By Barbara Pleasant, May 30, 2024
Cotton cloth used as mulch can provide many of the benefits of plastic alternatives, while also helping close a gap in the recycling process. It’s an eco-friendly solution that supports sustainable gardening.
It all began with a tablecloth that Mr. Cat decided to claim as his nap spot. Unfortunately, cat hair made it unsuitable for use near food. Rather than throw it away, I repurposed the cloth by cutting it into strips and using it to mulch my vegetable garden, particularly between rows of early greens.
This experiment was a success. The cotton cloth worked wonders by helping regulate soil moisture and temperature, smothering weeds, keeping plants clean, and deterring pests like slugs. I continued to experiment with other cotton items, such as old kitchen curtains, to mulch garlic and even radishes. The results were just as positive. Now, I mulch my tomatoes and peppers with waste fabric, while a friend of mine uses old bed sheets covered with straw for garden pathways, calling it a “brilliant” method.
Cotton cloth can perform many tasks that plastic mulches do, but it’s biodegradable and part of a personal recycling loop. Its versatility makes it an excellent, sustainable alternative to conventional garden fabrics.
A More Sustainable Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabrics have become a common tool in gardening, but many of the materials available, like plastic, geotextile fabrics, or burlap, were originally designed for large-scale agriculture or retaining walls. These products, which emerged in the 1980s, promised to reduce gardening effort by suppressing weeds and improving bed health. However, the reality was often disappointing. Over time, I found myself dealing with degraded fabric pieces scattered in my garden, which I regretted using.
At the same time, the average American discards over 80 pounds of textiles annually, much of which is clothing. Although some textiles are donated for reuse, many others, like worn-out cotton bedsheets or old tablecloths, can be repurposed for gardening. Instead of contributing to textile waste, we can recycle these materials as a sustainable mulch solution.
Mulching with Bedsheets
Using old bedsheets as mulch is an increasingly popular method for gardeners. Unlike cardboard or newspapers, which are often used to suppress weeds, cotton bedsheets allow rain to infiltrate the soil more easily and are less slippery to walk on. Plus, they can often be found at garage sales at an affordable price.
For example, I’ve used a black satin polyester sheet as a mulch for tomatoes. While polyester is not as ideal as cotton, it’s still better than plastic. The sheet helped raise soil temperatures by about three degrees Fahrenheit (1.7°C), promoting earlier growth for my tomatoes. When the weather heats up, I plan to remove it and reuse it in the fall.
Tips for Using Cloth as Vegetable Garden Mulch
Much like cloth shopping bags, pieces of fabric used as mulch can be reused multiple times before being discarded or composted. After using my cotton tablecloth strips for lettuce and radishes, they became dirty and accumulated some weed growth. However, after a good sun-drying and washing, they were ready for another round of gardening—this time between rows of wax beans.
Overall, using cloth as mulch is an easy, sustainable alternative to plastic. The benefits are clear: it’s effective in regulating soil conditions, controlling weeds, and keeping pests at bay. As I continue my experiments with cloth, I encourage fellow gardeners to try this method and share their experiences. It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to care for your garden while helping the planet.