weed control on my allotment paths update

[gunners71uk]

my kind local council dumps wood chippings in a pile for us to use so there is my cheap solution.(free)
i like it when a plan comes together!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wombat]

G'Day Gunners,

I have heard that rock salt works and is cheap!

Nev

(PS I takes me a while to get things going, the book left airmail today so you should have it in a week to 10 days)

[nick]

try a light spray of vegetable oil. noticed that where I tip dribs and drabs of oil on the back yard, the grass seems to die. I use a bit of oil on some of the broadleaf weeds that are a real pain to rid of.

[ina]

Cover your paths with old carpet! And lift the carpet occasionally to collect the slugs that live underneath - so you get a twofold use out of the carpet: weed control as well as slug trap.

[gunners71uk]

thanks every one whats rock salt and where do you get it, i have some carpet too.
thanks nev me old mate for sending the book i look forward to it taaaaaaaaa

[shiney]

I was gonna mention rock salt or just plain old salt. My grandad used it for killing dandelions, by sprinkling salt in the centre of the plant.

Good luck, happy weeding!

[Boots]

Well...here's an aussie way Tried and true.

Take a little camping stove out to your allotment and boil your billy while you're tending your plot. As she boils, slowly work your way along your path, pouring the boiling water over weeds, between cracks etc. You can take your time and mosey along doing a bit at a time each time you visit...no rush.

All your weeds will then brown off and die, and ya just scoop em up and bung em in the compost.

Too easy.

[ina]

It's probably safer than the salt method, too. If you put on too much salt and it gets washed sideways, it might harm the plants you want to grow.

Further advantage: You can make a cup of tea while you are at it

[diver]

I use old carpet too and it works well for a time but eventually the weeds grow through it ...but at that stage you can just replace it

[Andy Hamilton]

I use old carpet too and it works well for a time but eventually the weeds grow through it ...but at that stage you can just replace it

make sure it is hesian backed though, none of that nasty plastic backed stuff.

[hedgewizard]

Carpet... hmmm. I have two paths through the polytunnel to deal with, and the beds are not raised. I can put weed control fabric down of course but if it's walked on much it'll get holes in. Carpet seems like a good idea, but I have a notion it might rot in the warmth and damp of a tunnel. Any ideas?

[ina]

It'll rot outside, too! If it's nice stuff, i.e. natural fibres through and through, you can eventually compost it. If not, you have to scoop it up when it gets too bad and chuck it away.

[Wombat]

Plastic carpet won't rot!

[hedgewizard]

I've read worries from organic bods that synthetic carpets might bleed all sorts of nasty chemicals into the soil, but no hard evidence about it. Any thoughts folks?

[hedgewizard]

deleted! Sorry - site really slow today