Home 29 Mar 2005 04:07 pm

burlap bags in Seattle?

Anybody out there in Seattle happen to know of a source of free burlap bags? I’m trying to kill off my grass, and the folks at the Natural Garden and Hotline say that burlap (among other things) works really well to shade it out.

Die, lawn, die! I resent every moment I’ve spent mowing you!

Update: Hey, it turns out I can use the newspaper pages with the colored inks after all, just not the glossy stuff. I’d been misinformed. So while I’d cheerfully take any burlap on offer, turns out I can get by with newspaper.

9 Responses to “burlap bags in Seattle?”

  1. on 29 Mar 2005 at 4:20 pm 1.Ted said …

    I have been told that spraying vinegar will kill weeds and grass both.

  2. on 29 Mar 2005 at 4:31 pm 2.Rachel said …

    What’s your strategy to prevent erosion?

  3. on 29 Mar 2005 at 5:38 pm 3.Ulysses said …

    I believe we still have some burlap bags, if so you’re welcome to them.

  4. on 29 Mar 2005 at 5:56 pm 4.Ilmarinen said …

    My landscape architect says he found a place that will order and sell small quanities of coir matting (coconut fiber)–small being a roll at a time vs. a pallet or more from wholesale/contractor suppliers. We are using it on a project in a (probably partially vain) attempt at smothering the blackberries on some creek banks (can’t do any disruptive work in there). So he was curious and found a local supplier for his personal use. It is good stuff, and would work much better than mere burlap bags–wouldn’t have seams, etc. I’m thinking of using it on my hillside to kill some of the ivy. Then I’d plant stuff through some slices in it.

    I’m unclear on what one does after killing the grass. You still have to rototill the sod under or something, right?

    What’s the planned replacement? Have you seen this company:
    http://www.protimelawnseed.com/ecology_mixes.html

    I’m thinking of using some of their lawn replacement seed mixes.

    -B.

  5. on 29 Mar 2005 at 6:51 pm 5.Savannah said …

    My boss is currently killing his lawn with black plastic yard bags held down with lumber and boulders.

  6. on 29 Mar 2005 at 7:11 pm 6.wolffire said …

    We used the newspaper and cardboard method. We put about an inch or two of a sawdust and manure mixture on top and proceeded with planting our garden that same year.

  7. on 29 Mar 2005 at 7:23 pm 7.Cam said …

    Thanks, folks!

    Ooh, coir matting — I’ve seen that cut into really nice permanent mulch.

    I’m replacing the back lawn with all sorts of things — more vegetables and herbs, some flowers, mosses, groundcovers, rocks, and shredded bark. Out in front I’ll probably put in one of those ecoturf mixes, but probably not this year.

    The plan is to follow the Lawn and Garden Hotline instructions for getting rid of your lawn. First you mow the lawn to within an inch of its life. Then you put down a layer of compost or grass clippings about an inch thick. On top of that goes burlap, newsprint, or cardboard; on top of that go a few inches of compost and then some mulch. “It’s like a lasagne,” explained the hotline staffer.

    You can plant right on the top. Over time, the grass dies and the burlap/newspaper layer is composted away. Probably next spring I’ll turn over or rototill most of the yard (oof).

    We’ve got five cubic yards of compost under tarps in the driveway. I feel rich.

  8. on 29 Mar 2005 at 8:52 pm 8.Grouchy Chris said …

    Maybe Ulysses and Carol could hook you up with some coffee bags.

  9. on 06 Jun 2005 at 9:37 pm 9.Neal Oberg said …

    Costco gives away their empty burlap bags from their coffee– just ask for them.