[baduy]

Hi everyone
Tittle says it all
I never tried this because of concerns about fungal growth underneath and I realize that of all the growers I know nobody has done the experiment either but I have a very dry and sunny spot in a place where watering is a complicated task. what about putting a plastic sheet (with micro holes I assume) over the roots area at the start of dry season then cover it with a thick layer of straw, wood chips or dead leaves to avoid overheating the soil then take it off before the first autumn rains?
Would this allow me to save on waterings or would it just kill my plants in a week?

[Easy7]

Just more trash to leave behind and look bad. Usually people do that as a weed barrier. Weeds still break thru.

Soil also needs to breathe. A cover crop such as clover will be dense and keep light off the soil. Stays cooler and moist. Straw if you want to haul that in or mulch, also works.

I am a more basic theory person. Getting more out of less work and investment. Not that there isn't a standard.

Leaf mulch also is great.

[MJPassion]

Mulch DEEP with what’s in the area. (not less than 6in deep)

It’ll look more natural be less attractive to local critters that want nesting materials.

[bilko]

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[TychoMonolyth]

Originally Posted by baduy

Hi everyone
Tittle says it all
I never tried this because of concerns about fungal growth underneath and I realize that of all the growers I know nobody has done the experiment either but I have a very dry and sunny spot in a place where watering is a complicated task. what about putting a plastic sheet (with micro holes I assume) over the roots area at the start of dry season then cover it with a thick layer of straw, wood chips or dead leaves to avoid overheating the soil then take it off before the first autumn rains?
Would this allow me to save on waterings or would it just kill my plants in a week?

You'll cook your roots if you do that. If it was a cool climate, and you wanted to warm the soil for your plant, then ya. Good idea.

Bring a little hand garden rake with you, or just use your hands, and scrape up some ground mulch and use that. Don't be shy, use 12 inches if you can.

[baduy]

Thanks all for the answers.
Actually I always use a very thick mulch. The thing is one year I used some big flat stones which were around, covered the roots area with and used strawmulch on top of it and it really helped to prevent water evaporation, much better than a simple mulching. Now I have this very dry and sunny spot but no flat stones here just boulders so I was thinking maybe a thick mulch would prevent the plastic from heating too much but was reluctant to give it a try. There is a reason why I never tried it yet never needed it to heaten the soil either as it's already warm enough at planting time in my climate zone
But when I read about some of the super weird experiments some have done here I would have thought someone would have tried

[TychoMonolyth]

Originally Posted by baduy

Thanks all for the answers.
Actually I always use a very thick mulch. The thing is one year I used some big flat stones which were around, covered the roots area with and used strawmulch on top of it and it really helped to prevent water evaporation, much better than a simple mulching. Now I have this very dry and sunny spot but no flat stones here just boulders so I was thinking maybe a thick mulch would prevent the plastic from heating too much but was reluctant to give it a try. There is a reason why I never tried it yet never needed it to heaten the soil either as it's already warm enough at planting time in my climate zone
But when I read about some of the super weird experiments some have done here I would have thought someone would have tried

Use water crystals if you're worries about watering. Here's a short discussion on it. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=349358

[amanda88]

Originally Posted by baduy

Hi everyone
Tittle says it all
I never tried this because of concerns about fungal growth underneath and I realize that of all the growers I know nobody has done the experiment either but I have a very dry and sunny spot in a place where watering is a complicated task. what about putting a plastic sheet (with micro holes I assume) over the roots area at the start of dry season then cover it with a thick layer of straw, wood chips or dead leaves to avoid overheating the soil then take it off before the first autumn rains?
Would this allow me to save on waterings or would it just kill my plants in a week?

Why not! ...it'll break down eventually

just like that plastic trash island between the us and japan

world need more good ideas from guys like you?

after all Elon Musk is dying to get into space

but thats another story

[baduy]

Originally Posted by amanda88

Why not! ...it'll break down eventually

just like that plastic trash island between the us and japan

world need more good ideas from guys like you?

after all Elon Musk is dying to get into space

but thats another story

Wow villagers lower your forks and blow your torches.
I am not recomending to buy plastic in any way, you're in a bad mood today? I got a bad news there is a whole topic called growing in greenhouse where you will find examples of use of tons of plastic lining so you should go there tell them they are destroying mother earth instead of pissing me off with your views about my RECYCLING strategies.
All the best

[baduy]

Originally Posted by TychoMonolyth

Use water crystals if you're worries about watering. Here's a short discussion on it. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=349358

Yes water crystals have great potential for guerilla but I don't feel like buying 10 packs of diapers to collect some. On the opposite I had a big supply of blue plastic lining in an abandoned barn on my way to the spot.
Maybe next time I will bring a hammer and chisel to make my own flat stones