Polythene for killing weeds

FeFiDoh · 22 Sep 2016 at 19:31

Hi all,
Just recently got an allotment and we need to remove some weeds (which is most of the allotment!). Reading around black polythene seems to be the best option but I am unsure on what I should get.
Any advice on what to get and possibly where from?

Thanks!

thezappa · 22 Sep 2016 at 21:43

1200 gauge sheets will do it, in black - clear sheets will be useless, lay it over and put a load of bricks to weigh it down. Will be pricey though especially if you need a lot and will take a long time.
Another option is weed membrane, it's more like fabric but its meant to have a mulch down on top and you plant through cut holes. Not sure how well that would work in an allotment.
Yet another option is glyphosate, I realise it would be used on ground to grow vegetables but it is neutralised when it comes in to contact with soil and after a few weeks the ground is safe again. If you did this though check the pack to see what the manufacturer recommends.

DXP55 · 22 Sep 2016 at 22:36

Don't mess about - Glyphosate 360 is your friend. - Perfect for bind weed and nettles - dandelions - as well as anything else - spray - wait two weeks till it's all dead - dig over - wait till new weeds come up and spray again.

Try agricultural suppliers and you might need a sprayers license.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/3319...rlsatarget=pla-181484343906&adtype=pla&crdt=0

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 22 Sep 2016 at 22:41

Be careful using non domestic stuff on your allotment, ours specifically says domestic level stuff only and in the original packaging.

robj20 · 23 Sep 2016 at 07:10

Glyphosate will be fine no matter what concentration you get, just requires more dilution.

a1ex2001 · 23 Sep 2016 at 09:43

Get you fork and shovel and get digging it is the best way pick out and bucket the weeds as you go. A weed free allotment is hard work and will need regular attention black plastic and chemicals are useless once you start planting so get used to working the ground. It will get you outside, fit and ready for the real hard work in the spring there really are very few easy options on allotments!

R.O.S.S.I · 23 Sep 2016 at 10:14

Sorry to hijack this thread a bit but i'm trying to figure out some weed control for the borders of my garden.

They aren't large borders but i've hand weeded them about 4 times and new weeds come back in force. I think i was doing my original weeding wrong however as I was digging up the soil quite a bit when getting rid of the weeds which i've read can just unearth new weed seeds and they grow.

Would using some of this glysophate be the best treatment or would a combination of glysophate and covering with cardboard or membrane be the best way to go to ensure the weeds get a thorough bashing?

a1ex2001 · 23 Sep 2016 at 11:11

R.O.S.S.I said:
Sorry to hijack this thread a bit but i'm trying to figure out some weed control for the borders of my garden.

They aren't large borders but i've hand weeded them about 4 times and new weeds come back in force. I think i was doing my original weeding wrong however as I was digging up the soil quite a bit when getting rid of the weeds which i've read can just unearth new weed seeds and they grow.

Would using some of this glysophate be the best treatment or would a combination of glysophate and covering with cardboard or membrane be the best way to go to ensure the weeds get a thorough bashing?

Chemicals will work once but the weeds will come back and strong weed killers will kill your plants too! You best bet to keep weeds down in a boarder and look nice is matting and a mulch which you can then plant through.

If you just want rid of weeds then concrete or astro turf are your friends

R.O.S.S.I · 23 Sep 2016 at 12:14

a1ex2001 said:
Chemicals will work once but the weeds will come back and strong weed killers will kill your plants too! You best bet to keep weeds down in a boarder and look nice is matting and a mulch which you can then plant through.

If you just want rid of weeds then concrete or astro turf are your friends

There arent any plants in them atm and I do want to plant in them eventually. I think a strong dose of weed killer then laying down some membrane should do the trick. What is a mulch? Is that just compost or is it a specific type of compost/soil? Could I just lay down several bags of multipurpose over the membrane?

jl10000 · 23 Sep 2016 at 17:33

Damp proof membrane, toolstation.

koooowweeee · 23 Sep 2016 at 20:27

Don't use compost in your borders. After a while it's goes all rooty and it hard to turn it over and get the weeds out. Just use top soil.

a1ex2001 · 24 Sep 2016 at 13:17

R.O.S.S.I said:
There arent any plants in them atm and I do want to plant in them eventually. I think a strong dose of weed killer then laying down some membrane should do the trick. What is a mulch? Is that just compost or is it a specific type of compost/soil? Could I just lay down several bags of multipurpose over the membrane?

a mulch is something you spread round plants and can be over a membrane (most membranes need it to be weed proof) normal things to use are shredded bark, manure or compost.

AHarvey · 24 Sep 2016 at 22:25

Large sheets of carboard, mulch on top.

Cheap, cheerful and safe

Blackjack Davy · 25 Sep 2016 at 21:35

If its an allotment looks aren't important so get some old carpet it won't blow away in the wind either. Ask at the local tip.

a1ex2001 · 26 Sep 2016 at 15:35

Blackjack Davy said:
If its an allotment looks aren't important so get some old carpet it won't blow away in the wind either. Ask at the local tip.

Check the site rules a lot have banned carpet because it's an eyesore and people leave it to rot, I used carpets on my allotment and they were great as long as you remembered to chuck them every couple of years as they slowly disintegrated. Free cycle is another good place to pick them up and where I got all mine from.

R.O.S.S.I · 27 Sep 2016 at 16:32

jl10000 said:
Damp proof membrane, toolstation.

Surely I dont want something that is damp proof?! But something that is semi permeable?

DcD · 27 Sep 2016 at 18:00

R.O.S.S.I said:
Surely I dont want something that is damp proof?! But something that is semi permeable?

Correct - some say black plastic for long periods of time is bad for the soil. I use proper weed fabric for this reason on the beds of my allotment, and ordinary black plastic on pathways etc under a mulch.