Contents
Covering material for beds of a new generation protects plants cultivated in the open field from various atmospheric phenomena and increases yields. In today’s article, you will find out what types of plastic film and non-woven covering material can be used to preserve crops.
Why cover the beds
Covering material for greenhouses and beds allows you to grow various vegetable and fruit crops all year round. Thanks to the use of a dense polyethylene film and non-woven fabric, made using innovative methods and technologies, it is possible to significantly increase the fertility of cultivated plants. According to experienced farmers, it is possible to harvest several crops from some crops in one growing season.
Covering fabric is a synthetic fabric, which is made of polymeric material. Due to its durability, high strength and excellent wear resistance, covering fabric is widely used in industrial and road construction, agriculture, landscape design, medicine, cosmetology and other fields of activity.
The main functions of the covering cloth used in the national economy include:
- protection of vegetation from direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations and various precipitation;
- acceleration of fruiting;
- increase in yield indicators;
- retention of moisture and nutrients in the soil;
- protection of cultivated plants from weeds, pests and pathogens of viral, fungal and bacterial infections.
The use of covering material in agriculture not only improves yields and protects vegetation, but also facilitates the work of summer residents in caring for cultivated crops. Dense non-woven fabric and polyethylene film can be used to cover garden beds, create frameless and frame structures, sheathing greenhouses and hotbeds.
Video: “Covering material for beds and greenhouses”
From this video you will learn how to choose the right covering cloth to protect the vegetation growing on the beds in the garden.
Nonwovens
Today, gardening stores carry a wide range of nonwovens that can be used in agriculture. To cover greenhouse structures and frames, a fabric of high density and excellent wear resistance is required. It is better to cover vegetable and fruit crops growing in the garden with thinner, but at the same time breathable matter. It is recommended to mulch the soil with a dense black cloth.
We bring to your attention a brief overview of the best nonwovens, compiled on the basis of feedback and recommendations from experienced farmers.
Lutrasil
Synthetic covering material lutrasil is made from polypropylene fibers and threads. Available in white and black versions. A white canvas is used to cover plants growing in open ground. Uniform dispersion of sunlight over the surface and protection from ultraviolet rays contribute to the activation of the growth and development of cultivated crops.
According to the reviews of experienced summer residents, white lutrasil with a density of 23 and 30 g / m² reliably protects fruit, deciduous and coniferous shrubs and trees from the cold. In the northern regions, where there are severe frosts all winter, it is recommended to put pine spruce branches on top of the covering material. Garden roses covered with lutrasil and other ornamental crops are not afraid of wind, hail and frost.
Black covering material, which is characterized by elasticity, strength and high wear resistance, is used for mulching the soil in the beds. With proper care and carefully thought-out storage, dark lutrasil with a density of 60 g / m² will last at least 3-4 seasons.
Geotextile
Geotextile fabric is made by interlacing synthetic fibers of polypropylene, polyamide, polyester and polyester. The resulting web is characterized by increased strength and a high degree of resistance to mechanical damage, dynamic loads and atmospheric phenomena. Due to its technical characteristics, high wear resistance and durability, geotextiles are used for reinforcing embankments, arranging pedestrian areas, sidewalks and driveways, and road construction.
As for the use in the suburban area, geofabric is used to equip garden and driveway paths, protect vegetation from weeds and drought, as well as limit the growth of roots of ornamental shrubs and fruit trees. Geofabric brand “Dornit” improves filtration, waterproofing and drainage properties of the soil, maintains an optimal level of thermal insulation of the soil and serves as a kind of barrier to the spread of insects and weeds.
Spandbond
The covering cloth made by application of the innovative spunbond technology differs in excellent technical characteristics. Polymer acrylic is melted and passed through fine dies. The resulting threads are combined into a monolithic web. The non-woven covering material produced in this way has several names, among which the most common are spunbond, agrofibre and agrofabric.
Spunbond with a density of 17 g / m² protects plants from overheating and hypothermia, and also reduces the likelihood of the spread of various diseases in the beds. The canvas with a thickness of 42, 60, 90 and 110 g/m² is suitable for sheathing greenhouses and greenhouses. Double-sided spunbond is the optimal solution for soil mulching in the garden and in the garden. A flower or shrub covered with a non-woven fabric receives a sufficient amount of light, but is not exposed to the negative effects of ultraviolet rays.
“Mulchagram”
The newest covering material “Mulchagram”, which is made on the basis of coconut fibers, is popular with flower growers, gardeners and winegrowers. The brown fibrous web protects plants from harmful insects, small rodents and weeds.
The advantages of covering material “Mulchagram” include:
- use in the production of 100% natural plant fibers;
- the absence of toxins, various impregnations, adhesives and other harmful substances;
- protection of plants and soil from overheating and drying out;
- the ability to maintain an optimal level of soil moisture;
- excellent air circulation, no mold and fungus spores on the outside;
- ability to self-decompose after 3 years of active operation.
“Wrap”
The jute material, which was previously used to insulate heat-loving crops for the winter, was replaced by a more durable and practical canvas “Obernit”. The new covering material protects plants not only from severe frosts, but also from sudden changes in temperature. Due to the high light transmission and air circulation, the plants do not fade or rot under the fabric, as was the case with jute cover.
“Wrap” with a density of 17, 30 and 42 g / m² is used as a shelter for seed crops and seedlings planted in open ground. The presence of polybiocides in the composition of the covering sheet – special substances that serve as a barrier to the development of fungal and bacterial infections – reduces the risk of developing diseases dangerous for vegetable and fruit crops.
Fibrous fabric with a density of 60 and 180 g / m² is often used in Siberia, the Urals and other northern regions, where the air temperature does not rise above zero in winter.
“Luck 60”
Covering material of non-woven type “Luck 60” comes in white and black colors. A light-colored canvas can be laid over crops growing in open ground, since the translucent porous structure allows plants to breathe. The black color of the canvas is used for mulching farms and summer cottages from the abundant growth of weed grass.
“Luck 60” can be used as a covering material for the winter. Frost-resistant fruit and ornamental shrubs and trees do not cover for the winter. In order for the plant to cope with the cold and quickly recover in the spring, you need to mulch the soil in the near-stem circle with sawdust, straw, fallen leaves and peat. A non-woven fabric is laid over the embankment, which protects the root system from glaciation.
Polyethylene film
Despite the large selection of non-woven covering fabrics, polyethylene film does not lose its popularity among gardeners. This material has a wide range of applications, has good light transmission and protects plants well from bad weather and weeds.
The use of innovative technologies in production has improved the technical characteristics of some types of polyethylene.
reinforced
Reinforced polyethylene is able to withstand difficult weather conditions and is resistant to ultraviolet rays. Reinforced film is used to cover the frames of greenhouse and greenhouse structures. Subject to the fastening technology and proper care, such a sheathing will last at least 3-5 years. According to the reviews of gardeners, the reinforced film is resistant to stretching, deformation and various kinds of mechanical damage.
With air bubbles
The air bag, as the polyethylene bubbles on the film are often called, protects against hypothermia and maintains a high level of thermal insulation. The pimply canvas is used to cover greenhouses and greenhouses during severe frosts. However, the film must be removed immediately, as soon as the frost recedes. Otherwise, the lack of air will lead to the accumulation of moisture inside. To prevent the problem, it is recommended to make a small hole in the film. To do this, you can use a sharp metal or wooden peg.
Black and white
Double-sided polyethylene has a double effect: the black side serves as a kind of barrier to the growth and spread of weeds in the area, the white side protects vegetables and fruit crops from bad weather, wind and sunlight. The black side should be facing the ground.
The main advantage of polyethylene film is the low cost per linear meter. However, polyethylene does not allow air to pass through, which leads to the appearance of fungal spores and the formation of mold on plants.
Most modern covering materials can be used both in open areas and in greenhouses. When choosing a non-woven fabric or a polyethylene film, you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics and purpose of the product. The wrong choice can lead to a halt in the growth and development of cultivated plants.