A Gardeners Forum
Posted By: davida580 black plastic - February 12th, 2007 at 07:29 PM
does anyone use this? i remember when i was a kid my dad used it and he grew a really good garden. my brother used it last year and said he had good luck with it didn't have to water or worry about weeds.i'm going to try it this year just wondering if anyone else does? maybe you mite have some ideas? thank you.
Posted By: 'Sparagus Re: black plastic - February 12th, 2007 at 10:13 PM
I use it to warm up the soil when I first set out my tomatoes. When I take it off later on in the season, the soil does look pretty nice underneath!
Posted By: MLN Re: black plastic - February 13th, 2007 at 04:03 PM
I haven't tried it yet but plan to try it this year to keep weeds down between rows. I use wheat straw around all the plants and it does a good job keeping weeds down. I will need all the help I can get. If I believed in talking to my plants, I would have to use the old phrase: "I talked to my vegetables, but the weeds listened in." laugh laugh laugh
Posted By: comfrey Re: black plastic - February 13th, 2007 at 08:35 PM
I haven't used it either in the garden, I have used it to kill weeds/grass where I want to make a new flower bed, and it worked good for that. One thing you might want to keep in mind is, The black plastic will heat the soil up Alot...which can be good and bad, the extra heat will be good in the beginning...but during the hottest part of the summer...it could cause some plants to not produce as well or you may have to make sure and water more during that time.
Posted By: MLN Re: black plastic - February 13th, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Good thought Comfrey. It does get REALLY hot down here mad I will pull it up after my plants get some size to them and replace it with my tried and true wheat straw.
Posted By: comfrey Re: black plastic - February 14th, 2007 at 02:52 AM
The one good thing about wheat straw is that it breaks down and helps to build the soil up also.
Posted By: Amigatec Re: black plastic - February 14th, 2007 at 03:12 AM
I plan to use straw this year.
Posted By: Kristy F Re: black plastic - February 14th, 2007 at 05:01 AM
So straw would be better??
Posted By: Amigatec Re: black plastic - February 14th, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Straw doesn't have the seeds like hay does, it is chaff left over from wheat.
Posted By: AgnusDeiHmschl Re: black plastic - February 18th, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Where can you get a nice thick black plastic? I live in a small town and the local Walmart and feed store do not have anything in stock. All I see is the very thin black sheeting for weed control.
Any online resources would be appreciated!

Thanks so much!
JoAnn
Posted By: coachdaisy Re: black plastic - February 20th, 2007 at 01:43 AM
where do you get wheat straw?
Posted By: Amigatec Re: black plastic - February 20th, 2007 at 02:56 AM
I can get get it at the COOP here.

But I live in wheat country and it is easy to get.

You might check with your county extension to see what they use.

A lot of framers don't bale it, because it is worth a lot, and some times cost more to bale it then it's worth. It is used mostly for bedding for livestock.
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