Tarpaulin to cover weeds

rusbli

I am trying to control the weeds in my allotment, I took on the allotment this year so have not had much chance to start growing too much. I have started to concentrate on growing on one half and on the other half I have covered it with tarpaulin to try and stop the weed growth. I did this about 3 weeks ago but had a peek under the tarpaulin to see how it was going and the weeds seem to be green still and not dying. How long do you think this will take to clear the weeds, am I just being impatient?

Thanks

Zazen999

Is it black, cutting out all the light? If not, then it takes longer.

3 weeks is pushing it anyway, you need to be prepared to leave it months for them to die back - and then they can still grow, they are just weaker and easier to pull out.

In all honesty, unless it is black, you'd be better off putting a layer of card or newspaper under the tarp - that really blocks the light out.

I don't think putting anything down and leaving it is a substitute for digging the weeds out, as the roots will grow back as soon as they are exposed to daylight again.

If you aren't going to use the tarp again, you can cut holes through and pop stuff such as pumpkins/winter squashes/ courgettes in the soil and grow those over the top of the tarp.

surfsister

I lay thick carpet over the areas I havent' time to dig and after several months the weeds are weakened and go pale green, then I dig them out when I have time but still leave the carpet on until i need it. Another tip is to plant potatoes under the tarpaulin as they don't mind lack of light and then you wil dig it when you dig up the potatoes and make time to do so!!!

Claire234

I am thinking of opening a new store of tarpaulin, used for car, trucks , house covers.
Do you think is it practicable ?

valk_scot

It usually takes about five or six months to kill weeds fully by light exclusion. it helps if you use very thick black tarp, or as has been said use layers of newspaper or cardboard under the tarp. The best combo though is newspaper plus black plastic...the worms will take the newspaper plus dead weeds down into the soil to enrich it.

Or if you're getting really fancy, strim down the weeds and leave them in situ, add a layer of compost, manure, leaf mould or similar, top with newspapers and plastic, leave for six months. Do this to all your unused beds over the winter and in March/April you'll be able just to lift the plastic and plant straight into the beds. I do this to all my unused beds ...there's time to mess around with barrow loads of this and that in October, and it saves oodles of work in the busy spring planting season.