Should you use carpet to control weeds ??

Minty
I found a horrible pile of old carpet just under the hedge, couch grass had grown through about three layers and I've given up trying to get it out, so it's hidden for the moment by the compost bins.
I know some sites won't allow carpet as apparently non-wool ones can leach chemicals, and goodness knows what you do with it when it's all soggy and horrible when it's done its job.
Cardboard, that's the answer! easy to scrounge, biodegradable, the worms will eat it for you, and just keep layering it on as they eat it and until weeds give up the ghost. Most will but bindweed and brambles won't be deterred. The soil underneath becomes friable and easy to work, takes about a year to get a workable bit of ground. The biggest patch I did, I only dug it over with a handfork and with all the compost I'd covered the cardboard in, have got a fab crop of beans from the ground.
One tip - peel off any sellotape first - I speak from bitter experience.
Sue

I am using beige carpet on my 2 foot wide paths between my beds. It looks like concrete from a distance!

I do use carpet as I don't like using chemicals unless absolutely necessary. You do have to remember to use it only for as long as necessary and then roll it up and store it in the shed or move it to another area, though. Used this way it is good for quite a few years. I must agree though, it is an absolute pain when you take over a lottie and find either buried, burnt or discarded carpet entwined in weeds that is almost impossible to get rid of. Like most things it is only good if used properly.

Pro carpet.

I use carpet a lot and have had disagreements with various people about it. It is one of those subjects that people can get a bit emotional about.

It will not kill off weeds, it will supress them and prevent seeds germinating. Roll it back after six months over winter and in spring the bindweed will reappear and dormant seeds will germinate. In summer roll a bit back and those white spaggetti running for yards are the bindweed trying to find light.

I would use glyphosate to kill off weeds first, leaving it long enough to be sure, then cover with carpet to keep it clean(er).

Personally I also use a propane roofers torch and burn off the dead stuff after weedkill one and then allow the dormant seeds to germinate before repeating, then use carpet.

There are definate do's and don't's with carpet, also some urban myth.

Urban myth.
Carpets are full of chemicals.
Yes, so am I, I'm made from chemicals.
The question is are they bad for you AND present in sufficient quantities to actually be harmful.
Having done alot of googleing and reading what google found for me I came to the slightly amused conclusion that the majority of these sites were americans trying to sell carpet steam cleaning services on the back of fears over what you track into your house on your feet or what drifts in suspended in the air. Tarmac was even mentioned and in this context would mean that you must remove your shoes before treading on your plot after walking along several streets. There was no scientific research data on any of these sites to quantify the claims about "chemicals".
The honourable exception here was Greenpeace which provided detailed research data on what volatile aromatic chemicals leach out into the air from NEW carpets, that new carpet smell can be formaldehyde and other nasties used to dirt-proof the carpet or in the manufacture of artificial fibres or processing of natural fibres. DO ventilate well when you have a new carpet, or paint a room.
Unless the previous owner was Dr Crippen an old carpet will likely have a similar mix of chemicals added to it as the atmosphere is likely to deposit directly via rain or settlement of dust. Exceptions being stuff like shake-n-vac and other cleaning stuff.

Don't's.
Don't leave it down for more that a year.
Don't use foam backed as the foam physically degrades into little bits and goes everywhere in your soil. Foam is likely to breakdown further , possibly chemically, after physically crumbling.
Don't try and move it when wet, it is heavy, you have been warned.
Don't burn it when you have finished with it.
Don't put any other mulch or soil on top of the carpet.
Don't leave it down when you vacate the plot.

Do's
Do use a good quality wollen carpet, wool is natural and will eventually rot, but even "woollen carpets" may well have nylon backing into which the wool tufts are woven.
Do move it around regularly to prevent weeds growing through it.
Do dispose of it responsibly when you have finished with it.
Do use a pallet to store dryish rolled up carpet on with a plastic sheet over the top when it is not in use.
If you use it, then do use it under your squashes, planting them into holes cut into or between bits of carpet. Lets the rain soak in, keeps the top layer of soil moist and stops the weeds competing. Think on it, ever tried weeding in amoungst trailing squashes or pumpkins.

A philospohpical summary.
If you feel safe laying down nude on your carpet then why worry about using it as a mulch.
Apologies for any images that has put in your mind.

When we were shown round our allotment we were told that we couldnt use foam backed carpet as it gives of fumes and is flamable!!!

Our site does not allow the use of carpets full stop. This has nothing to do with chemicals but the fact that several plots which were reclaimed from tenants were very overgrown. They were mown and when the plough got on site it jammed up on the said plots. It was found that there was carpet underneath the overgowth which was the devils own job to clear.

I know on my plot when digging I get that feeling occasionally that there is a mattress underneath my spade and find a chunk of carpet when I excavate further.

As Peter says, if you manage it well, its ok, but far easier to use is membrane. Its light, stores well and looks a darned site nicer.

Hi Minty

I've used cardboard recently, very successfully. You can get really big pieces from the skips behind your favourite electrical retailer. I put it on the raised beds which were 'fallow' last winter, and the beds were a joy to work come the spring. I weighed them down with a couple of logs but you could use grass clippings, straw etc.

The carpet debate will run and run - but I think a lot of sites are starting to say 'no carpets', and I believe it it now considered 'not good practice' in an organic plot due to the risk of chemicals/glues leaching into the soil.

I agree;I spent about £40 4/5 years ago- a superb investment- saves hours of work. There are many crops you can grow through it too. I know the cheapest way is to club together and buy 4x100 m rolls from agricultural suppliers. works out about 30p per sq m. Go for something quality (mypex) as it doesn't tear. If I ever get it again I'll machine sow seams/use overlocker. as its one annoying factor is plastic thread left by fraying edges.

carpets!!

hi, thanks for the info Peter!
i was wondering what to do with the reams and reams of carpet i have been spending hours pulling clear of my plot?, the lady who had it before me must have carpeted three quarters of the plot and she hasnt done anything with it for over two years so you can imagine what a fun time i have had getting it out, along with about 5 tonnes of weeds!!!
i have very nearly pulled it all up, only a tiny bit left, but was wondering what i should do with it, you say not to burn it so what can i do, will it rot?!! shall i pile it up and make a feature out of it with flowers? i don't know, any help greatfully received!!!!
thanks
phil

Sell it on Ebay

If I ever want to clear a patch of ground, it's cardboard covered in a thick layer of best equipoo. Never fails!
Carpet for the compost bins. When it rains it gets very heavy and won't blow away in the wind.
I agree, NEVER use foam backed anything in the growing area, be it garden or lottie.

if there's any synthetic in it, and there will be, it won't rot, so you have to take it down the tip, sorry.
I don't have a car, so I had to cut my old carpet into little bits with a Stanley and dump it bit by bit in the on-street bins. Ruddy nuisance, I'd use layers of cardboard myself (plenty outside the back of any supermarket)

Hello everyone. New to here so just a quick hello .

Me and my boyfriend took over a plot in Feb 07. As expected it was completely over grown, but we felt up to the challenge. As we begun clearing the site it was evident that the previous owner had been in love with the idea that carpet can keep the weeds down. There were carpet pathways which came up relatively easily however; when it came to turning over the soil we were hit time and time again with that feeling as we tried to dig our spades into the soil.

On closer inspection we found layers of carpet one on top of the other covered with at least 6 inches of soil. The result was very hard work and we needed a skip to ourselves to be able to dispose of all the carpet. In my opinion try every other option before you decide to go down the carpet root. Luckily we are young and able to cope with the hard graft of taking up such large amounts of junk, but others are not so lucky.

The only effective way of ridding your site of weeds is to get on your hands and knees and pull them out by hand. To stop bindweed try turning over the soil on a sunny day as those soft white roots dry out very well. My arch nemisis at the moment is mares tail (now that's a hands and knees job!!!)

Welcome to the vine Organic Mike..................I suppose praying may work, but it didn't work for me!

Thanks Snadger, think I should try praying to as many gods as possible one of them must have created this formidable enemy! (hehe!). Just a shame it is not edible.