Carolyn checks out the difference between clear plastic bottom and black plastic top after two weeks of the tarp treatments.
Black plastic sheeting kill weeds.
Spread the black plastic sheeting over the area of grass that is to be killed by the heat of the sun.
Using black plastic is called occultation by farmers to kill grass or existing weeds without tilling.
Uie recommends keeping the sheet of clear plastic tightly stretched out over the area for about 2 months.
It kills plants by cutting them off of sunlight instead of heating everything up.
Covering the area with plastic sheeting.
But clear plastic will still let the sunshine reach your soil.
To solarize your soil.
Chemical based weed killers aren t really an option because they can affect the soil and kill young garden plants before they even have a chance to grow.
Instead of using chemicals to kill weeds the tarps smother them naturally helping prepare the soil for planting.
While black sheeting is more commonly used there are some very distinct advantages to using clear plastic instead.
During occultation the soil doesn t get as hot.
During that time the sun will be killing weeds for you cooking them before they have a chance to sprout.
When a black or a black white uv treated polyethylene film is used as a greenhouse ground cover it creates a warm and moist environment that mitigates weeds.
Water the soil deeply until it is wet.
So far clear tarps appear to be killing cover crops and weeds quickly and effectively more effectively than black tarps.
Don t use white or black plastic.
As an all natural alternative to chemical pesticides and herbicides this white black plastic garden sheeting has been quickly gaining interest and implementation here in the us.
Now you truly have a clean slate with which to work.
The boards can be randomly scattered across the plastic just as long as the plastic remains in contact with the soil.
Bury the plastic edges in the soil to trap the heat.
Black plastic weed control was inspired by european gardeners and its use in.
How to clear land using black plastic mow the area or strim it so that the weeds and plants are low to the ground lay heavy duty black polythene plastic sheeting on the ground and weight it down leave for 2 3 months in summer or six months in winter lift the plastic remove slugs and dig up.
Seamus overseeing his crimped and tarped masterpiece.
Plant pathogens will be killed to boot.
Landscape fabric prevents weeds from growing but because it is porous does nothing to stop weeds from growing.
Cover the area with clear plastic such as 1 to 4 mil painter s plastic.
