info
     
    oktarine, Jan 18, 2009
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  8. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I've also used weed suppressant fabric for many years. I bought mine in 2003/04 and it is still as good as new. It is porous and allows the rain through and, in the dry weather, retains moisture much better. I can't remember how much it cost as it was so long ago but it was much cheaper in a small local garden centre than in one of the multiples.

    Each January I roll it back, dig, remove the odd perrenial weed (usually just bindweed), dig in compost, roll it back and no weeding for the rest of the year :yho:. I have about 1,200 sq ft covered in it and it is very easy to dig because it isn't too soggy.

    I grow all my runner beans, courgettes, butternut squash, tomatoes and some of my brassicas through it. I just cut an X in it and plant through the hole. When the plants are younger all that is needed from a watering point of view is to put some water in the hole. This worked very well during the drought.

    I originally made strong wire hooks to pin the plastic down but have reverted to the more unsightly bricks because it is much easier that way.


    [​IMG]
     
    shiney, Jan 22, 2009
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  9. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

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    Think I have seen something that looks like that Shiney in my local garden centre, will have a look and find a cost if they have it. Its quite thick and reasonably rigid if I recall....is that right?

    Steve...:)
     
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  10. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    The one I use is quite flexible.
     
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  11. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

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    Just got back from garden centre, the fabric similar to shineys (I think) is just over a metre wide and sold at £1.60 per metre, it resembles potato sacking in that its woven with flat strands, quite flexible, but tougher and more rigid than that rubbishy paper type landscaping fabric you can buy (which is what I meant in my previous post).

    Steve...:)
     
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  12. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Steve, that sounds like it. You can get it in different widths. My one is 2m wide and the wider ones are cheaper. I know I got mine a lot cheaper because I bought the whole roll.
     
    shiney, Jan 22, 2009
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