Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: Moreweeds on July 29, 2017, 21:41
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Hello folks
I'm new here and new to allotments. My wife and I have recently taken on a small allotment. Earlier in the year we covered some of it with a black material called "Teran" ( I think that's how it's spelt?). However we are finding that some weeds (mares tail) are growing through it. Does anyone else have any experience with this Teran or would we be better changing to polythene?
Thank you
Regards
Pete
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I think it might be Terram landscape fabric you mean. Moreweeds
It is a case of horses for courses: I use a similar product on paths, covered with woodchip, and the occasional marestail forces its way up on its travels from next door, but it does let water drain away, which is essential on the paths
I use black plastic to cover empty beds in Winter, to keep off excess rain and preserve nutrients and provide shelter for soil organisms, including worms. We often add a layer of home made compost before covering, and the worms like the shelter too. Also warms the soil a bit in early Spring
For covering ground to prepare it by killing off weed growth I have used both landscape fabric and plastic tarpaulin to good effect, leaving it down for a year before lifting to find only bindweed had survived, with its pale, etiolated growth looking rather ghostly
Either way, walking over the covered area compacts the soil, so I try to keep off it, unless it is going to be a path area.
So in answer to your question, it depends what the future plan is, and what you have to hand. Either way, weight it down well to keep light out and stop it blowing away!!
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covering Marestail increases it growth rate.
It is a weed you will need to keep digging as much out as poss, your neighbouring plots will have it so total removal is not possible. It spores in March as well as root growth. Loves damp soil.
Do not compost what you dig.
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Thank you for the replies, useful information from both of you ☺