[Babycat]

I got a new plot,  five beds 5mx2m so not a massive task but I need to cover it over while I get organised with a number of other non-lotty projects and would like your recommendations on what to use re effectiveness, sturdyness, price, etc. 
I have some blue tarp in the garage but think it will let the light in and act like a polutunnel so probably not the best idea....

whaddaya think?

[compostqueen]

heavy duty black woven sheet mulch. It keeps light out but lets rain through so your soil will end up clear of surface weeds and will be kept in good condition until you can get back to it.

All weeds will die under there if the mulch is left in place long enough   

[Babycat]

heavy duty black woven sheet mulch. It keeps light out but lets rain through so your soil will end up clear of surface weeds and will be kept in good condition until you can get back to it.

All weeds will die under there if the mulch is left in place long enough   

Thank you - there are no (visible) weeds,  it will be to cover while I get sorted.  do you pin yours down or just use bricks to hold it.  I used some stuff before but it was thin and fragile.

[Yorkie]

Bricks, or recycle plastic milk bottles filled with water.

[sunshineband]

We have weed membrane called 'landscape fabric' and it is the woven sort.

No light gets through, an it is tough enough not to be torn by bricks 

[compostqueen]

I use all sorts to hold it down, but water filled bottles, bricks, pieces of timber, I even made some pegs out of wire coat hangers    They are a bit hard to make though as coathanger is tougher than it looks 

[Babycat]

would this be any good?

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/grow-your-own-products/wilko-mulch-sheet-2mx6m/invt/0299006/?htxt=6A0M0RQGdr8XI18Coq%2BULh26VPUdpOzqhRavir5s1Arqe46F8CCkHmb8nyGr3djgHPrY7XvFtSo%2B%0AbnyQ0dzsNQ%3D%3D

[Flatcat]

We hold ours down with all sorts of things: Road barrier bases, wheel rims, bricks, pallets etc etc

We also use carpet as well, although it doesn't last that long

The landscpae fabric we use is the softer one, as we find that with the more plasticy 'Mypex' type membrane you get all long strands of plastic blowing off from the edges (like when a cassete tape comes apart!) and it just gets wrapped around absolutely everything!