Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Andyp95 on March 22, 2017, 09:25

Title: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: Andyp95 on March 22, 2017, 09:25

Good morning all - reasonably newbie allotmenter here and defo newbie to the site.

Cutting a long story short, I may have access to some un-needed astroturf. I have an established allotment with 6-8 raised beds and a fruit tree area. Last year I, like many others on the allotment and around the country, struggled with slugs and snails so much that I need to come up with a decent way of getting rid as my yiled was really rubbish as a result. maybe due to my inexperience as well :)

Quick question is does anyone have experience of using astrofturf as a slug / snail deterrent?? I am interested to know if it is worth my while transporting the astroturf, cutting it to size, laying etc to try & have a decent slug deterrent. I believe they dislike sharp surfaces and this astroturf is sharp.

Any advice would be extremely useful.

Thank you in advance

Andy

Title: Re: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: mumofstig on March 22, 2017, 09:31

They may not like the top of it, but they like living under it, though .

Title: Re: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: yorky on March 22, 2017, 19:38

If you are having a problem with slugs and snails taking your crops, its the ones in the soil of your raised beds that are the problem.

Astroturf on the paths will keep the weeds at bay but make no difference to the slugs.

Title: Re: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: Andyp95 on March 23, 2017, 09:42

Thanks for those replies. Weeds are also an issue so I think I will go with the idea. Will try slug pots this year - and plenty of them !

Thanks!

Title: Re: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: sunshineband on March 23, 2017, 18:29

Although slugs will live under astroturf, they also live under membrane.. and in fact under the soil. Keeping weeds down is useful, and slug treatment will still be needed whichever way.

The fake grass will look good, I'm sure

Title: Re: Using astroturf as border around raised beds
Post by: Pimento on April 19, 2017, 20:56

I think it'll look nice, keep the weeds down and leave you with more time free to concentrate on your beds. Go for it! 😊