yes, carpet has advantages, might be free on Craigslist if you offer to help haul out of house and haul away.
This weekend I noticed my in laws' pool solar cover (20x40') was failing, needed to be replaced. That might be another good thing to put down and put dirt over it. Won't hold up quite as good as a tarp or carpet but a good way to keep it out of the landfill.
A wanted ad on CL for an old pool cover (the heavy duty kind for inground pools in winter), an old solar cover, or old carpet should score something.
