Recommendations for Weed Membrane

pambler

Can anyone recommend a good brand of weed membrane - I need to sort out a gravelled area of my garden which looks like it has previously had just plastic sheeting (which is now completely defunct) underneath it. I'm going to lift the existing gravel, replace the membrane, then re-gravel it. I won't be planting in the area at all.

I have a severe ground elder problem, and although I will try to get out as much of the root as possible before putting the membrane down, it's never possible to get all of it out - so the membrane needs to be tough!

Davesnave

Mypex or Phormisol are two of the best brands, but I'm sure there are other woven membranes of good quality.

The main thing is not to use the light spun-bonded stuff which will not stand up to the rigours of wear and weed attack in the same way.

I had Phormisol on my parking space for 3 years, without sign of holing or other wear. Where I used it on my nursery, it stood foot traffic for over 5 years, with no covering whatever.

lardlikesdogs

Agree

I have used this in my back garden
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Control-Ground-Membrane-Landscape-Fabric/dp/B00493FD3S/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1

Great product and better than the rubbish from the DIY stores

EpsomOldie

I've used the heavy-duty stuff here
http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Weed_Control_Fabric.html
and it is excellent. (The lighter-weight stuff isn't UV resistant).

I don't know if it would stop ground elder as thankfully it's one of the few weeds I haven't got.

EO

pambler

Thanks all for the suggestions

Spotty100

To be honest I've found it doesn't really matter what you put down as birds droppings will leave seeds on top and after a year or so you have to rake out the weeds clean the gravel off and reset it. Of course giving the area a good spray with Roundup once a year really helps.

pambler

I agree - I don't think weed membrane is a cure all - it still needs to be maintained from the weeds that congregate on the top, but as my garden could be an advert for all the most pernicious perennial weeds, I want to give this gravel area the best chance!

Spotty100

Buy a reasonably priced membrane then and a good big bucket of concentrated Roundup, along with a garden sprayer and your problems will be pretty much solved.