One of the most time-consuming jobs at the summer cottage is weed control. Parasitic plants take nutrients from garden crops. As a result, the latter reduce productivity, often fall ill, and in some cases may even die. To control weeds, both mechanical methods (weeding) and chemical methods (herbicides) are used. Both of these technologies are quite effective, but have a number of disadvantages.
Weeding is a lengthy procedure, while chemicals can accumulate in the tissues of plants, which makes their fruits dangerous to health. Meanwhile, there is a technique that allows reducing labor costs when growing garden crops and at the same time eliminating the possibility of negative effects of herbicides. Modern enterprises have begun to produce a special black film from weeds. It is worth this material relatively inexpensively, time and effort to the summer resident can save a lot.
Does a black film help weed?
Using this material is quite simple. In spring, it spreads out on the ground. Next, holes are made in it for planting plants. One of the features of the black film is that it completely does not transmit sunlight. As a result, weeds that do not receive ultraviolet light stop the development.
In Europe, film and roofing material for weed control have been used for a long time. Moreover, this is done not only by individuals, but also by large farms. In this part of the world it is believed that black film helps very well from weeds. Many domestic gardeners also speak of a similar method not bad. But some summer residents are still skeptical of this technique. So, does a black weed film help? Let's deal with this in more detail.
What processes occur under the film
Black weed control 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, mulched in this way. The soil under the film warms up very quickly. Therefore, weeds in the first stage accelerate their development. However, sprouting, the grass rests on a film heated in the sun. The result is the death of the surface of the plant. After some time, the roots of the weed also decay.
Where can i use
To apply a 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 to develop virgin lands. In this case, the film is laid directly on top of the weeds and left for a long time (for 1-2 months). As a result, the grass rots along with the root system. The soil under the film becomes loose and easily processed. Subsequently, even in the absence of a film, weeds in the plot do not grow so actively.
Benefits of using
Thus, weed control with a black film reduces labor costs in the garden, in the greenhouse or in the nursery. Compared to conventional methods, this mulching technique also has the following advantages:
- early soil warming in spring;
- better ground heat storage in winter;
- reduction of irrigation costs;
- lack of need for loosening;
- accelerated plant development.
Since the black film is airtight, the soil underneath warms up very quickly. Therefore, plants in the spring with such a mulch begin to develop at an accelerated pace. Also, this material reduces the risk of crop death during return frosts.
The film does not pass moisture. And therefore, watering plants on the beds mulched with this material can be less common. Evaporating, moisture in this case condenses on the film and again flows down. Using this material is more convenient than many other types 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 almost never forms. The air entering the film through the holes made is enough for this.
Disadvantages of use
Of course, such a material has not only advantages. The main disadvantage of using a black film from weeds, most gardeners consider the impossibility of feeding soil in the beds. Organic mulch is usually dug up in the fall, which makes it possible to increase the humus content in the soil. The film is deprived of this plus.
In addition, spreading it on the ground is a rather troublesome task. In addition, this material is also quite easily damaged. Replace the film on the beds in a few years. This procedure is also quite laborious. This is especially true for long-term landings. Indeed, in this case, when disposing of the film, you must try not to damage the plants.
On virgin soil, this material for removing weeds is also sometimes impractical. Rotting under the film is usually only a fairly soft grass. Hard weeds in this way are often not eradicated. Indeed, sometimes for such grass even, for example, asphalt is not an obstacle.
What to look for when buying material
Black weed protection will be effective, of course, only if it is correctly selected. Many companies release this covering material today. In this case, the mulching black film itself can vary in technical characteristics.
When choosing this material, you should pay attention primarily to its thickness. A thin film is only suitable for warming the soil in spring. Actually for mulching, you should take the material more durable, durable and thicker. Perennial crops, for example, strawberries are usually protected from weeds with a black film of 100 microns. Thicker material, even in this case, is impractical to use. A very thick film is expensive and is mainly suitable only for construction work.
If annual crops are supposed to be mulched, quite thin material can be used. In this case, the most commonly used option is 80 microns.
How to lay a black weed film
Technologically laying this material is a simple procedure. However, when performing this operation, certain rules should be followed. You can lay the film on the ground only after the soil warms up well enough in the spring. 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 there are already weeds on the site, it is advisable to remove them.
It is necessary to spread the film in such a way that it fits as tightly as possible to the surface of the soil. In those places where there will remain air "bubbles", weeds can begin to develop in the future. Of course, they will not grow too actively, and their color will be not green, but white - but nonetheless.
After the material is laid out on the ground, its edges should be crushed with some kind of cargo. It can be, for example, stones, bricks or even just soil. Next, cross-shaped or slit-like holes for planting are made in the film. Round or square slots should not be performed. Experienced summer residents it was noticed that with this method of cutting plants later develop worse. The distance between the holes is selected depending on the type of garden crop. For example, for strawberries, this figure will be 30-35 cm.
As soon as shoots appear on the bed, covered with a film, several semicircular holes should be made in the material from the south side. Without normal air exchange in the soil, plants are known to develop worse. Moreover, in this case, acidification of the soil can be observed. Holes provide air access under the film. Moreover, if they are present, the soil under such covering material will not overheat too much.
How to water plants under a film
Moisture under such covering material, as already mentioned, is well preserved. However, watering plants that are mulled in this way during the season, of course, is necessary. This can be done both by the "root" method and by sprinkling. Water will freely pass into the holes cut in the film under the plants and will be distributed in the garden.
Reviews of summer residents
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 many gardeners refused this method. This was primarily due to the fragility and not too good quality of the film produced then. Today, many gardeners are returning to film shelter technology. Summer residents consider, of course, the ability to refuse weeding to be the main advantage of this technique. Also, many gardeners attribute the advantages of the black film to the fact that the fruits when using such a material do not get dirty on the ground.
Best of all, such a mulch, according to most summer residents, is suitable for strawberries and cucumbers. A black film also helps well from weeds, reviews of which on the Web are actually mostly positive when used for tomatoes and zucchini.
The disadvantages of summer residents include the disadvantages of this covering material because it is difficult to observe crop rotation when using it. After all, cuts in the film are made at a certain distance from each other. And what is good for one culture may not be suitable 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 the winter directly in the beds. If the material was used as mulch, for example, for cucumbers or zucchini, in the autumn it is, of course, better to remove it. To keep the film, its manufacturers and experienced gardeners are advised to be wound on a round stick. Previously, the material should be wiped with a rag. The resulting roll in winter should be kept in a dark, dry room at an air temperature of 10 ° C. This storage method can significantly extend the life of the material.
Instead of a conclusion
The conclusion from the foregoing can be made simple. The black film can really be considered good weed protection. Given the fact that the price of this material is relatively low, it is certainly worth using it in a summer cottage.