black plastic mulch

idahopanfish 3/21/2010, 8:18 pm

Helo from idaho.

I am wondering if anyone has incorporated using black plastic mulch into their garden?

boffer 3/21/2010, 8:30 pm

H,

Welcome to the forum. Be sure to check into your regional forum for more localized info. If you mean plastic sheeting, yes. If you mean ground up, re-processed plastic that looks like mulch, no I haven't.

**WardinWake** 3/21/2010, 8:38 pm

idahopanfish

Welcome home. Last year I filled my beds very early with Mel's Mix and in the mix I had used compost that was not quite ready. Mary and I covered some of the beds with black plastic sheeting. The sheeting covered beds were ready for planting several weeks ahead of the beds that had not been covered. Why?
The sheeting trapped heat from the sun which caused to compost to cure faster than the uncovered beds. From that standpoint alone the sheeting was of a benefit.

God Bless, Ward.

idahopanfish 3/22/2010, 9:03 am

did you plant through the mulch and leave it on thru the season?

boffer 3/22/2010, 10:23 am

I plant 200 corn seeds every year in a raised bed. One year, I planted, then covered with plastic. I've never seen corn germinate so fast (from the extra heat I guess.) It was four inches tall, and white, before I looked at it after planting. Took off the plastic for the season, corn plants turned green quickly. Another year, I cut 4 inch holes, on 1 foot grids, to put the seeds in, (thinking about weed control). Lousy summer weather, very poor harvest, but it did help with weed control.

I cover my sfg beds with plastic every fall to keep them clean and protect them from the 20+ inches of rain we get in the winter. Other than that, I don't use plastic in my sfg. Weed control is not an issue, nor is warming the soil.

Sponsored content

black plastic mulch

black plastic mulch

Re: black plastic mulch

Re: black plastic mulch

plastic mulch

Re: black plastic mulch

Re: black plastic mulch


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.