Plastic Ground Sheet Stuff

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Plastic Ground Sheet Stuff
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Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 13 4:53 pm Post subject:
Look out for cheap offers on pond liner - most is quite thick and would last longer than basic 2m wide plastic. End of rolls and such they sometimes reduce drastically. Depends how big it is and how much you need?

roobarb

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 139
Location: Carmarthenshire

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 13 5:19 pm Post subject:

We use black plastic to cover our beds over the winter. We got a large roll of very wide (possibly 10mx100m) from a nursery which was closing down, so I suspect you could try specialist horticulture suppliers. Otherwise try the builders merchant, as some types of damp proof membrane are just like thick black plastic. I've used the same piece of plastic now for 5 years, as it's so strong, so worth the investment. I would also add the the stuff that farmers wrap silage bales in isn't much good as its fairly narrow, thin and is sort of sticky (a bit like clingfilm) so not easy to work with in the garden.

Woodburner

Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 2904
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 13 8:00 pm Post subject:

I use cardboard. Needs replenishing in a wet winter, but it's free, and adds to organic matter in the soil.
I have also used plastic sheet to good effect in the past, but check how lightproof it is. (Binliners are no use.) Same with permeable mulch sheeting, rarely is it thick enough to be used without additional mulch. (eta The woven type might be better, haven't tried it but it is definitely tougher/more durable.)
Pondliner offcuts are awsome, especially if it's to go over rough weeds. Nettle stems and bits of brambles make holes in the plastic garden sheeting.

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 13 8:30 pm Post subject:
What did people cover veg plots with pre-cardboard and plastic ? Did they just do more digging/weeding ?

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16105

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 13 10:18 pm Post subject:

There is very wide black plastic sheeting available. We have used it to cover a log store, and it is now covering a pile of split logs. Think it comes in something like 100x20m or something like that. It is designed for putting on fields for growing strawberries and similar through. We got ours at a sort of agricultural supplier. It was on the log store (I'm talking about 100 cu m capacity) for several years and is now over a pile of split timber and still going strong. Got slightly damaged here and there, but withstood gales, snow and the odd log hitting it.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 3:46 pm Post subject:

You are right when you say not the weed control stuff, but the black plastic can be used as just that over winter or after a spring dig for later cropping-later sown winter eg. veg.etc. But I used it to allow my ground to warm up earlier in the spring but I then used to put a cloche over the top of the black plastic!; reason being that the black plastic would absorb the heat of the day through the cloche and onto the black plastic and subsequentially into the soil. As the day cools down the heat tries to go the other way but the black plastic and the cloche slow down the rate of loss, and so the ground heats up quicker and earlier than by being left to its own devices! that's the theory- in practice it worked for me well when I was gardening a sandy 'Bridgnorth Series' soil. and I was able to plant my early spuds in early February way before those who didn't use the technique
The sight of a log 'thrashing' plastic sheeting amused me MR-Monty Pythonesque-sorry.

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 4:38 pm Post subject:
The plastic you need is silage clamp black plastic. Comes in different gauges and sheet sizes.

Dreamcatcher

Joined: 04 Apr 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Brechfa Forest

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 5:41 pm Post subject:
How about this https://www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/polythene-film/sheeting-film/black-polythene-film.html

Woodburner

Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 2904
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 7:00 pm Post subject:

Dreamcatcher wrote:

How about this

https://www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/polythene-film/sheeting-film/black-polythene-film.html

Looks like that particular variety doesn't last long, at least they have the decency to tell you tho.

Dreamcatcher

Joined: 04 Apr 2013
Posts: 82
Location: Brechfa Forest

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 7:39 pm Post subject:

Woodburner wrote:

Dreamcatcher wrote:

How about this

https://www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/polythene-film/sheeting-film/black-polythene-film.html

Looks like that particular variety doesn't last long, at least they have the decency to tell you tho.

Well spotted, missed that bit!

DorsetScott

Joined: 23 Oct 2011
Posts: 500
Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 7:56 pm Post subject:
Thanks for all the help guys, appreciated.

Finsky

Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 847
Location: Notts.

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 9:06 pm Post subject:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/black-polythene-plastic-sheeting

DorsetScott

Joined: 23 Oct 2011
Posts: 500
Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 13 9:14 pm Post subject:
That's exactly what I was thinking of and seems a good price too Finsky, cheers! Will have a little look around in case I can find cheaper but that's top dog so far.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16105

Posted: Sat Nov 30, 13 8:47 am Post subject:
Pollyanna, think you are right about it being silage clamp plastic, but also used to plant strawberries through I think. No, the logs don't thrash the plastic, but when being thrown, either by hand or by conveyer belt, they do sometimes become misguided missiles.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Sat Nov 30, 13 11:16 am Post subject:
Sorry Mistress Rose, just my sense of humour, out of control.

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