[Angelah]

I've decided to cover the areas of the plot we've not cleared yet to keep them under control. But what is best? Porous weed membrane or just black plastic? I was thinking about planting some things such as squash through the membrane, so would membrane be better so that the rain gets through? We've used black plastic with good results, but weren't planting through that.

[compostqueen]

black plastic woven sheet mulch is good stuff and will last for years, or ever maybe.  You can get stuff called Tenax or Phormisol.  It lets rain through but excludes light so kills off surface weeds. It will kill off deep perennial weeds eventually and even old raspberry plants (much to my relief cos they're sods to have to dig out)  The cheap thin stuff is false economy and is just not robust enough for the plot. Solid plastic won't allow rain to permeate so the ground underneath would end up like concrete and it's harbours slugs.  The woven stuff is rough and slugs don't like it

You can get it off the internet from various sites, compare prices before ordering. Eg from SmithnJones or Alplas

[diggerjoe]

you're right compostqueen the cheap stuff is no good. I used it and after a month pyulled it back hoping to have killed of the grass abit before digging over and it was it there enjoying life under cover  :o On our site some use damp course membrane, seems that does the trick. I think the thin stuff is ok if you are going to mulch over its just that the light gets through. The only up side is it make the plot look tidy bit like chucking stuff in cupboards before visitors arrive