I said on yesterday's post that the veg plot is very weedy and I have decided to put old polytunnel plastic down to smother the weeds and grass and I will place my plants nursery on them in between the raised beds.
Me being a tight wad organic vegetable gardener and smallholder. Didn't rush to buy horticultural plastic. I reused and repurposed my old polytunnel cover.
Anyone else repurpose plastic in the veg plot? I have bought Mypex landscape fabric in the past. It's porous but the weeds grow through it after a while.
I have sometimes used old carpet to suppress weeds. It tends to stay put and allows woodlice and slugs to create safe cities where they can socialise and fornicate freely.
ReplyDeleteOld wool made carpets like Axminster are fine for the veg plot YP. Modern man made fibre carpets are full of flame retardants and other nasty carpets and the fibres remain in the soil for years when they break down. I have mulched with cardboard and covered them with fym and cress clippings, leaves and bark. I will remove the polytunnel cover when it starts to break down. The sun will be a big factor in that process.
ReplyDeleteI had not considered that point about modern carpets Dave. Thanks for that advice.
DeleteI looked up carpets in the veg garden YP and gained the information about fire retardants and other chemicals in modern manufactured carpets. We are surrounded by chemicals in our homes.
DeleteWe have used cardboard in the past but now we have such a small veg plot it doesn't take too long to hoe.
ReplyDeleteFlat cardboard boxes like the ones fridges come in are great for suppressing weeds JayCee. You just have to remove any cellophane wrapping or tape or packing polystyrene. The America term is Lassgna gardening. A good wake to tackle an overgrown allotment without too much physical work and avoiding nasty chemical weed killers. Bark chippings is also good for mulching and paths. It needs to to be at least one year old or else it will extract nitrogen out of the soil. My veg plot seems to beat me and it's like painting the Forth railway bridge or Blackpool' Tower.
DeleteI throw nothing away, wait long enough and it will come in handy, my paths between my veg beds is my old plastic lawn, we placed both beds and then cut away under the beds, 18 months on its working perfectly.
ReplyDeleteHi Marlene. My smallholding hero guru and writer said in his self sufficiency bible that the dustman should never need visit the smallholding. That was in a time when we didn't live in a world/ sea of plastic. I try to repurpose what ever I have lying around. Your artificial lawn paths sound functional and pleasing on the eye. Please take a picture of them and show us them on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI've used cardboard and newspaper. It did a good job. Kept weeds, away for a few years. Now I just enjoy the greenery, weeds, and all
ReplyDeleteWool weed mats are organic and natural Linda but they are not cheap. The petrol strimmer will soon tidy and cut weedy and grassy paths. The weeds always get in front of me and I dig them out when weeding and when we harvest the vegetables. Sunshine, wind and rain and fym ensures we are constant weeding. It only takes twelve weeks for an allotment to be fully overgrown. I try to put in at least half a day a week weeding. At the moment it's more than that.
ReplyDeleteThe big bags my insulation came in have gone under the wood chip mulch on my new paths.
ReplyDeleteVery resourceful TM. It must be so exciting planning and making your new homestead?
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing wrong with being a tight wad. I always reused pretty much whatever I have. I spend a lot of money buying it, so I’m not prepared to just throw it out.
ReplyDeleteNot only do I get my moneys worth. I save more money by not having to spend any extra. And best of all it saves on landfill thus helping the environment
We are not tight wads. We are warriors in the fight to save our planet.
Go us
Well said Angela. I went to a local recycling centre the other day and spent a good ten minutes emptying cardboard and plastic and bottles and I wondered how much we spend every day on this stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have discovered one problem with using the stuff. Ants!!!! They gravitate to the protected areas and build a huge tunnel system. Although, now I'm wondering if treating the ground w/ diatomaceous earth would help.
ReplyDeleteAnts form a big part of the eco system Debby and make good food for the birds. I find slugs like to hide under plastic. I often find them in my builders bags of plant pots. Washing up liquid and cooking oil makes a good spray to engulf the ants. White vinegar is also very good. I think the Diatomaceous earth is certainly worth trying on ant nests.
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