black plastic mulch

Labradors2 · February 17, 2014

Any recommendations for the thickness of black plastic mulch?

I tried some that I had kept for many years, only to discover that it was too thin and let the light in so that weeds flourished underneath it. I had to lift it up, deal with the weeds and put newspaper underneath it to block the light which stopped the weeds.

In another area I used straight newspaper, and that didn't work as well, although it kept the weeds down. The plastic warmed up the soil early on, and kept the moisture in so that my tomatoes in those two rows did very well.

Linda

zipcode · February 17, 2014

The typical thickness is 20-60 microns. 60 is quite thick. One thing you must be aware of, is that the thicker one will be blacker, so better against weeds and keeping moisture, but will not have the effect of semitransparent one of making the earth warmer, on the contrary.

Labradors2 · February 17, 2014

NOW you tell me! {LOL}

We were making a special trip to Home Depot (which seems so much better than the alternative home store around here) so I did a quick look through the old posts and found one that recommended 6 mil thickness and bought that. I really need the soil to warm up though...... Maybe I'll have to lay down a transparent one first.

Thanks,
Linda

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipcode

The typical thickness is 20-60 microns. 60 is quite thick. One thing you must be aware of, is that the thicker one will be blacker, so better against weeds and keeping moisture, but will not have the effect of semitransparent one of making the earth warmer, on the contrary.

Noreaster · February 18, 2014

You have the perfect size......6 mil black.

Have used 6 mil about 4-5 years, and here are the benefits:

a) looks neat,
b) prevents weeds
c) keeps soil temp stable.
d) pays for itself in the sense that ALL last season only needed to water TWICE.
e) strong, and for me lasts years.

Have a great 2014 !

Labradors2 · February 18, 2014

Thanks for the endorsement Noreaster. I'm looking forward to using it this growing season.

I hope you get a bumper crop this year!

Linda

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noreaster

You have the perfect size......6 mil black.

Have used 6 mil about 4-5 years, and here are the benefits:

a) looks neat,
b) prevents weeds
c) keeps soil temp stable.
d) pays for itself in the sense that ALL last season only needed to water TWICE.
e) strong, and for me lasts years.

Have a great 2014 !

Worth1 · February 18, 2014

Just so you know a mil is 0.001 or 1 thousands of an inch.
The clear wrapper on a pack of cigarettes is 1 thousands of an inch.
The wall thickness of a tin can is 10 thousands and a sheet of notebook paper is about 2 thousands.
Take 3 sheets of paper and you have 6 mil.

I'm telling you guys this so when you are looking on line at plastic sheeting and such you can tell how thick it is and know what you are buying.

By the way a penny is a perfect 3/4 of an inch.
When I go to the store I carry a screw pitch gauge, small 12 foot tape measure and a set of calipers.

Ive been burned one time too many at the big box stores with stuff getting shuffled around.

Black mulch in Texas is ok if covered with straw.

Worth

Labradors2 · February 18, 2014

Cool stuff Worth! Good to know!

Don't forget your magnet if you ever want to buy genuine Stainless Steel anything (it won't stick).

Thanks,
Linda

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Just so you know a mil is 0.001 or 1 thousands of an inch.
The clear wrapper on a pack of cigarettes is 1 thousands of an inch.
The wall thickness of a tin can is 10 thousands and a sheet of notebook paper is about 2 thousands.
Take 3 sheets of paper and you have 6 mil.

I'm telling you guys this so when you are looking on line at plastic sheeting and such you can tell how thick it is and know what you are buying.

By the way a penny is a perfect 3/4 of an inch.
When I go to the store I carry a screw pitch gauge, small 12 foot tape measure and a set of calipers.

Ive been burned one time too many at the big box stores with stuff getting shuffled around.

Black mulch in Texas is ok if covered with straw.

Worth

Worth1 · February 18, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Cool stuff Worth! Good to know!

Don't forget your magnet if you ever want to buy genuine Stainless Steel anything (it won't stick).

Thanks,
Linda

I'm going to sound like a know it all but.

I have heard this so many times.

It depends on the type of stainless steel.
Austenite isn't.
Martenstitic is.

There are several types of stainless steel used for many things.
A good stainless steel knife will be magnetic.

I have stainless silverware that is magnetic.

A helpful hint for those thinking of buying a induction cook top.
If a magnet will stick to the bottoms of your stainless pans they will work on it.
Any pan that a magnet will stick to will work.

I by all means dont want to make any one look silly but I have heard the stainless myth all of my life.
Won a few bets from grown men that have worked with it all of their lives too.

I just wanted to clear it up.

Worth

Doug9345 · February 18, 2014

Worth you beat me to it. Steels and their chemistry and structure fascinates me.

cherokee · February 18, 2014

Worth1 is correct some stainless is magnetic because it has other properties such as carbon which is magnetic and still classified as stainless because it is Stain restraint, some SS have a higher content of carbon than higher grades of stainless, some Stainless knives and cook wear will attract a magnet. All of that having been said, it should be noted that Type 316, with its higher nickel content, is usually more difficult to magnetize than Type 304. This is offset somewhat by 316's higher molybdenum content. Type 316 contains around 80% iron by weight. It only takes ~11% chromium to make a steel "stainless", and it isn't even the chromium that makes it nonmagnetic. There are actually many stainless steels which ARE magnetic, namely the ferritic and martensitic (400-series) categories often used in knives.--Have a great day!

Labradors2 · February 19, 2014

Hoo boy! I stand corrected!

Linda

cherokee · February 19, 2014

Linda: Certainly I intended no offence, I spent many years in Industrial Maintenance and Engineering and it is a very common assumption thst all SS is magnetic, however just as we have varying traits in Pink or Red Tomatoes so it is with SS and magnetism is one of them. If I was offensive I apologize and ask your forgivness, OK? (I should been slow to speak)

Labradors2 · February 19, 2014

Cherokee,

No offence taken - honestly! The magnet idea was something that I picked up on various boating forums years ago, but it really doesn't matter much to me. I don't want to be the one who spreads false information around though

.

Thanks,
Linda

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee

Linda: Certainly I intended no offence, I spent many years in Industrial Maintenance and Engineering and it is a very common assumption thst all SS is magnetic, however just as we have varying traits in Pink or Red Tomatoes so it is with SS and magnetism is one of them. If I was offensive I apologize and ask your forgivness, OK? (I should been slow to speak)

cherokee · February 19, 2014

Thank you, you are so kind may you have a Blessed day.
O'Neal

Ken4230 · February 19, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee

Thank you, you are so kind may you have a Blessed day.
O'Neal

How's the fishing at Wheeler? We live just south of Ky Dam and are getting ready for crappie season. My son in law is a guide on Kentucky and Barkley.
He usually fishes from early March through the middle of May without a day off. You have to work when the money is there.

Ken

February 17, 2014	#1
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	black plastic mulch Any recommendations for the thickness of black plastic mulch? I tried some that I had kept for many years, only to discover that it was too thin and let the light in so that weeds flourished underneath it. I had to lift it up, deal with the weeds and put newspaper underneath it to block the light which stopped the weeds. In another area I used straight newspaper, and that didn't work as well, although it kept the weeds down. The plastic warmed up the soil early on, and kept the moisture in so that my tomatoes in those two rows did very well. Linda

February 18, 2014	#9
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Worth you beat me to it. Steels and their chemistry and structure fascinates me. Last edited by Doug9345; February 19, 2014 at 10:23 AM.

February 17, 2014	#2
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	The typical thickness is 20-60 microns. 60 is quite thick. One thing you must be aware of, is that the thicker one will be blacker, so better against weeds and keeping moisture, but will not have the effect of semitransparent one of making the earth warmer, on the contrary.

February 18, 2014	#4
Noreaster Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northeast Posts: 260	You have the perfect size......6 mil black. Have used 6 mil about 4-5 years, and here are the benefits: a) looks neat, b) prevents weeds c) keeps soil temp stable. d) pays for itself in the sense that ALL last season only needed to water TWICE. e) strong, and for me lasts years. Have a great 2014 !

February 18, 2014	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Just so you know a mil is 0.001 or 1 thousands of an inch. The clear wrapper on a pack of cigarettes is 1 thousands of an inch. The wall thickness of a tin can is 10 thousands and a sheet of notebook paper is about 2 thousands. Take 3 sheets of paper and you have 6 mil. I'm telling you guys this so when you are looking on line at plastic sheeting and such you can tell how thick it is and know what you are buying. By the way a penny is a perfect 3/4 of an inch. When I go to the store I carry a screw pitch gauge, small 12 foot tape measure and a set of calipers. Ive been burned one time too many at the big box stores with stuff getting shuffled around. Black mulch in Texas is ok if covered with straw. Worth

February 18, 2014	#10
cherokee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: north west Alabama @ Wheeler Dam Posts: 49	Worth1 is correct some stainless is magnetic because it has other properties such as carbon which is magnetic and still classified as stainless because it is Stain restraint, some SS have a higher content of carbon than higher grades of stainless, some Stainless knives and cook wear will attract a magnet. All of that having been said, it should be noted that Type 316, with its higher nickel content, is usually more difficult to magnetize than Type 304. This is offset somewhat by 316's higher molybdenum content. Type 316 contains around 80% iron by weight. It only takes ~11% chromium to make a steel "stainless", and it isn't even the chromium that makes it nonmagnetic. There are actually many stainless steels which ARE magnetic, namely the ferritic and martensitic (400-series) categories often used in knives.--Have a great day!

February 19, 2014	#11
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Hoo boy! I stand corrected! Linda