Burlap

Here you will find uses for burlap coffee bags in the garden as well as where to get burlap

• Burlap bags are great for:

  • Adding shade

  • During winter months, pots can be wrapped or nestled in burlap to help retain heat, and light layers of cover can help protect plants from frost

  • Pots sitting on the burlap will retain their moisture longer and generally not remain over-saturated.

  • Burlap can be used to help control weeds around plantings and in row gardens. Multiple layers will largely discourage weeds and the addition of arborists’ wood chips will mostly control them, provide moisture retention, and help build soils. 🚨 note that both burlap and mulch is considered a “brown” material, so you will need to ensure you have a slow release nitrogen to offset (like wool!)

  • Find more information here

• How we typically use them in the Vista Peak Community Garden

  • Weed block and or cover for winter

    • Approximately 15 bags cut open will cover 1 plot

    • Lay bags after your plot is cleared for winter

    • Remove bags in spring & amendyour plot as usual

    • It's up to you if you'd like to keep the burlap in your plot and use as a weed block - just cut a hole where you want to plant

• What Vista Peak Community Gardeners are saying about the burlap:

  • Covering for the winter drastically reduced weeds and grass in my plot this year. Will do it again this winter for sure.

  • Covering over winter significantly reduced the number of weeds. When I pulled up the weed block in the Spring, the soil looked rich. It held water from snow melt.

  • Covered with burlap in the spring after solarizing over winter. I’ve only pulled like 5 weeds all season.

• Where to get burlap for free

  • Typically we will pickup some burlap every fall, but if you miss out or need burlap some other time below is where you can call:

    • Novo Coffee: 3008 Larimer St Denver, CO 80205

      • At this place we can back up to the dock (next to the dumpster) and load.

      • Novo has more bags than Logan House

      • This one also has Coffee Chaff (the dried skin on a coffee bean, the husk, which comes off during the roasting process - great for nitrogen in the garden)

      • I have to go in, pull the bags off the rack onto a cart and then cart them to the dock and load into my vehicle. I just toss the bags into my vehicle from the dock. It’s easy to do, but will take some time.

      • Contact by calling: (303) 295-7678

    • Logan House: 4690 E Colfax Ave in Denver

      • Located on a corner on Colfax - Andre will leave the bags outside on a pallet, just load up and go. I always email him to let him know I picked up. This isn't a retail location so there's not always someone there when picking up the bags

      • Typically it takes a while to hear back and to arrange a date but is easier and more convenient than Novo

      • Contact by emailing:andre@loganhousecoffee.com