Is it worth putting weed control fabric on beds over winter?

[tumbling tom]

Just spent the morning clearing my beds for the winter.

It has turned out to be a great productive summer, many thanks to the people on this forum for that, but I am putting everything to sleep for the winter as I work too many hours to have any daylight in my garden.

Just wondering though is it worth putting weed control fabric on beds over winter?

I got some real cheap from B&M but was wondering is it was really needed as not many weeds will grow in the winter and when I go to take it off in the spring I will just get weeds anyway.

What are your thoughts guys?

[scarletrunner]

Have done this for several years,but from now on it is green manures for me,after rat infestation last year.

[Bren In Pots]

I'll be using it on the one bed that will be empty this year but only to keep the cats from pooing on the soil.

[snohare]

Cheap weed control fabric usually doesn't keep weeds down, it lets too much light through.
I might use weed control fabric, but usually only over a layer of manure, which I'm hoping the beasties will chomp up, snug and warm under their insulation !
If you just want to cover your soil against cats etc, I think cardboard will do as well if not better, and it adds humus as it breaks down. Large boxes from electrical retailers are by far the best for making it look tidy.
Best scenario really is green manure overwintered, then dug in when spring arrives.

[endymion]

We've used the cheap stuff this year and it's falling apart after six months, it's done its' job, mostly, because although some weeds grew beneath it they didn't get big enough to be a nuisance. It isn't worth keeping to re-use.

I'd guess that if yours is the same quality it won't be much use by Spring, and you'll have wasted your money.

I'd be inclined to put a layer of mulch/compost on the soil and let the weather (and birds) get at it, then use the membrane doubled over (to make it thicker) when you start planting again in the Spring.

[tumbling tom]

Ok guys thanks.

Thats pretty much made my mind up (especially the rat bit) that I am not going to bother.

Thanks everyone

[Snadger]

Why???? I can sort of understand trying to cover weed infested land with weed control fabric to drown out the weeds (although I don't agree with it), but to clear all weeds then cover it seems a waste of time to me?

[scarletrunner]

Why???? I can sort of understand trying to cover weed infested land with weed control fabric to drown out the weeds (although I don't agree with it), but to clear all weeds then cover it seems a waste of time to me?

I used to cover mine mainly to stop nutrients being washed out of my raised beds,as you say little point as hardly any weeds will grow over winter,

[Two_Sheds]

green manures for me too: sown in August

[BUFFS]

I have started to trench my plot,2ft deep and filled with the contents of the compost bin,then dig next one etc,so weeds dont seem to grow in this cold weather(we only heard about the heatwave,didnt see any of it),it takes 3 years to do the whole area so that is what decides where carrots etc will go for the year.we throw veg bits,teabags,eggboxes etc into the open trench all through the winter and the last one is where the runners/french beans go,so all this follows on,no hurting my brain trying to think.....simples....

[zazen999]

You can still sow green manures now, mustard, phaecelia, crimson clover. A better bet than weed fabric and a bag will cost less.

[Potstubsdustbins]

My two raised bed are covered in spring cabbage Hero. No work and tasty spring greens on tap in about a fortnight.

Colin

[Curlykale]

Last winter I covered my empty beds with cardboard (from the local picture framers who had huge sheets of really thick card he was glad to get rid of) then piled pony poo on top. Come spring I had hardly any weeds (except on the paths) and gorgeous rich soil. Will be doing this again this year. Cost absolutely nothing and no digging required.

[Snadger]

Last winter I covered my empty beds with cardboard (from the local picture framers who had huge sheets of really thick card he was glad to get rid of) then piled pony poo on top. Come spring I had hardly any weeds (except on the paths) and gorgeous rich soil. Will be doing this again this year. Cost absolutely nothing and no digging required.

Very good CK! You could also have planted a crop of your namesake through the cardboard as well though for a triple whammy!

[Chef_uk]

Like the others have said, you've already done the hard part so there really is no need to cover up now. But, you could cover up and then plant through the fabric by cutting small X in them and drop in the your module plants come the end of February as the fabric will warm the soil up quicker. I did this for my broadbeans and cabbages and whilst i cannot say it was the only reason why i had such a good crop of those two plants, it certainly didn't hinder them.

The green manure and/or cardboard alternatives are better options though for the condition of your beds right now. My weed fabric went down straight after i had mown the weeds last September, something that won't be recommended by many peeps