Black Plastic as mulch

[Rajun Gardener]

https://www.morgancountyseeds.com/pr...rts/drip-tape/

[PaulF]

Over the years I have used black plastic, red plastic and landscape fabric of several different thicknesses. All the above did well for weed suppression. The plastics were OK but since I did not use drip waterers, it was difficult to water, either from rainfall or from a hose. I did install a soaker hose under the plastic and that seemed to do alright. I even a couple of years put down plastic and then grass clippings and/or straw on top.

Landscape fabric solved the water flow through problem but grass seemed to grow through the thin stuff. Commercial fabric did better but was expensive. I like to change locations in the garden for growing tomatoes, so the fabric needed to be taken up and moved yearly. The thin stuff only lasted a couple of years and the thick expensive fabric only a year longer.

I have gone back to newsprint and straw for mulch and most likely will continue. Cheap and effective and it all gets tilled under after the season is over for added organic material. Since I only grow 35 plants that makes this mulch effective for me. In a larger space it may require a different style.