An easy solution against weeds

Weed barrier fabric is an indispensible tool for outdoor crops as well as those found in green houses. It prevents a several problematic situations that can seriously affect the development of your crop.

One of the first problematic situations that a crop can face is attack by pests. It isn’t surprising that at one time or another, a swarm of insects can take over the plants we’re growing. They can finish off an entire plantation if quick action isn’t taken against the insects. Using pesticides would be the first option to pick – especially if we are talking about a pest in advanced stages in which other less invasive and less damaging methods are ineffective. The use of said chemicals can be poisonous for plants as well as pollute the ground if a potent chemical agent is used.

Another situation which you wouldn’t want to face and that is difficult to detect is a bacterial or mycotic infection in the crop. This is caused by the buildup of too much moisture between plants or contamination in the soil. Many fungi, bacteria, and parasites stick to plants when there are prime conditions to start their life cycle. Once they take over a plant, they start to reproduce quickly and in a short time they start to spread to neighboring plants. Later they infect other nearby plants until an epidemic is created in the crop. The most common solution in this case is using expensive chemicals that treat and eliminate the parasite in question.

Among the problems faced by farmers and gardeners, as well as being subject of this article, are weeds.

Weed control in areas meant for crops is an important practice that can only be achieved by periodically preventing the growth of weeds. Although it doesn’t seem like it, weeds can be as real a problem as parasites or insect invasion since this kind of plant takes over an area rapidly using up all the space and nutrients in the soil. They compete with other plants to control the territory. What does this mean? It means that nutrients, fertilizer, water and space meant for the desired crop will be sucked up by the voracious appetites of the weeds. This will greatly affect the vital growth of the other plants, even causing them to dry up for lack of water, light and other necessary elements for their survival.

Weeds are plants that compete for resources that the land provides. Weeds adapt well to most fields and are resistant to bad weather and contact with herbicides. This can be a real problem when they are mixed in with the crop.

Even though there are various tools on the market to deal with this problem, one of the most easily available and cheapest options, which gives the best results in the short and long term, is weed barrier fabric.

This marvelous product offers a simple and efficient method to deal with weed, insect and parasite problems that can harm our plants. It is designed to block out the light completely so that weeds and undesired plants are inhibited from growing and spreading all over the place. Not only that: it also keeps the leaves from coming into contact with the ground, dramatically lowering the risk of being contaminated by pathogens found in the soil as well as keeping most insects from reaching the plants.

Brands like MALAHIERBA Ground Cover have developed weed barrier fabric that is guaranteed to do its job as well as to be durable and more resistant than the median. Additionally, this product can withstand constant exposure to diverse weather conditions and other possible damage it could endure during its use. This means it can be reused with other crops or in areas where it is needed.  MALAHIERBA Ground Cover fabric is made from treated polypropylene, making it much tougher and longer-lasting than other brands on the market. Its principal function is to inhibit weeds from receiving enough light to grow and spread. Other benefits are that water and fertilizer necessary to raise crops can pass through the cloth. Additionally, it provides an optimum flow of air so that moisture doesn’t build up. Using this fabric makes using herbicides is unnecessary.

The two basic versions of weed barrier fabric are white and black. The first reduces heat. It is very useful in greenhouses where it is important to control the temperature of the area. On the other hand, the black weed barrier fabric helps raise the temperature. This is useful for outdoor crops in places where the temperature is cool.

To sum up, ground cover fabric helps as a way to deal with weeds and undesired plants. It is easy to install and it saves time and money spent on herbicides or other methods of weed control. It can also prevent the spread of parasites and microorganisms that harm crops.

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You can grow vegetables with weed blocking ground cover.

Ground cover is another name for plastic mulch or weed barrier fabric. Keeping your field or garden free from invasive weeds is a task that takes a lot of time and effort. In fact, it is the nightmare of most farmers and gardeners. Whether we’re talking about professional farming, home gardening or your backyard, weeding is necessary to keep everything looking good. Additionally, weeds steal space, sunlight, humidity and nutrients from plants and flowers that need them to grow. This fabric is an optimum way to block sunlight and impede the growth of bothersome, insidious weeds that could ruin your production.

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You can grow tomatoes with plastic mulch

Characteristics of Plastic Mulch Ground Cover

Plastic mulch ground cover Hortomallas is very long-lasting and resistant. It is made from polyethylene, and is treated to resist UV degradation so it can be used outside under direct sunlight without losing its color or integrity. It can be reused during several crop cycles. This weed barrier fabric is woven to permit the flow of humidity and air. Rainwater can get through so it is preferable to black sheet plastic. This woven, black, high density plastic completely blocks out sunlight. It is ideal for large scale outdoor vegetable farming, greenhouses, plant nurseries, domestic landscaping and controlled environment cultivation.

It is also an efficient method of weed control when compared with traditional chemical herbicides. Herbicides are often applied to quickly eliminate invasive plants which are usually very resistant. The most commonly used chemical products contain glyphosate which has been the subject of numerous investigations that have revealed its potential risk to human health and the environment. It is believed to reduce biodiversity and affect the food chain when it pollutes the environment, remaining in lakes, rivers and aquifers.

Using a physical barrier against weeds, along with pulling weeds, is the safest methods of weed control for human health and the environment.

Main results of applying woven plastic mulch

• Completely eliminate all of the problems associated with weeds
• Use less water for plants since the fabric slows evaporation and keeps the ground humid, conserving the water for crops.
• More abundant produce
• Earlier harvest: the ground heats more quickly and stays warmer.
• Greater availability and absorption of nutrients: these are not washed away when it rains because the plastic mulch protects the soil.
• Cleaner fruits – for example strawberries – because they don’t come into contact with the dirt.
• Use it along with garden support netting.
• Due to greater availability of carbon dioxide, vegetation is more uniform.
• The soil is softer.
• Fewer diseases caused by fungi.
• Fewer hours of manual labor used to pull weeds.
• Eliminate the use of herbicides.

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Improve production and protect your crops from weeds.

How to use plastic mulch

1. Wet the ground where the plastic mulch will be put. Be careful not to use too much water because this can make the earth too muddy.
2. Dig up and remove weeds and undesired plants. Try to dig up all the roots. Use a trowel to tear out larger, tougher weeds. Rake the area so that it is even.
3. Completely cover the area with plastic mulch fabric. You can easily cut it to the size that you need. Don’t leave any open spaces. Overlap any separate pieces of weed barrier fabric.
4. Make holes in the ground cover fabric where the plants need to grow.
5. You can cover the fabric with organic mulch like earth or sand until the fabric is entirely covered. This holds down the ground cover aswell as being an extra measure against weeds.
6. Put down the plastic mulch when it isn’t too cold or too hot thus avoiding irregular tension in the fabric.
7. Use something to weigh down the fabric so that the wind doesn’t blow away or damage it. For example you can dig lateral furrows on the edges of where you plan to put down the mulch to later cover them with earth.

You can ask about ground cover fabricin HORTOMALLAS’s online store.

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Plastic mulch is an efficient way to control weeds when compared to traditional chemical herbicides.

Effective techniques of weed control

In every crop season, a period of weed growing always comes. Those unwanted weeds must be controlled during that period of time, in order to minimize the loss of production that may be caused because of such wild weeds. Weed control is a botanical process, in which various techniques are used such as applying herbicides, pest control or installing insect barrier. This process does not let the already existing weeds to grow up to a maturity stage and also stops the production of new weeds.

Weed control goes through an organic procedure of stopping the development of wild grass and poisonous weeds. There are a number of mechanical, botanical, biological and chemical techniques that are used for this purpose. Herbicides are considered one of the most defensive and strong guard against weeds. The use of herbicides is common and worldwide but there are a number of factors that prove their use environmental and health hazard. This is why the use of chemical and toxic sprays is always discouraged. On the other hand, the use of chromosomal phages in controlled environment is also practiced. These chromosomal are sometimes genetically modified when used with crops. Understanding plant physiology is mandatory for the appropriate use of herbicides, chromosomal or any other toxic agent. 

Insect barrier is also a component of Weed control. This is used to stop growing the harmful, poisonous and toxic weeds which are sometimes infected by bugs and insects in the soil. Weed control is practiced over small and large agricultural lands, livestock and home garden plants. In agriculture sector, weed control is done through lethal tactics such as overheating, weeds burning and toxic chemical spells. 

The unwanted weeds are grown rapidly alongside fertilized crops and may be of unrecognizable value. However it is seen that an annoying weed for someone may be a desirable herb for someone else. For example a famous weed Charlock is found in abundance in southeast. They might be bothersome for farmers but considered very useful by the beekeepers. The growth of most of the weeds is really fast and rapid. Some of them like coach grass is grown more than once in a crop season. In fact they slower the growth of actual crops and make them infected. They also destabilize the layers of soil and decrease its fertility. These weeds cover a large area of fertilized land when grown with other plants. Thus the management of these undesired weeds is of fatal importance. 

Crops which grow slower and their ultimate fruit needs time for proper reaping such as cucumber and onion are more affected by weeds. However, beans and other plants with small seeding are less affected. Weed control is also necessary for tutoring tomatoes as they are need some support to grow. The weed damage is less specially in the early stages of a plant growth, when they are grown with the actual crop without disturbing each-other. Studies have proven that weeds and plants can grow side by side without affecting each-other but this happens rarely. This is because, even if weeds do not infect or poison the plants, they still decrease the production yield. For vegetables that are grown underground, weed control may be ignored by some, but it becomes really necessary for some fruits and vegetables which are septic sensitive such as tutoring tomatoes for their proper and safe growth. Some of the perennials plants for example wild grass affects badly and slower the growth of the actual plants or crops. This happens as a part of water, moist, sunlight and other fertilizing agents is consumed by such weeds. Pests normally do not cause any damage to these weeds, rather they provide them space and shelter to live in and grow.

Methods of Weed Control

There are numerous methods of weed control. Some of these are provided here;

Coverings:

This technique is common for domestic gardens, where a covering material like mat is placed on the ground, which make the growth environment of weeds unfavorable. The layer of this mat may consist of a number of films with damp newspaper which stops sun light from reaching the roots of weeds and stops their growth. In green houses, black plastic sheets are used for this purpose, but it is difficult to cover the whole area through these sheets. Once applied these plastic sheets can serve for at least two seasons. Other sort of such sheet barriers may include mulch layers and comfrey restrictions. 

Mechanical Removal

Particularly in a number of backward rural areas, weeds are removed manually by gardeners and farmers without using any botanical or chemical methodologies. Growers pluck up unnecessary leaves, grass and weeds as soon as they grow up.

In Tasmania, a team of remote areas named as Sea Spurge manually do the work of weed control very effectively. 

Ploughing Soil

In this method the uprooted and grown weeds are ploughed which cuts off their roots and kills them. In summer season, ploughing also kills the pests in soil which cause damage to plants at a later stage. 

Flaming

Some of the growers use flame or warm air, hit from a specific distance from crops. This creates severe thermal effect for the weeds which causes their destruction. 

Early Watering

Another effective method is watering excessively the rows and seed beds of crops before sowing the actual crops seeds. This disturbs the growth of unwanted weeds at the earliest stage, so this is nipping the evil in the bud.

Foam Streaming  

When quite warm foam is added to the seed beds, it burns and kills the weeds. Some of the weeds which are heat resistant can still bear this process. 

Soil Steaming 

In this technique, soil is sterilized through hot steam. Weeds are killed somehow but the wild grass possesses great tolerance to bear this heat.

Soil Staling 

Soil is cultivated and then left as it is for seven to ten days or more. As soon as the unwanted weeds start growing, the growers dig and cut them off and then the preferred crop is planted. 

Animal grazing 

Animals which graze in fields like goats and buffaloes are also used to pluck up the weeds during grazing. This is done at earlier stage of crops cultivation as weeds are grown up prior to the actual crops.

Organic compounds and Chemical Sprays

Herbicides, chemical and toxic sprays are also showered for weed control, but they are considered health hazard and not environmental friendly. 

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