Making use of old carpet

[boggybranch]

Yesterday, I stopped and picked up two old rolls of carpet that had been put out for trash pickup. I cut it up and put it down between the beds and around the outer edges of the garden. Then covered it with hay. Bet that keeps the weeds and nutgrass at bay.

 

[lesa]

Great idea! I do this around my raspberry bushes. They are far away from the house and I never seem to get all the way out there to weed! Too many gardens to distract me on the way!! The only caution I will mention- slugs and snails do love to live under this kind of thing- so if you end up with a problem, check under the rug! With all the time you save weeding- you'll be able to start some more compost!!! Happy Gardening!!

 

[boggybranch]

Great idea! I do this around my raspberry bushes. They are far away from the house and I never seem to get all the way out there to weed! Too many gardens to distract me on the way!! The only caution I will mention- slugs and snails do love to live under this kind of thing- so if you end up with a problem, check under the rug! With all the time you save weeding- you'll be able to start some more compost!!! Happy Gardening!!

Fortunately, lesa, I've never had a problem with slugs and snail (knock on wood). But am always on the lookout for them. Have got 6 pallet stockpiled. Got an idea to use pallets to build a greenhouse. Got the idea in my head......now just got to get enough of them to see if it's gonna work.

 

[Beekissed]

I just used the same method but for my new parking area in front of the house. Used carpet remnants from out of the house and scrounged from other people and made myself a parking lot~ and had 20 tons of gravel poured on top. I don't expect the gravel will disappear into the soil like it tends to do over time.

The time between laying the carpet and actually getting the gravel hauled in was kind of funny...folks would slow down as they drove by to gawk at my "indoor/outdoor" carpeting!

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi boggy b

Wow! you are doing a great job there......I have used the carpet trick a lot in my garden & I am about to take out another roomful of carpet which I will use over this summer & winter to get rid of another area of weeds. When I first moved to this house I put a lot down the centre of my garden & had a lot of pebbles shipped in to form a path through my woodland garden. The chickens love it because a whole lot of spiders & other little insects were shipped in with them & on sunny warm days they emerge & the chickens eat them. It is amazing how the yolks of their eggs deepen in colour soon after.

Good luck with your pallet greenhouse project...!!

Beekissed, all my stones stayed looking fine & they have been down for nearly 8 years! :happy_flower


:bee Hattie :bee

 

[hoodat]

Old carpet works good to prevent some weeds but don't use it if you have bermuda grass. The stolons will grow under it and force their way through and the carpet will be welded to the ground forever. The only way to get it back up if that happens is to roll it back an inch at a time and cut the stolons with a sharp knife as you roll it up. A real PITA.

 

[Southern Gardener]

More nice raised beds! Great idea with the carpet.

 

[boggybranch]

Old carpet works good to prevent some weeds but don't use it if you have bermuda grass. The stolons will grow under it and force their way through and the carpet will be welded to the ground forever. The only way to get it back up if that happens is to roll it back an inch at a time and cut the stolons with a sharp knife as you roll it up. A real PITA.

I have bermuda grass but the carpet is REALLY thick and dense....but if any does manage the break through....I'll hit it with 'Roundup' or distilled vinegar. I hate bermuda grass.

 

[boggybranch]

Thanks Hattie and SG,

Hattie, I owe the progress and "vision" to you and all your help and encouragement. Already taking steps for enlargements for next year. I REALLY am anxious to get some more pallet, as the more I ponder this greenhouse idea, the more I believe it's gonna work. MAYBE I'll have it up before too much longer and can extend my season into winter.....I hope, I hope, I hope.

 

[jojo54]

neat idea to reuse old carpet! and help control weeds! :rainbow-sun