Temporary bare dirt covering?

[The_Arbiter]

I've got some areas that are a mix of grass, wild grass and various weeds and plants that i would like to use at some point, but dislike the upkeep on them. I'd like to use my garden time to make progress rather than keep spending time on upkeep in areas that i'm not using but may use at some point.

The areas are in different areas and approx sizes:
4x3m
5x2m
5x4m

Grassing them isn't a solution i feel as it's just more upkeep, bindweed, moss, etc. I have succeeded in getting most of the brambles and bindweed under control, except in mentioned areas. For reference it's excouncil style garden.

Is decent weed matting with bark on top the best route? Appearance isn't really an issue.

 

[dlockers]

Just weed mat

 

[Blackjack Davy]

Alternatively old carpet will do and a lot cheaper

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Ground control (not weed control, thats pathetic) although the terms are semi used interchageably
It needs to look like this :

Yuzet 1m x 50m 100g Weed Control Ground Cover Driveway Membrane Landscape Fabric | DIY at B&Q

Our Yuzet Ground Cover Membranes consist of tightly woven polypropylene threads and are UV resistant which guarantees a long product lifespan. The membranes are permeable for water and air, but reliably block weed growth without the need for chemicals. They are used in gardens and nurseries or...

www.diy.com

Cover it all over and overlap the joins.
You can cover in bark chippings if you want something a little more attractive

Edit, just a note on bindweed. It takes years to kill fully and it will travel under this fabric.
It will come up around the edges where you can kill it with strong glycophosphate.

 

[The_Arbiter]

Alternatively old carpet will do and a lot cheaper

Nice idea, i had hoped there was probably something cheap or free that would suit short term that i hadn't thought of.

Edit, just a note on bindweed. It takes years to kill fully and it will travel under this fabric.
It will come up around the edges where you can kill it with strong glycophosphate.

I've grown some bits up a stake previously, then nuked them into the abyss with it
At some point i'm going to lure the neighbours lot onto my side more, then more concentrated nuking will occur.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Nice idea, i had hoped there was probably something cheap or free that would suit short term that i hadn't thought of.



I've grown some bits up a stake previously, then nuked them into the abyss with it
At some point i'm going to lure the neighbours lot onto my side more, then more concentrated nuking will occur.

Just a warning about old carpet, many allotments ban it as it seems a great idea, but it can make a hell of a mess as it starts to break down.

 

[The_Arbiter]

Just a warning about old carpet, many allotments ban it as it seems a great idea, but it can make a hell of a mess as it starts to break down.

Good point, thanks. Should be okay for short term though i guess if people have been known to do it in the past. My guess would be do it for half a year duration then remove come end of autumn.

 

[tangey]

Some tarps...won't let water thru mind you so would need to run off somewhere.

 

[The_Arbiter]

Some tarps...won't let water thru mind you so would need to run off somewhere.

Tried this one in the past, doesn't work too well as lets light through. Used a huge blue one which was even doubled over.