Mulch sheet for veg bed?

Hi all, I am a complete newbie but have decided that I want to use my garden to grow as much food as I can! While in the garden centre I saw some rolls of 'mulch sheets' which looked like a roll of breathable plastic which claims to prevent weeds but still allow the soil to breath and water to get it. I was wondering whether it is good or bad to use such sheets in a vegetable bed as it is appealing as it would save weeding time and look tidy but if it is going to have a negative effect on my vegetables or soil then I don't want to use it.

(having done some research I think I mean membrane not mulch?, but I still can't find out whether or not i should use it on a veg bed?)

Can anyone advise me on this please?

Many thanks

 

You'd have to either lay it between the veg rows, and still weed where the membrane doesn't cover, or cover the area, cut holes in it, and then plant through it. I wouldn't personally, I'd rather do weeding. Not only that, it's one less hiding place for slugs etc.

 

If I was to do it I would cover the whole thing and cut holes to plant through. Good point on place for slugs etc to hide. does it have any effect on the quality of soil or vegetables produced or is it no different to how it would be without it?

 

I would imagine it depends on the quality of the membrane. I couldn't really tell you a definate, but I know that I wouldn't use them. I'd make my own mulch from garden waste, although it takes a while for it to be useable, it's the most eco-friendly way of doing it

 

I grow in beds rather than rows accross the plot and find the weed supressing membrane usefull for the larger veg at wider spacing such as squash, courgettes, sweetcorn etc. I make a slit trench around the edge of the bed with a spade then push the membrane in and tighten on the opposite side.
I covered these beds a few weeks ago after spring cultivation now I just have to plant. I lift again at the end of the season to dig and manure but no weeding all year is a real plus. I have not found any increase in slug population with membrane

 

Well, thats me proved wrong :( I dug a border, and stacked soil and grass to have a raised bed, and covered that with weed membrane, and had plenty slugs when I came to move a bit for the greenhouse flooring :(

 

i wouldnt use it

my neighbour at the lottie used some for her strawberries and found mice hiding under it

loopy

 

But surely that is down to not installing it properly. If it is tight and pegged down all round I can't see how mice would get it (plus our cat would see to them!!)

 

I've used the perforated plastic on my brassica beds for the past few years. It works very well - keeps weeds down and also keeps moisture in.

This was taken about 4 weeks ago - the end of season sprouts.
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pegged down or not, mice can get anywhere.

Dave, they look amazing btw!!!!

 

Thanks everyone. Dave - those sprouts look great, hopefully mine will grow that well too!. Shiney - that looks great (membrane and garden!).

I am almost decided now but one last thing, someone has suggested to me that it may have a bad effect on root vegetables - do any of you have experience of this?

 

Great for leeks - saves a heck of a lot of fiddly weeding.
I make holes by heating a bit of alloy tube with a blowlamp. Nice and neat and the holes won't tear. This sheet is fabric not plastic.
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is that an electic fence down the left side dave? :eek: