Black Plastic Mulch

Georgia growers among the first to use this labor saving device

Using black plastic as a mulch in home vegetable gardens can help cut the amount of work involved in producing vegetables. The strawberry growers in Georgia were among the first farmers to begin using black plastic as a mulch and a labor-saving device.

Black plastic mulch offers several advantages. It helps to control weeds and grasses because it keeps sunlight from reaching them. Conserves soil moisture, it does this by reducing the evaporation of moisture from the soil.

Black plastic mulch also helps to:

• Conserve plant nutrients by preventing them from leaching through the soil.
• Good soil structure is maintained because crusting and compacting of soil are prevented.
• Avoid injury to plant roots, because you don't have to cultivate close to the plants,
• Prevent fruit rots on crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, fruit which, may otherwise touch the soil.
• Absorb heat and, in early spring, raises the soil temperature 3 to 5 degrees. This can mean earlier yields in many cases.

A disadvantage of plastic mulch…

Nut grass or coco grass will grow right through it. Which can lead to an even greater infestation of this pest.

If you plan to use black plastic mulch in your vegetable garden…

Be sure rows are prepared, fertilized and moist enough for planting before you put the plastic in place. A common width of plastic mulch is three feet, it also comes in five feet widths.

To begin laying the plastic mulch…

Dig a trench along each side of the row. Roll the plastic down the row, placing the edges of the plastic in the trench. Place the soil back in the trench on the edge of the plastic to hold it down.

When you're ready to plant…

Cut slits or punch holes in the mulch at the desired intervals. Dig a hole of adequate size for transplants. Or, if seeds are to be planted, work soil up in the opening and plant them.

Vegetables that have been grown successfully on black plastic mulch are: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes.

To add more fertilizer, especially nitrogen side dressing, either punch holes between the plants and place one or two teaspoons in each hole, or side dress in the middles of the rows, work it in lightly, then irrigate.

When irrigation is necessary after planting…

Dam up the ends of the rows and flood the middles. This will allow the water to soak under the plastic. Don't let the soil under the plastic dry out before you decide to irrigate. It's hard to get the soil moist again after it drys out. A practical way of irrigating under the plastic mulch has been developed. Called "trickle" irrigation, it consists of watering with a hose in which small holes have been made. The hose is put in place before the plastic is secured to the rows.

For more information on black plastic mulch, contact your local County Extension Office.