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Weeding, although it is considered one of the most important and necessary procedures for caring for plants in the garden, it is difficult to find a person who would enjoy this activity. It usually happens the other way around, it is because of weeding that many beginners to get acquainted with garden wisdom quickly cool down to these activities and prefer to buy vegetables and berries in the market than to grow them themselves. However, scientific progress does not stand still, and recently materials have appeared that can greatly facilitate the work of a gardener and gardener and minimize the weed control procedure.
Covering material from weeds is diverse both in its quality characteristics and in its field of application.
Agrotextile and its varieties
Those who have been engaged in horticulture for a relatively long period have probably heard, and perhaps experienced in their own experience, what agrotextiles for the garden are. Despite its artificial origin, this material is not at all like a film in its properties. It has appeared quite a long time ago and opinions about its use among gardeners and gardeners are sometimes striking in their inconsistency. And the thing is that even many experienced gardeners do not always see the difference between its main varieties and often call the same thing by different names. Or, on the contrary, completely different materials in their properties and purpose are called by the same name. It is necessary to understand a little this confusion.
Agrotextile, and sometimes it is called geotextile, is the common name for two varieties of covering material for beds made from polypropylene: non-woven material (agrofibre) and, in fact, fabric (agrofabric).
Historically, agrofibre was the first to appear, its manufacturing technology is called spunbond – in recent years this name has become almost a household name for all materials with covering properties. The texture of agrofibre resembles a material with many small round holes.
Agrofibre comes in different densities and colors: from the thinnest (17g/sq.m) to the densest (60g/sq.m). The colors are white, black, and in recent years multi-colored ones have appeared: black and white, red and yellow and others. As a mulch, only dense black agrofibre is suitable.
To do this, it must be laid in white on top.
Agrofabric is a woven material of high density (from 90 to 130 g/sq. m). Due to its woven base, its texture is an interweaving of threads that form cells. It is most often black, but green and brown are also found.
Agrofabric has incomparably great strength characteristics, which are incomparable even with the most durable models of agrofibre. Therefore, they have slightly different areas of application. Yes, and it is difficult to compare them at a price, of course, agrofabric will be several times more expensive than agrofibre. But as a covering material against weeds, both agrofabric and agrofiber do a good job of their duties, although there are some nuances here.
Agrofibre and its use against weeds
The fact is that the manufacturing technology of spunbond or nonwoven material itself is used not only in agriculture. Such material is also widely used in light industry, in the manufacture of hygiene products, in the construction industry and furniture production. But these materials differ from agrofibre primarily in that they lack an ultraviolet stabilizer, which means they are not intended for use when exposed to solar radiation. This does not affect the appearance of the material, but its price can be much cheaper.
After all, a similar material of the appropriate density (60g / sq. M) should serve you for at least three years. And if he began to crumble by the end of the first season, then you obviously bought something wrong.
Agrofibre is most often used to cover the surface of the soil when growing strawberries.
In the case of renewal of a strawberry plantation, the material is thrown out along with the old strawberry bushes that have served their purpose. Agrofibre is able to protect strawberries well from weeds, provided that they do not walk on it. Otherwise, its mechanical strength may not be enough. But for the arrangement of paths between the beds, the best option would be to use agrofabric.
Agrofabric and its properties
Agrofabric, which has high strength indicators, differs little from agrofibre in its other characteristics. The use of both materials allows you to get the following advantages when growing plants.
- The materials make it possible for the soil to warm up much faster in early spring, which favorably affects the timing of the harvest. And for such heat-loving crops as peppers and eggplants, the use of covering agricultural materials allows you to plant seedlings at an earlier date.
- Both varieties provide free penetration of air and moisture. Therefore, during the rains, the beds are provided with full-fledged irrigation, but the ground under them remains loose – there is no need for loosening. It is only necessary to take into account that agrofabric, being heavier, can unnecessarily press down on the delicate root system of some plants, such as strawberries.
- Both materials are designed for reusable use. But if the deadlines for agrofibre are 3-4 years, then agrofabric can easily live even 10-12 years.
- These materials do not provide a fertile environment for the development of fungal diseases. Slugs are also not interested in settling under them.
- The material from which both types of agrotextiles are made is not capable of emitting harmful elements during possible strong heating by solar radiation and does not react with any substances: soil, water, chemical compositions.
- Both materials perfectly protect against the germination of annual weeds, and more or less well resist perennial rhizomatous plants. Agrofabric is more reliable and stable in this regard, so if you are in doubt which material to choose, proceed from how important it is for you to completely suppress all weeds.
There is another type of these materials called geotextiles, which also protects well from weeds. It usually means especially strong varieties of agrofibre, with a density of over 90 g / sq.m. According to its strength characteristics, geotextiles are approximately in the middle between agrofibre and agrofabric.
Weed film
Until recently, black weed film was the main material used by gardeners. Since it has excellent darkening properties, the weeds under it do not really survive. The disadvantage of this material is that since it does not allow water to pass through, the condensate that accumulates under it causes the development of fungal diseases. In addition, it usually lasts for one season.
Testimonials from truck drivers
Reviews about the use of black weed covering material are generally quite positive. Some disappointments seem to be associated with the choice of the wrong brand of material, not intended for use in agriculture.
Conclusion
A variety of modern covering materials can greatly facilitate the work of a gardener. The main thing is to choose the type of material that is most suitable for your specific conditions.
