Landscape fabrics: dress your garden for success - Garden

Sunset, April, 2003 by Jim McCausland

From the ground up, synthetic fabrics make gardening easier by performing a variety of problem-solving functions. The chart below outlines the main choices available to home gardeners. Be aware that suppliers often sell nearly identical products under different names.

Mulches Made for different purposes, including weed control, warming
soil, conserving moisture, and repelling insects. Hold down the edges
with soil, staples, or stakes.


MATERIAL               COST(per    FUNCTION, BENEFITS, NOTES
                     100 sq. ft.)

Black sheet             $5-$7      Absorbs heat to warm soil.
plastic                            This impermeable mulch
                                   works best when drip tubing
                                   is run beneath the plastic.

Infrared-                 $6       Allows infrared light to
transmitting                       penetrate plastic, warming
(IRT) mulch                        soil. Boosts yields of
(brown or green                    cucumbers, melons,
plastic)                           peppers, squash.

Rapid Red                 $7       Reflects infrared light up
plastic film                       to plant. Boosts yields of
(also sold                         tomatoes and strawberries.
as Selective
Reflecting
Mulch or SRM-Red)

Silver mulch              $7       Protects crops by repelling
(high-density                      insect pests such
plastic)                           as aphids, flea beetles,
                                   thrips, and white flies.

Weed control fabric    $10-$27     Insert permanent plants
(black                             through slits cut
synthetic fiber)                   in fabric. Lasts
                                   10 years or longer if
                                   covered with bark or gravel.

Floating row covers Made of synthetic fibers, these covers "float" over
rows to protect crops against many insect pests and light frost.


Extra-light fabric      $6-$8      Insect barrier only. Light
(summer-weight)                    enough to leave on in the heat;
fabric                             85% light transmission.

Standard floating       $6-$9      Insect barrier, frost protection
row cover                          to 28[degrees]-30[degrees];
                                   75%-85% light transmission.
                                   Remove when temperatures top
                                   80[degrees] or plants
                                   will overheat.

Frost blanket          $13-$17     Enhanced frost protection down
                                   to 24[degrees]-26[degrees];
                                   50% light transmission. Must
                                   remove during day when
                                   temperatures rise
                                   above 32[degrees].

Shadecloth Reduces the intensity of sunlight. Density rating is based on
the percentage of sunlight blocked.


52%-70%                $25-$40     Stretch fabric over crops
density knit                       to protect from sunburn,
poly "yarn"                        especially in desert areas.
(sold in rolls)

30%-66% density        $40-$70     Usually sold with finished
knitted panels                     edges and grommets, they're
                                   designed to hang from hooks
                                   over greenhouses, patios.

SOURCES: Most nurseries and garden centers offer at least a few basic
garden fabrics. For more options, try one of these mail-order suppliers:
Gardener's Supply Company (www.gardeners.com or 800/427-3363), Gardens
Alive (www.gardensalive.com or 812/537-8650), or Territorial Seed
Company (www.territorialseed.com or 541/942-9547). For shadecloth and
mulch choices, contact Charley's Greenhouse (www.charleysgreenhouse.com
or 800/322-4707).