landscape fabric v. plastic--blight avoidance

[lumierefrere]

Last year I lost nearly everything to late blight. This year, beyond more dedicated spraying, I'm intending to cover the soil. Thinking of disease (and slugs)-- Are there benefits or drawbacks to landscape fabric? The plastic mulch I've used in the past has seemed so light and narrow, I want something heavier. Has anyone tried tarps? You could cut them in strips, 4' wide or whatever required. Nice and heavy, no struggling with them if the wind blows and certainly reusable for many seasons.

Barb

[eddie46]

I use landscape fabric. I buy it 12' wide x 50'. Five years and in good condition.

Ed

[mtbigfish]

Barb
I have used the heavy duty 20 + year fabric and for trouble areas use
pond liner which is thick and heavy - costs about $8-10 per linear foot and it is 15 feet wide so it is not cheap but pvc usually at HD (Lowes doesn't cut) so doesn't last real long if it is EPDM it's ok

I will get 3-4 feet so I have a 15 ft piece 3-4 ft wide and under a group if plants or 3x6 to 4x6 raised bed put it under before adding my growing medium - you can cover with another piece of same size to help sterilize the soil too


I have seen larger sizes by Firestone EPDM not PVC and supposed to last 20-25 years - warranty 20 years- better pricing too but have pay a few more cens per sq ft to have it cut or cut it yourself
http://www.pondliner.com/category/Fi...Pond_Liners_15

you can also make a 3x3 or 4x4 to go under a single plant or buy in 15x15 $99 sheets up to 15x100 $630 depending on how much you need

Dennis

[dustdevil]

Commercial landscape fabric is expensive. The cheap stuff breaks down too fast in the sun. I think you are better off putting down an organic mulch instead.

[mtbigfish]

$7-10 for a bale of straw

[Blueaussi]

I thought late blight was wind-borne, and usually not soil-borne?

[mtbigfish]

Blue
yeah and rain and storms can pick up spores and carry for miles - hope I never get it

by the way here is some treatment for Barb

Anymore treatment recommendations - does it just slow it down or can it be cured?
The disease can be prevented if healthy plants are sprayed with a fungicide containing chlorothalonil. "That would be very helpful at that point and it would help with other foliage diseases," he said. Tomato vines are often afflicted with another disease called early blight, in which lower leaves yellow and shrivel.
Gardeners who want to spray organically could use neem oil, he said, but would have to reapply the oil weekly.

[lumierefrere]

Splash splash splash. And slugs love love love hiding under straw.

[GrannyG]

I don't use anything under mine, but tried tha red plastic liners that are supposed to do so much.....just a waste of money.....they made a mess, and in the winter, they break up and scatter plastic pieces all over. I would go with the fabric liner if I had to use anything. My friend used that in her greenhouse, the entire floor was covered. The scariest thing that ever happened was when snakes would get in the pots...I freak out...

[stevenkh1]

Originally Posted by lumierefrere

Last year I lost nearly everything to late blight. This year, beyond more dedicated spraying, I'm intending to cover the soil. Thinking of disease (and slugs)-- Are there benefits or drawbacks to landscape fabric? The plastic mulch I've used in the past has seemed so light and narrow, I want something heavier. Has anyone tried tarps? You could cut them in strips, 4' wide or whatever required. Nice and heavy, no struggling with them if the wind blows and certainly reusable for many seasons.

Barb

Hi Barb,

This is what I've used the last couple of years: http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=412949

Works great and the best $32 I ever spent.

Steve

[lumierefrere]

Thanks Steve, I'll look for that the next time I'm at Sam's, it would probably be less expensive there than at Agway. 4' wide would be perfect.

Barb

[dustdevil]

Another possibility is to use raised beds or containers, since you don't have good drainage.

[mtbigfish]

Barb and Steve
That's the fabric I use - I didn't realize it was 30 years - 20 is a better period but it doesn't fall apart like the others in 1-2 years and yes they do warranty it
Dennis

[travis]

Landscape fabric is great for weed control and to conserve soil moisture. I don't think it has any value at all as Late Blight control other than smothering or minimizing potential wild varieties that may remain alive in the garden and carry the fungi over the winter.

[mtbigfish]

travis
you are right and covering the fabric with mulch or straw will only keep spores on the top from flying up as much when watered from the top (no no) or when it rains or storms with wind but let's face it - these are airborne spores that can come from far away so only thing we can do is treat or remove infected plants and hope for the best

Dennis