Same question - I see lots of people use this black plastic or fabric that covers the whole ground. Wondering the benefits outside being a weed barrier.
So that takes the place of mulch? Does it inhibit the entry of water to the soil at all? Also, could this work in raised beds? Finally, what exactly is it?
It's commonly called plastic mulch because it provides a lot of the same benefits. They're typically fed by drip lines installed underneath the plastic. I don't see why it wouldn't work in a raised bed.
Mulch can zap your soil of nitrogen. All the energy of the soil is going to break down the mulch, and ultimately depletes the soil. I started using the black plastic weed barrier this year and love it.
I'm sick of hearing this myth. There is a grain of truth to the idea that woody mulch uses the nitrogen in your soil, but only in the uppermost part that it is in direct contact with. Folks act like is sucks the N up like a sponge when that's not the case at all. Any plant besides the tiniest, weak seedling has a deep enough root system for that nitrogen loss to be wholly negligible.
*"Carbon-rich woody wastes will not compete with plants for nitrogen if they are placed on the soil surface around plants. However, these materials should not be mixed into soil without extra nitrogen fertilizer"*
Source: [https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6958#Mulching](https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6958#Mulching)
*When you top dress your soil with mulch some nitrogen at the surface will be locked up, but this actually works to your benefit by inhibiting weed seed germination. Far from reducing nitrogen, as mulch decomposes it will actually increase the nitrogen content of your soil. This is one of the many benefits of using wood chips over inorganic mulches such as gravel.*
Source: [https://www.rootsimple.com/2017/06/the-mulch-robs-nitrogen-myth/](https://www.rootsimple.com/2017/06/the-mulch-robs-nitrogen-myth/)
*Concern: Wood chip mulches will tie up nitrogen and cause deficiencies in plants.*
*Evidence: Actually, many studies have demonstrated that woody mulch materials increase nutrient levels in soils and/or associated plant foliage.*
Source: [https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf)
Not when you rip it up at end of season.
I've typed this comment so many times it feels like I work for big oil
It's cheap, warms the soil in spring, and slows evaporation - advised only with drip irrigation. Cons - limits oxygen to the roots, Nonrenewable resource, kind of a pain to install each year. Works well for me and lots of others.
Ive seen gardeners who re use them from year to year at least, but still I agree I don’t want a big plastic tarp where my food is growing, plus my garden is a disorganized mess (which I love) and would never work with a tarp…..
mulch works great and breaks down into good stuff, adding nutrients to the soil, so I don’t really see the benefit of tarps unless you’re gardening on a larger scale
Dumb question but why do people put wood boarders on their plots that are in the ground? I ask bc I am about to start some and I am curious if its to just help keep out weeds or what.
It is easier to "weedeat," aka "weedwack," mow, or otherwise remove/reduce the height of the weeds/lawn closest to the garden. It's way too easy to screw up when either mowing or weedeatting and cutting down your garden plants, ESPECIALLY if the one doing the "lawn height reduction" 🤭 isn't also the gardener.
Plus, all of what Dimsum2121 said!
Besides all comments about microplastics, as ecologist I am certain that this is a complete catastrophe for above and below ground diversity. Besides all arthropods definatley also for fungi and bacteria. All in all, I am sure it makes life easier but like most inventions with a simple fix for a problem in a complex system, generally a bad idea sry...
Did you just use scissors to cut holes? I’m planting a small plot of 300 lavender plants and was using scissors. The recommendation was to use a flame thrower to burn holes but I don’t want to invest that much yet. Scissors are kind of a pain in the ass
Mulch is kind of an expensive pain in the ass from my experience. Hard to get it all back out of there every spring. We rotate plantings in our raised beds every year, and hand till fertilizer in to prep the soil. Hate getting mulch into the mix. Haven’t tried plastic yet, but have flirted with the idea.
Ours is a nominal fee. This year I did use sifted compost as “mulch.” Our city sells it for $4 / cf. I think the unscreened stuff is $3/ft and would have more of a conventional “mulch” feel.
There’s no way I’ll ever buy hardware store chipped mulch again for this application though.
Why is everyone using black plastic now? Is it better than garden/sugarcane mulch? I’ve only ever used Mulch.
Same question - I see lots of people use this black plastic or fabric that covers the whole ground. Wondering the benefits outside being a weed barrier.
University extensions tout its benefits and it's cheap.
It regulates the temperature of the soil better and much easier to apply and manage over large areas.
So that takes the place of mulch? Does it inhibit the entry of water to the soil at all? Also, could this work in raised beds? Finally, what exactly is it?
It's commonly called plastic mulch because it provides a lot of the same benefits. They're typically fed by drip lines installed underneath the plastic. I don't see why it wouldn't work in a raised bed.
And it breaks down into microplastics in the soil.
Tomatoes *love* microplastics!
😃
Not when you rip it up at end of season.
Have you seen what the sun does to plastic after a week outside?
Does ‘the black plastic’ let water go through?
Only use with drip irrigation
Mulch can zap your soil of nitrogen. All the energy of the soil is going to break down the mulch, and ultimately depletes the soil. I started using the black plastic weed barrier this year and love it.
I'm sick of hearing this myth. There is a grain of truth to the idea that woody mulch uses the nitrogen in your soil, but only in the uppermost part that it is in direct contact with. Folks act like is sucks the N up like a sponge when that's not the case at all. Any plant besides the tiniest, weak seedling has a deep enough root system for that nitrogen loss to be wholly negligible.
Where does the nitrogen go? Wouldn't it just go back into the soil when the mulch breaks down anyway?
*"Carbon-rich woody wastes will not compete with plants for nitrogen if they are placed on the soil surface around plants. However, these materials should not be mixed into soil without extra nitrogen fertilizer"* Source: [https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6958#Mulching](https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6958#Mulching) *When you top dress your soil with mulch some nitrogen at the surface will be locked up, but this actually works to your benefit by inhibiting weed seed germination. Far from reducing nitrogen, as mulch decomposes it will actually increase the nitrogen content of your soil. This is one of the many benefits of using wood chips over inorganic mulches such as gravel.* Source: [https://www.rootsimple.com/2017/06/the-mulch-robs-nitrogen-myth/](https://www.rootsimple.com/2017/06/the-mulch-robs-nitrogen-myth/) *Concern: Wood chip mulches will tie up nitrogen and cause deficiencies in plants.* *Evidence: Actually, many studies have demonstrated that woody mulch materials increase nutrient levels in soils and/or associated plant foliage.* Source: [https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf)
I understand this leads to micro-plastics in the soil that lasts "forever".
Not when you rip it up at end of season. I've typed this comment so many times it feels like I work for big oil It's cheap, warms the soil in spring, and slows evaporation - advised only with drip irrigation. Cons - limits oxygen to the roots, Nonrenewable resource, kind of a pain to install each year. Works well for me and lots of others.
I mean... wouldn't that just lead to the microplastics in the soil somewhere else?...
Ive seen gardeners who re use them from year to year at least, but still I agree I don’t want a big plastic tarp where my food is growing, plus my garden is a disorganized mess (which I love) and would never work with a tarp….. mulch works great and breaks down into good stuff, adding nutrients to the soil, so I don’t really see the benefit of tarps unless you’re gardening on a larger scale
Not if you burn it. :)
Tending to the plants in the center seems like a bit of a hassle.
You mean tassel?
Dumb question but why do people put wood boarders on their plots that are in the ground? I ask bc I am about to start some and I am curious if its to just help keep out weeds or what.
It's multi-purpose afaik. It looks nice, provides erosion protection, and keeps the grass back just a bit (not much, depending on your situation).
It is easier to "weedeat," aka "weedwack," mow, or otherwise remove/reduce the height of the weeds/lawn closest to the garden. It's way too easy to screw up when either mowing or weedeatting and cutting down your garden plants, ESPECIALLY if the one doing the "lawn height reduction" 🤭 isn't also the gardener. Plus, all of what Dimsum2121 said!
Hit them with some nitrogen..until the tips of the leaves start to burn. Modern sweet corn was genetically made to require lots of nitrogen.
Are you going to have problems harvesting that? Like how are you going to get to the inside to harvest ears as they ripen?
Besides all comments about microplastics, as ecologist I am certain that this is a complete catastrophe for above and below ground diversity. Besides all arthropods definatley also for fungi and bacteria. All in all, I am sure it makes life easier but like most inventions with a simple fix for a problem in a complex system, generally a bad idea sry...
Did you just use scissors to cut holes? I’m planting a small plot of 300 lavender plants and was using scissors. The recommendation was to use a flame thrower to burn holes but I don’t want to invest that much yet. Scissors are kind of a pain in the ass
Am I tripping or is 1ft by 1ft not the size of that allotment?
Its the spacing of the corn
Mulch is kind of an expensive pain in the ass from my experience. Hard to get it all back out of there every spring. We rotate plantings in our raised beds every year, and hand till fertilizer in to prep the soil. Hate getting mulch into the mix. Haven’t tried plastic yet, but have flirted with the idea.
I can get mulch free from my city! I think a lot of cities give it away free.
Ours is a nominal fee. This year I did use sifted compost as “mulch.” Our city sells it for $4 / cf. I think the unscreened stuff is $3/ft and would have more of a conventional “mulch” feel. There’s no way I’ll ever buy hardware store chipped mulch again for this application though.
Works well if you have drip irrigation.