[richyrich7]

I'll believe it when I see it RR     You look much too clean-shaven for that.  

I could grow a pony tail will that do ?  

This is my day for the crayons,so I added a beard and a pony tale to your activar.Looks good,but when I scroll up and down they stay in the same place.So now Ive got Aunty with a beard and pony tale.Munty looks the same.

 be careful I feel the naughty step a comin  

[SnooziSuzi]

If you have an Instore or Poundstretcher near to you then you may be able to get some light excluding material.

I bought some recently as it was on bogof offer but even without that it was only a pound or two to buy.

It's about 15' in legnth and I think 8' in width.  Only trouble with it is that it is light and unless it's weighed down with wood / bricks / pallets etc it can blow about.

Hope that helps,
Su

[David.]

Thin 'light excluding' polythene still lets light through.

Heavy duty dpm in 4m x 20m ? rolls cost around £40 ish from B&Q (10% off on Weds if you are/take a pensioner) or Homebase (10% off today, 15% off next weekend for Unison members if you are one/know one.

It will last 5+ years left on the surface of the ground, if if grown through cuts down watering and virtyually eliminates weeding and keeps the warmth in. I'm always growing through about 3 - 4 rolls as I don't like weeding. I lift some of it each year, rotorvate in  compost/manure, grow potatoes then overwintering onions & garlic then put it back down again.

The downside is that as it keeps the warmth in, you can get frost over the polythene when it has not affected anywhere else, so I make sure I grow early bush tomatoes and have plenty of cordon varieties towards the end of season.

I also grow through a layer of paper/cardboard/junk mail/etc. covered with stable straw, with h.d. poly d.p.m. mulch mats around squashes, etc., which gets rotorvated (except the mats) into my clay soil.

[WG.]

Heavy duty dpm in 4m x 20m ? rolls cost around £40 ish from B&Q

A roll over 13ft long is tricky to get into the car!  Do you mean 4ft?

[Aunt Sally]

Heavy duty dpm in 4m x 20m ? rolls cost around £40 ish from B&Q

A roll over 13ft long is tricky to get into the car!  Do you mean 4ft?

Perhaps it's folded up before it's rolled WG  :idea:

[David.]

Perhaps it's folded up before it's rolled WG

Yes, to triple thickness, and if you've some good strong scissors you can reduce your cutting time by 67% (I'm always looking for savings).

[Jeanieblue]

I've started using cardboard, anchored down by some windbreak material rescued from a skip. Also bought a packet of green manure - grazing rye as recommended by Alan Titmarsh. BUT am now worrried by Richyrich's comment about becoming beardyweirdy. That's been my husband's domain up till now. I know that couples that live together long enough start to look alike, but ouch, THE TWITS here we come - aaargh.

[richyrich7]

 must be catchin'

[Jeanieblue]

I'm off now to the littlest room, just to check my nose whiskers and ear hair !!!