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A while ago on Gardeners World they were talking about using sheep's fleece to protect plants during the winter, cant seem to find a supplier - only standard protective fleecing - anybody any ideas?




Answers

 

I didn't see the program but the use of a sheep's fleece seems unlikely. The fleece, as it comes of the back of the sheep, is heavy and bulky and could possibly damage the plants.
Maybe they were talking about something that has wool in it or, it is a trade name for something?

4 Nov, 2009

 

Sorry, Im not being very explicit, it was sheep's wool but they called it fleece (it didnt have the skin) Carol whatsaname was packing it round her delicate plants and because of the lanolin in it, it not only keeps the plants warm but is water repellent.

4 Nov, 2009

 

sheepfleece good round pots an soil round plnts- if puton plnts i use loft insultoin stil in rap but unroll cut an place.
lokfor farmer with shep- often have bits left over or may colect for you.

4 Nov, 2009

 

Thanks Derek, obviously a trip round the farms at the weekend, or perhaps farmers market.

4 Nov, 2009

Sid
Sid
 

Yup, just to back up Ramling, I saw that episode and they were defo putting raw sheep's fleece around the plants citing the lanolin as keeping it dry. Think I'd put an advert in the local paper in the farming colomn. Local farmers here have been barking for yonks about only being able to get £1 per fleece, so I'm sure you should be able to get it from somewhere.

4 Nov, 2009

 

Wrong time of year to get fleece - they will have been shorn in early summer and the fleece sold almost immediately. As M says check for bits of fleece on barbed wire fences etc.

5 Nov, 2009

 

The other option is to find a dog groomer and get them to supply you with dog hair.I have collies and a Lhasa and the amount of hair I get out is phenomenal. I did say it would be really useful for protecting tender plants as it acts the same as sheeps wool. The best colour is white hair as the hair shaft is hollow so provides the best insulation. It also has natural oils which are water repellant

5 Nov, 2009

 

What about our hair - I have a hairdresser that comes to visit and she cuts mine and my sons hair - I always put it in the compost - could I put it straight around plants??

5 Nov, 2009

 

anythin htat trap air round plnt will inslate it. the hrd part is to stop water fill the space wheer the air shuld be.

5 Nov, 2009

 

I think I'd continue to put hair in the compost

5 Nov, 2009

 

Thanks everyone, not sure about the hair idea looks like it'll have to standard protective fleece again this year.

5 Nov, 2009

 

On a slightly different tack have just read in Grow It! that you can now buy compost made of sheeps wool and bracken http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/

6 Nov, 2009

 

Thanks for the info Moon grower - will check it out.

8 Dec, 2009

How do I say thanks?

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