Burlap in the Garden

Burlap is a valuable garden resource. Its use can save you time, money, and frustration in the garden. The material is relatively cheap & can be found for free at many locations! Below are fun facts about burlap/jute where to find it for free, and 7 ways to use it in the garden.

Burlap (or hessian) is a fabric made from skins of jute woven together. It is grown in standing water in warm regions making Bangladesh and India perfect environments following monsoon seasons. India makes 60% of the world's jute.

One hectare (2.4 acres) of growing jute can sequester 15 tons of Carbon Dioxide and produce 11 tons of Oxygen. Jute is the 2nd most-grown crop behind cotton.

Where to find it

While you can purchase burlap it can get expensive, depending on the seller and quality. There are, however, many free options all around.

Coffee Roasters - If you're in an area that loves its coffee (I'm fortunate to be up here in the Pacific Northwest) there are probably plenty of coffee roasters near you. If that's the case, they will have an abundance of burlap sacks that they're otherwise throwing away.

Bulk Grocery Stores - Many stores receive grain and rice in Burlap sacks, especially at Hispanic and Indian groceries. If you purchase your grain in bulk from these stores you'll quickly stock up on burlap (And reduce packaging waste)!

If you live in a more Rural area, you have options too!

Feed Mills - Since Grain is often sold in Burlap sacks, many may have unusable scraps to sell or give away.

Local Farmers - Along with Old Haybales, manure, and byproduct compost local farms can be a great place to snag some free resources by helping the farmer clear out some much-needed storage spaces.

Craigslist - Always worth a shot.

Agricultural Wholesalers/Stores - If you're looking to do a big project and can't wait, you can usually find very affordable burlap at farm stores.

USES

You can use these burlap sacks in a variety of ways.

1) Compost cover

Burlap allows moisture and air to pass through but also retains a great deal of moisture which makes it a perfect regulator for your compost pile all year long.

2) Weed Suppressant/Fabric

You could purchase an old vinyl sign, spend months collecting cardboard, or pick up a free lump of burlap as a weed barrier for prepping a new planting space.

Using burlap sacks as weed barrier encourage weeds to sprout and then be choked out by the lack of growing space, then once the weeds have all sprouted you can remove them with a hoop hoe and cover the space in mulch or compost for planting.

3) Growing Potatoes

You can roll the sack all the way to the bottom, plant your potatoes, and as the potato plants grow, continue to add soil and make the bag larger and larger and larger, healing up in a vertical space or up against a wall or structure.

This method will allow you to produce an intense amount of potatoes in a much smaller amount of space. An added benefit is a process called air pruning which forces the plant to focus on its root development more densely as air passes through the material.

At the end of the season, you can cut the bottom of the bag and lift it up to dump out tons of potatoes!

4) Landscape Fabric

Instead of buying expensive synthetic weed terps that release plastics into the soil, using burlap sacks as landscape fabric is very cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing as it mimics soil color and texture.

It will take a few years for the fabric to break down giving you plenty of time to cover the space in mulch and plant it out.

This can be a really effective way to start with a clean slate and not be fighting weeds all season.

5) Germinating your seeds.

Placing burlap fabric over direct sown seeds is a really great way to support and encourage germination rates.

This is especially true with carrots in the drier season. A burlap sack is a great way to retain a little bit of heat and moisture, just enough to improve the germination of the seeds.

Periodically check up on your seeds to make sure that they don't snuff freshly germinated sprouts. Once you're satisfied with the germination rate, remove the tarp for the rest of the growing season.

6) Frost Tarp

Burlap can create an insulating layer over your sensitive roots and protect them from frost damage.

7) Shade Cloth

In the intense heat of the summer, you can protect cooler season crops by blocking the evening sun with some t-posts, a clothesline, and a bit of burlap.

Interested in the history of Burlap Check out This Post from 2015.