Fleece quality

[ken the chef]

Last year I used a fleece for the first time. I was a little disappointed as it was in shreds within weeks.
I got mine from B&Q
Has anybody had the same problem with their fleece?
Are there different grades of fleece that I can use and where to get it?

[Geoff]

There are several fleece qualities, I am not up to date with Best Buys as I haven't bought any for a while.
Here you can see there is 17 or 30 grams per square metre
http://www.garden-products.info/fleece.htm
.. and here there is 17 and 25 gsm
http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/pro ... e=1&jump=0
I've used LBS in the past but bought as special offers in their shop (you don't tell us where you are so I can't tell if you could collect)
The B&Q website doesn't seem to say what weight it is so unless you have the old packaging you might find it difficult to compare.

[Beryl]

I got caught out last year not checking the weight of fleece. It didn't last 5 mins before needing to be replaced.

I've just purchased 30 metres. from Two West and although they don't quote the weight it is far superior and they claim it will last several
years and is washable. I have purchased from them via our allotment assoc. before so I know it will. 10 x 2 metres. is £6.30 Plus postage

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/ ... rod=SOCG10

Beryl.

[Monika]

I tend to use both 17gm and 25gm fleece (both bought from LBS, like Geoff) for different purposes and find that 17gm lasts for about two years and 25gm for three to four years, being washed on a cool cycle in the washing machine in between (after hosing off any soil and plant bits).
Having said that, I always use new fleece to cover carrots against carrot root fly just in case there are small holes in the pre-used ones.

[Primrose]

I sympathise. Some of it is truly useless. I foolishly bought a cheap pack of it in one of those Poundshop places and it shredded itself to pieces in the first light breeze. But I also but a long roll of quite expensive stuff from a garden centre and that has also torn too. I think the moral is to check the weight of it before buying. I think where possible it also helps to use it in shorter lengths because the longer lengths used in one piece always seem to be put under more strain in heavy winds.