Keeping things tidy

[gardening jan]

I need to tidy up the pathways between the beds on my allotment  at the moment they have masses of dandylions which look very deep rooted if I dig them out the paths will run into the beds. Do you think it will be ok to cover the pathways with old carpet or is this not really the done thing?

[gardening jan]

[tonybloke]

it is on my plot!, saves all the work of hoeing or grass cutting! ;)

[bjude9]

carpet no allowed on my allotment site, which is a shame cos sounds like a good idea to me!

[gardening jan]

I think I'll go for it then, set to it tomorrow!

[PJW_Letchworth]

I want to edge all my beds then put landscaping fabric down and eventually put bark chippings down but I have a feeling this is just going to be wishful thinking.  It is going to take so much timber and bark I may have to go the carpet route.  Do you think crops prefer a nice Axminster?  ;D

[hopalong]

Made a path through my fruit area with old carpet covered with bark chippings yesterday.  Looks good.  Some people on our site just use carpet, no bark chippings.  It does the job but looks a bit tatty.

[tonybloke]

I want to edge all my beds then put landscaping fabric down and eventually put bark chippings down but I have a feeling this is just going to be wishful thinking.  It is going to take so much timber and bark I may have to go the carpet route.  Do you think crops prefer a nice Axminster?  ;D

nope, it rots after a couple of years! go for a cheap non foam backed carpet!

[70fingers]

You will need a very long cord on the "hoover" though!!  ;D

We have some reclaimed astro turf on one plot, with a mix of membraine and grass paths. Have to say the membraine will need some barkchippings to stop the weeds growing up though. Carpet always does the job!

[saddad]

Not forever though... a neglected plot with couch growing through carpet is a nightmare to clear... (which is why some sites ban it I think...)  :-X

[Borlotti]

Had to dig up all the carpet on my site as the Council have banned it.  Luckily they let us all put in a big heap and they came and took it away. That is because a lot of new people took over neglected sites and the carpet had been down for years (with grass grown over it) and the man who came with his big machine to rotavate was not a happy chap as he couldn't see it and it kept getting caught up in the machine.  Presumably this could cause a lot of damage to the machine and be expensive to repair.  So no carpet now.  Must say it did keep the weeds down but have now put wood chip on the paths, the weeds still grow through but it does keep them down a bit.  You had better check your rules if it is a Council site as it was a pain to pull up old wet carpet and I certainly regretted using it.

[daileg]

we don't allow plastic or carpets .
what has been noted by placing carpets or plastic on the paths creates a perfect environment for weeds to grow underneath and this causes bigger eradication issues later

my advice is to dig out all weeds get the council to provide you with bark from there grinding machines when there cutting hedges and the likes we don't pay for this as cuts down on fuel costs taking to the recycling centre when not used as a mulch on the various beds across the town then you can keep the weeds at bay either by pulling as they pop up or closeting the paths once a year

[lewic]

Please dont use carpet, for the sake of anyone taking on your plot in the future! I dug up two car-loads of rotten stuff that had been left by previous tenants, complete with brambles, couch, frogs, spiders and assorted creepy crawlies that I kept finding in the car for weeks afterwards..

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

my plot is pretty clear and I have landscape fabri-ed my walkways and am awaiting bark chips.  Walkways alongside plot are couch and I am concerned about it encroaching sideways back to the plot so am weeding it every fortnight.  I wish there was a cheap/easy way to maintain it!  I think carpet is a bad idea but I can see why people go for it.

Psi

[Robert_Brenchley]

I had a nightmare job on part of my plot digging out carpet where the natural fibre had rotted away leaving the artificial backing completely overgrown by couch. It's not something I'd ever use!

[Old bird]

I thought that is was considered very non environmentally friendly - something to do with toxins used in the manufacture and it is meant to actually damage the soil?

Can't remember where I saw or hear about that - but I do agree that it doesn't look good and is a right pain to get rid of - Luckily I haven't had that problem!

Old bird  ;D

[manicscousers]

thick cardboard, weed control and wood chips  ;D

[1066]

I'd use anything but carpet. as others have said a right pain to move, and weeds still seem to eventually grow through it (I know they do that cos that's what I had to deal with on part of my plot when I took it over).
So I'd go with Manicscousers suggestions of carboard, weed control and then chips. and you can bury the ends of the weed control into the beds if you like - that way nothing should come through.