Does black film help weed?

One of the most laborious works in the suburban area is the control of weeds. Plants-parasites take nutrients from garden crops. As a result, the latter reduce yields, more often fall ill, and in some cases may even die. To control weeds, both mechanical methods (weeding) and chemical (herbicides) are used. Both of these technologies are quite effective, but they have a number of shortcomings.

Weeding is a long procedure, chemicals can accumulate in the tissues of plants, which makes their fruits dangerous for health. Meanwhile, there is a technique that allows you to reduce labor costs when growing garden crops and at the same time exclude the possibility of negative effects of herbicides. Modern enterprises began to produce a special black film from weeds. It is worth this material is relatively inexpensive, time and effort the same summer resident can save a lot.

Does black film help weed?

Use this material is simple enough. In the spring he spreads on the ground. Further in it holes are made for planting. One of the features of a black film is that it does not let sunlight at all. As a result, weeds that do not receive ultraviolet light stop development.

In Europe, film and roofing felt have been used for a long time against weeds. And this is done not only by private individuals, but also by large farms. In this part of the world it is believed that the weed black film helps very well. Many domestic gardeners also respond about this method well. But some summer residents nevertheless treat this method with skepticism. So, does black film help weed? Let's deal with this in more detail.

What processes occur under the film

The control of weeds with black film can actually be quite successful. The edges of this material lying on the ground are usually covered with soil. As a result, a special microclimate is created on the garden bed soiled in this way. The soil under the film warms up very quickly. Therefore, weeds at the first stage accelerate their development. However, germinating, the grass rests on a film, heated in the sun. The result is the death of the surface part of the plant. After a while, the weed roots also rot.

Where to use

Apply black film from weeds (photos of such beds are presented on the page) is allowed both on open ground and in greenhouses. Very often this material is used for the development of virgin land. In this case, the film is stubbed directly over the weeds and left so for a long time (for 1-2 months). As a result, the grass rotates along with the root system. The soil under the film becomes loose and easily processed. In the future, even in the absence of a film, the weeds on the plot grow less active.

Benefits of using

Thus, weed control using black film allows you to reduce labor costs in the garden, in the greenhouse or in the nursery. In comparison with conventional methods, this mulching technique also has the following advantages:

• Early warming of the soil in spring;
• Better preservation of heat in the ground in winter;
• Reduction of irrigation costs;
• No need for loosening;
• Acceleration of plant development.

Since the black film is airtight, the soil underneath it is heated very quickly. Therefore, plants in the spring with such mulch begin to develop at an accelerated pace. Also, this material reduces the risk of death of crops during recurrent frosts.

Moisture does not pass through the film. And therefore, it is possible to water plants on beds that are covered with this material, less often. Evaporation, the moisture in this case condenses on the film and again drains down. Use this material is more convenient than many other kinds of mulch. All that is needed in this case is once to spread the film on the site.

Also, the advantages of using this material include the fact that under it, unlike organics, mold is almost never formed. Air, coming under the film through the holes made, for this is quite enough.

Disadvantages of use

Of course, such material has not only advantages. The main disadvantage of using black film from weeds, most gardeners consider the impossibility of replenishing the soil in the beds. Organic mulch in the autumn is usually digested, which makes it possible to increase the humus content in the soil. The film of this plus is devoid.

In addition, spreading it on the ground - the occupation is quite troublesome. In addition, this material is still quite easily damaged. Replacing the film on beds in a few years. This procedure is also quite laborious. In particular, this applies to perennial planting. After all, in this case, when decontaminating the film, you should try not to damage the plants.

On virgin land, this material for the removal of weeds is also sometimes used inadvisable. Rotten under the film is usually only a fairly soft grass. Hard soils can not be eradicated in this way. After all, sometimes for such grass, even, for example, asphalt is not an obstacle.

What to look for when buying a material

Protection against weeds by black film will be effective, of course, only if it is correctly selected. Many companies are releasing this covering material today. Moreover, the mulching black film itself can differ in technical characteristics.

When choosing this material, you should pay attention primarily to its thickness. Thin film is suitable only for warming the soil in the spring. Actually for mulching it is necessary to take a material more durable, durable and thick. Perennial crops, for example, strawberries are usually protected from weeds with a black film of 100 microns. Even thicker material is inappropriate in this case. It is very thick film is expensive and is suitable mainly for construction works only.

If mulching assumes annual crops, you can apply a fairly thin material. In this case, the most commonly used variant is 80 μm.

How to put black film against weeds

Technologically laying this material - the procedure is simple. However, when performing this operation, you should follow certain rules. Laying the film on the ground is possible only after the soil in the spring is sufficiently warmed up. Previously, the site must be cleaned of debris and dirt. Most attention should be paid to sharp objects that can damage the material - dry branches, glass, stones. If the site already has weeds, they should be removed.

Spread the film in such a way that it is as close as possible to the surface of the soil. In those places where there are air "bubbles", in the subsequent we can begin to develop weeds. Of course, they will not grow too actively, and the color will not be green, but white - but nonetheless.

After the material is decomposed on the ground, its edges should be crushed with some weight. It can be, for example, stones, bricks or even just the soil. Further, in the film, cross-shaped or slit-shaped holes are made to plant the plants. Round or square cuts should not be performed. Experienced cottagers noticed that with this method of cutting the plants in the future develop worse. The distance between the holes is chosen depending on the type of garden culture. For example, for strawberries, this figure will be 30-35 cm.

As soon as shoots appear on the bed, covered with a film, shoots appear, on the south side, several semicircular holes should be made in the material. Without a normal air exchange in the soil, plants are known to develop worse. To this in this case, there may be an acidification of the soil. The apertures will provide air access under the film. In addition, if they are available, the soil under such a cover material will not overheat too much.

How to water plants under a film

The moisture under such cover material, as already mentioned, remains well. However, to water the flowers soiled in this way during the season, of course, it is necessary. This can be done both by the "root" method and by sprinkling. The water will flow freely into the holes cut into the film under the plants and distributed along the bed.

Responses of gardeners

About 20 years ago in Russia there was a real boom in the use of black film from weeds as mulch. However, in the subsequent from this method, many truck farmers refused. This was due, first of all, to the fragility and not too good quality of the then produced film. Today, many gardeners return to the film technology of shelter. The main advantage of this technique is that the summer residents consider, of course, the possibility of refusing to weed. Also, many gardeners attribute the advantages of black film to the fact that fruits do not get dirty when using such a material.

Best of all, such mulch, according to most summer residents, is suitable for strawberries and cucumbers. Also a good help from weeds is black film, reviews on the Web are in fact mostly positive, when used for tomatoes and zucchini.

To the disadvantages of this covering material, dacha owners are mostly attributed to the fact that it is difficult to observe a crop rotation when using it. After all, the slits in the film are made at a certain distance from each other. And what is good for one culture may not be perfect for another. It is for this reason that the film usually has to be changed at least once every three years.

How to store

If a black film is used against weeds on perennial crops, it is usually left for winter right on the beds. If the material was used as a mulch, for example, for cucumbers or zucchini, in autumn it, of course, is better to remove. Store the film its producers and experienced gardeners advise wound around a round stick. Preliminary the material should be wiped with a rag. The resulting roll in winter should be kept in a dark dry place at an air temperature of 10 ° C. This method of storage can significantly extend the life of the material.

Instead of concluding

The conclusion from all of the above can be made simple. Black film can really be considered a good protection against weeds. Taking into account the fact that the price of this material is relatively low, it is definitely worth using it in the suburban area.