Fraying membrane

[jennym]

I'm prompted to post this following a discussion in Basics where someone said how irritating it was that the woven tough plastic membrane used for weed suppressing always frays at the edges. Don't mock, but it drove me crazy too, so I spent an afternoon heat sealing it - and it works. I did it with an ironing board, iron and brown parcel paper. Fold the paper over the edge, apply the hot iron to the paper and the plastic semi melts and seals the edge. You need a bit of practice first to get the iron the right temperature. I did about 100 feet in about 2hours but it was worth the effort.

[jennym]

[jennym]

Yes, someone in my family asked "how come I can find the time to iron membrane, when I can't find the time to iron shirts". I won't print my reply. I do not iron. Growing fruit is part of my little business, the ironing was therefore work, and they can take a running jump!!!
My son was once in a history lesson at school, and the teacher showed them an old flatiron, that would have been heated on the fire, and asked the class if anyone knew what it was, and my son's hand shot up and he told her it was a doorstop. He'd never actually seen an electric iron, I had this antique type one for holding the door open.  ;D
I bought my membrane on a roll of 100 metres, and the long edges are sealed nicely, but it's the cuts I made that frayed. Others on my plot have tried:
stapling - goes rusty,
sewing - even I'm not that enthusiastic, and
plastic tape - can't afford it and I suspect it will come off in the winter.

[Gardenantics]

I cut mine a foot too long, double fold the edge undreneath. and pin it to the ground, no ironing, no fraying.

Brian

[Multiveg]

My mum has used bottles of lemonade as a doorstep!  ;D

[beejay]

But mine frays where I cut the crosses to put plants in. I'm not sure I fancy actually ironing bits of my garden!

[Jill]

Just how did I spot this thread the very day the latest iron blew all the fuses in our house.  Bl....dy irons in our hard water area.  An iron a year @ something like 50 quid a time. ??? :'( :'(  Just had to go wrong a day before school restarts. >:( >:( :'(

[jennym]

I know this sounds really finicky, but where I wanted the plants to go, I went and got a piece of metal rod and heated it in the bonfire and sort of burned out the hole with that. It was tricky though.
Some people iron their membrane, some cut their grass with scissors..... ;D

[beejay]

Now I'm thinking where can I put my bonfire. The only room I've got is on the decking!

[Mrs Ava]

I cut my grass with scissors............ :-\

[ACE]

Use a little gas torch to seal and cut holes for planting.

[jennym]

Not sure I could be trusted with a gas torch!

[supersprout]

I use a gas blowtorch to seal cut woven membrane edges, so I suppose it would be fine to melt your holes too. Never thought of that, thanks for the tip! :D