Covering the allotment

Discussion in 'Allotments Discussion' started by Nursewhen, Jul 27, 2010.

  1. Nursewhen

    Nursewhen Gardener

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    My dad has an allotment which is now too big, so we need to cover up part of it to keep the weeds down.

    We bought some mulch material from the garden centre and it's rubbish. It disintegrated after a month. I've seen other allotment owners have a sort of thick black felt covering over them. Any idea what this stuff might be?
     
    Nursewhen, Jul 27, 2010
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  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I've used the Wickes landscaping material (as a mulching sheet):
    http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/160173
    It does degrade over time in places exposed to the elements, but I must have put it down over 10 years ago and mostly its still doing the job.
     
    JWK, Jul 27, 2010
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  3. Nursewhen

    Nursewhen Gardener

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    Thanks for that. Unfortunately, that's the stuff we've been using and in the wilds of Yorkshire, it doesn't last 5 minutes. The stuff I'm eyeing up is much thicker and rather felt like.
     
    Nursewhen, Jul 27, 2010
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  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Hmm, maybe they have changed it - the stuff I got is very tough - not like felt but thick woven plastic - I wonder if this felt like stuff you've seen is cheap roofing felt? (I guess not as even cheap roofing felt would be too expensive over a large area).
     
    JWK, Jul 27, 2010
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  5. Nursewhen

    Nursewhen Gardener

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    Ah, thanks for that, I'll look into it :)
     
    Nursewhen, Jul 28, 2010
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  6. kev25v6

    kev25v6 Gardener

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    What about massive tarpaulins? They can be had for a few quid and then just cover it with bark or the like.
     
    kev25v6, Jul 28, 2010
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  7. maltaron

    maltaron Gardener

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    Why not offer the space you cant use to someone who is waiting for an allotment. With the current demand for "grow your own" it seems a shame to waste the ground.
     
    maltaron, Aug 4, 2010
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  8. Stingo

    Stingo Gardener

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    It's got to have small holes for the rain to get through otherwise you just get pooled water on top of the black plastic.
     
    Stingo, Aug 4, 2010
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  9. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I use a weed supressant black plastic that is porous. I grow my runner beans, courgettes, marrows, squash and tomatoes through it by cutting small holes in which to plant them. The water doesn't pool as it is porous and it has been down for years and still looks as good as new.

    I see that some garden centres use it to display their potted plants on. It saves them having to do any weeding of the ground.
     
    shiney, Aug 4, 2010
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