Topic: Securing Black Plastic

[Emagggie]

Does anyone have any bright ideas on securing black plastic so the plot doesn't look like a junk yard? I have tried an assortment of metal/plastic pegs which were worse than useless  :(
At the mo I have been wombling on the disused part of our site and used the junk I found. (bricks etc.) There must be a better way I'm thinking.......

[Curryandchips]

The plastic is being used to suppress weeds, perhaps for working the ground later when time is available? I have used soil itself, piled over the edges of the plastic, after using any lengths of wood or metal to hold the plastic down temporarily. If you wish to do this in a deliberately organised way, then dig a vee trench where you wish the plastic to be, lay it in place so the edges drop into the vee and backfill with the soil removed.

Good luck.

[supersprout]

Hi emagggie, I use metal 'u' shaped pegs from a garden shop to fix the edges. You can get the same pegs free by cutting up wire coathangers. Burying the edges in soil works fine too, but is harder work :P

I did buy those plastic pegs with the round tops and fins on, the ones you hammer in, which are fine if you never lift the plastic up again! But I wouldn't buy them again. If you have a large area of plastic, it will have to be weighed down with planks, bags of compost etc. to stop it heaving about in the wind, but you can arrange in neat horizontals or lines to avoid that distressing junkyard effect ;)

This thread might be useful:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,15258.0

[onionhead]

Hmm, I used metal pegs only to find the plastic sailing away on the breeze the following day. After that it was whatever I could find on the plot to weigh it down with (wood, bricks, old fence panels, etc.) all covered with a patchwork of mulches (bark chippings, spent compost, straw) for aesthetic effect. Looks terrible... but I like to think it has character!

[SMP1704]

Plant through it ;D ;D  then you get ancourage and a decorative, productive look.  I also have a mix of bricks and wooden planks around the edges, just in case.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I use old bricks. It's not photogenic but they won't blow away.

[Roy Bham UK]

Same here, old bricks or broken slabs do it 4 me ;D

[Emagggie]

Well I think the bricks will stay,at least till I've had a go at making some BIG pins. The spuds are all tucked in (thanks for the info,Supersprout), so maybe when it all starts to grow it will be a thing of beauty anyhow.
Thanks everyone for your input, it's great to have other peoples tried and tested ideas. ;)

[Bramley]

I use those black pegs that have been mentioned, but I don't put them through the plastic. I put them in the ground around the edges, then I have some strong garden string that I whined around the pegs and accross the plastic back and forth  forming  a criss cross, so the plastic doesn't blow away.

This means you don't make big holes in it and can take it up very easily.

[Emagggie]

Brilliant, Bramley, that's the answer.Easy when you know how. ;D ;D ;D
Many thanks

[redimp]

The only thing that works for me is to hold it down using bags of leaf mould.

[Emagggie]

Bit short on leaves as ours is a fairly new garden,and I'm learning lots about what's worth collecting and what to do with it thanks to all you lovely people. ;D

[Meg]

Bags of compost, bricks,pallets. Boy does it do the job though and saves such a lot of work.

[supersprout]

Bags of spent hops here!

[Emagggie]

Are you fermenting your own, SS?

[supersprout]

LOL, we are lucky emagggie, one of the plotholders is Second Brewer at the local Oakham Ales and brings down bags of spent hops from the brewing in his van for any plotholders who will take them! They rot away quietly whilst they're holding down the plastic. Here they are mulching the peas :)



Plenty to spare if you are ever down my way ;D

[Emagggie]

I bet they smell divine  ;D Do you get free samples of the finished product on a hot and thirsty day? :P :P
I am coming to the conclusion that there is not much that can't be used for a good old mulch.............!
Photos of your plottie always look so organised, SS

[Garden Manager]

i am afraid I must be a bit boring.  I use old bits of brick have collected (from building work, out the soil etc) to anchor things like fleece cloches and plastic mulches. I did though use some wire cut into lengths and bent double to use as pegs for the landscape fabric i planted my cabbages through, howver I dont know how good the will be in really windy weather, or on a windy allotment.

I wish I could think up a more attractive method of anchoring, since my veg plot by nessesity is in the middel of my garden and in full veiw of the house. However bricks dont look too bad and suit the kind of rustic feel of the garden.

Sorry i couldnt be much help.

[Emagggie]

But EVERYBODY has been so much help.Thanks again one and all.

Now secured with a mixture of pegs and string ang a good few bricks.
Pots , marrows & cougettes and sun flowers all growing through nicely.
Very pleased with myself !!! ;D ;D ;D

[Emagggie]

And pride goeth before a fall !!!!!
All cougettes and marrows now eaten by slugs I presume, that'll larn me to be so smug :(