leaves

peppero · February 12, 2018

Nice bonus today; 18 wet,heavy bags of leaves and only 1\2 mile from home. Picked up 2 loads of finely cut leaves also a week ago.

Always on the lookout..........

Question. Do you think that roots would grow through old tee shirts and well worn fabric to maybe substitute for weedstop fabric? Existing on SS causes one to search for frugal solutions.

Comments appreciate as always.

Jon

AlittleSalt · February 12, 2018

This might help a little: https://www.gardenmyths.com/landscap...barrier-cloth/

I like using leaves because they're free and easy to move if you need to. I have ran into the problem of getting too much rain and had to rake the leaves away from the plants so the soil could have a chance to dry out some. I also like the fact that they are natural and will eventually compost.

I'm not sure about old T shirts?

Cole_Robbie · February 13, 2018

My weeds grow through just about anything. Old carpet has been the best way to stop them so far.

peppero · February 13, 2018

My purpose is to grow veggies in containers. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

Jon

brownrexx · February 13, 2018

Yes, roots will grow through fabric since it is porous but it will slow them down a bit at first. Many people lay down newspaper or cardboard and then put their leaves or other mulch on top of that.

bower · February 13, 2018

Re: t shirts and other fabric, I think the degree of usefulness depends on the type of weeds. Cotton cloth will break down eventually in the soil, which is not a bad thing, but some transparency to light depending on the weave.. maybe covered with leaves would help. Like paper or cardboard, the benefits are temporary and for maximum effect you want it well weeded before you put them down. Still no question there is some benefit - but paper and cardboard are more effective at blocking light. I did try the supposed "landscape fabric" once years ago and it was a terrible effect - you couldn't pull it up to get to the weeds that were growing through it.

The stuff is a type of plastic and quite persistent as well.

I've also had sorrel turn into a thicket of roots in an area covered with paper and soil. Cardboard, I have seen some remain all season but underneath it, perennial weeds roots and sprouts still living. And sometimes it rots away in a season, so they come back in.... nothing is perfect.

Old carpet, silage tarp or heavy black plastic left down for a season can leave a nice weedless patch for the following year. (Maybe less than a season would do it?

)

Nan_PA_6b · February 13, 2018

For container tops, why not use several sheets of newspaper? You can put down new paper as needed.

Nan

February 12, 2018	#1
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	leaves Nice bonus today; 18 wet,heavy bags of leaves and only 1\2 mile from home. Picked up 2 loads of finely cut leaves also a week ago. Always on the lookout.......... Question. Do you think that roots would grow through old tee shirts and well worn fabric to maybe substitute for weedstop fabric? Existing on SS causes one to search for frugal solutions. Comments appreciate as always. Jon

February 12, 2018	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	This might help a little: https://www.gardenmyths.com/landscap...barrier-cloth/ I like using leaves because they're free and easy to move if you need to. I have ran into the problem of getting too much rain and had to rake the leaves away from the plants so the soil could have a chance to dry out some. I also like the fact that they are natural and will eventually compost. I'm not sure about old T shirts?

February 13, 2018	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My weeds grow through just about anything. Old carpet has been the best way to stop them so far.

February 13, 2018	#5
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Yes, roots will grow through fabric since it is porous but it will slow them down a bit at first. Many people lay down newspaper or cardboard and then put their leaves or other mulch on top of that.

February 13, 2018	#6
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Re: t shirts and other fabric, I think the degree of usefulness depends on the type of weeds. Cotton cloth will break down eventually in the soil, which is not a bad thing, but some transparency to light depending on the weave.. maybe covered with leaves would help. Like paper or cardboard, the benefits are temporary and for maximum effect you want it well weeded before you put them down. Still no question there is some benefit - but paper and cardboard are more effective at blocking light. I did try the supposed "landscape fabric" once years ago and it was a terrible effect - you couldn't pull it up to get to the weeds that were growing through it. The stuff is a type of plastic and quite persistent as well. I've also had sorrel turn into a thicket of roots in an area covered with paper and soil. Cardboard, I have seen some remain all season but underneath it, perennial weeds roots and sprouts still living. And sometimes it rots away in a season, so they come back in.... nothing is perfect. Old carpet, silage tarp or heavy black plastic left down for a season can leave a nice weedless patch for the following year. (Maybe less than a season would do it? )

February 13, 2018	#7
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	For container tops, why not use several sheets of newspaper? You can put down new paper as needed. Nan