[Sweetpea C]

Hi,

I need to cover the plot as I dig to stop the weeds from coming back (particularly over the path areas).  As I am on a mission to only use things that are free (from skips or donated via freecycle), I wonder if anyone could advise if there is an alternative that I could use for no money? I've read about carpet and cardboard?? Any good?

Many thanks,

Caroline

[DD.]

Cardboard is good.

Never, ever use carpet. It can leech chemicals from the dye and a lot of councils ban it's use on their sites.

[ThatsNice]

Could you try contacting a local tree surgeon to see if they will give you their tree chippings? I am thinking that's what I will do

[Annen]

Could you try contacting a local tree surgeon to see if they will give you their tree chippings? I am thinking that's what I will do

I think you'll probably need something under the chippings.  I have used compost bags, pierced to let water through and that white woven plastic fabric you get things in.  Our shop gets the canes in big bags made out of it.

[Sweetpea C]

Could you try contacting a local tree surgeon to see if they will give you their tree chippings? I am thinking that's what I will do

I think you'll probably need something under the chippings.  I have used compost bags, pierced to let water through and that white woven plastic fabric you get things in.  Our shop gets the canes in big bags made out of it.

another good idea, thank you

[thestens]

What about the big bags that sand etc gets delivered in they never seem to want them back - cut into the right size bits and with a layer of chippings on to might do the trick.

[Agatha]

Cardboard, weighed down with stones etc is great.  You can plant through it or just lift it up if you want to sow seeds.  I have a dunelm and a poundstretcher a few miles from my house & find they are more than happy to let me take some of their waste cardboard - really big sheets of it that have been wrapped round furniture!

[Sweetpea C]

Thanks all, tree surgeon friend of my father in law is being asked so hopefully I will have a steady supply and the post room at work are saving me their cardboard. If only the weather would cheer up! X

[Ema]

I've also been looking at similar options for my new plot. I'm going to be goin with cardboard by also green manures sown between certain crops

[compostqueen]

Card makes good temporary paths anywhere for the plot, and to cover patches to keep weeds down. They are very temporary but will rot entirely into the ground.  I get mine from the local electric showroom who always have plenty.  I used it to line the bottoms of my raised beds too as I didn't weed them first

[Sweetpea C]

Not weeding sounds good - I spent 3 hours digging up nettles and brambles yesterday - ouch!