How do you control weed growth through your carpet paths?

Admittedly, I can be a somewhat messy and inattentive weeder, but the one year I tried this ...dirt with bits of roots fell on the carpet and grew through it. Birds and breezes also dropped weed seeds which sprouted through it. Trying to remove wet, dirty, smelly carpet that's tacked to the ground with roots is amazingly difficult and messy...and then what do you do with it? It's heavy!

I guess if a weed killer were used in conjunction with the carpeting it might not have to be moved for years, but without adding additional chemicals to the mix, it can, in some instances, be very difficult to deal with.

I'm content using biodegradable plant matter for my beds, but I'm still curious as to your weed control methods.

You are right about wet carpet being pretty heavy. We have learned to look for short nap and thin carpet when we need to replace the carpet which isn't very often. We pass on heavy plush carpets.
We can also be a bit inattentive on weeding. We haven't had much trouble with weeds on the carpets. We left one out over winter one year and they grew pretty good on top of the one carpet but they pulled right up without any trouble. Now we always roll them up at the end of fall and set them along side the edge of the garden.

Thanks Holly.

Yeah, the carpet I used was a very thick plush. A better bet might have been something like the short-napped indoor/outdoor stuff. I'd also tried using roofing shingles...same deal, the weeds just found a way to grow through them.

never had any weeds com up through or establish atop my carpet - it's been out there for at least 4 years. Thinking you might have used smaller pieces with gaps in between? or maybe just very plush carpet used right side up (mine is upside down).

It's been so long ago that I don't remember which side was up. It seems like I would have flipped it upside down, but who knows? Maybe it wouldn't lay nice and flat that way and I flipped it back over... ...I can trip on absolutely nothing, so if the corners were raised or something I can see doing that in self defense.

chelle said: ...I can trip on absolutely nothing...

SO can I!!