Putting a piece of carpet in your garden might seem unusual but there’s one major benefit it could have for your outdoor space. The National Trust is suggesting you do this in preparation for the autumn and with September already here, there’s no better time to get outdoors.
By adding this to your garden, you can ensure you’ll have the best flower beds by next spring. If you have some leftover carpet, you should repurpose it outside.
This DIY hack is one of the National Trust’s top tips for creating the perfect flower beds.
Advice from the conservation charity is that leaving exposed soil over the winter will not be good for its health come the spring.
A trust spokesperson said: “Leaving beds empty with exposed soil over winter isn’t good for soil health. Mulch empty vegetable and flower beds to protect them.”
Mulch is the name given to a thick, loose layer of material placed on top of bare soil in flower beds or containers.
By adding this layer, you will help suppress weeds, increase water retention and improve the quality of the soil.
It can also neaten the appearance of beds and protect roots from winter frost.
Popular materials used for mulching are garden compost, wood chippings, manure and leaf mould.
The trust recommends applying your mulch of choice in a layer two to three inches thick, taking care to leave space around the woody stems of plants.
But, if the area in question is covered in weeds, the advice is not to bother weeding first, but to grab a piece of woollen carpet or next best option, some cardboard.
The spokesperson added: “Alternatively, if they’re full of weeds, you could cover them with a layer of cardboard or woollen carpet and leave the weeds to break down, ready for planting in spring. If possible, avoid digging the soil as this disturbs the structure and soil organisms.”
While this tip might seem unusual, it’s worth giving it a go in your garden this autumn before temperatures get too cold.