Planting Through Sheet Mulch
Sheet mulch is a practical way to help control weeds, conserve moisture, and reduce garden maintenance. With most mulches – including sheet mulches – you want to spread the mulch before planting. Trying to fit sheet mulch around already planted plants will be difficult and probably damage the plants. Once the mulch is in place, planting can begin directly through the surface.
The two primary kinds of sheet mulch are black plastic and landscape fabric. You can use a sharp knife to cut through both, but with woven landscape fabric, you can also burn a hole with a blowtorch. This prevents the fabric from fraying by melting the edges. Do not try to burn black plastic as the plastic will continue to burn after you remove the flame.
Transplants and seeds require two different methods when planting in sheet mulches. For transplants, cut a small X in the mulch with a knife or burn a hole with the torch. The plant can then be planted through the hole. The smaller the hole, the fewer weeds can grow so the hole should be as small as possible. For rows of seeds cut or burn a slit in the mulch and plant seeds as normal. Once again keep the exposed soil area as small as possible.
Related Videos:
Using Plastic and Woven Landscape Fabric Mulch in the Garden
Organic Mulching Options
Why to Use (and Love) Mulch!
Newspaper Mulch
Kinds of Mulch
Related Resources:
Types and Uses of Mulch in the Landscape
Mulching Your Trees and Landscapes
Mulch - A Survey of Available Options
Gardening with Mulches
The two primary kinds of sheet mulch are black plastic and landscape fabric. You can use a sharp knife to cut through both, but with woven landscape fabric, you can also burn a hole with a blowtorch. This prevents the fabric from fraying by melting the edges. Do not try to burn black plastic as the plastic will continue to burn after you remove the flame.
Transplants and seeds require two different methods when planting in sheet mulches. For transplants, cut a small X in the mulch with a knife or burn a hole with the torch. The plant can then be planted through the hole. The smaller the hole, the fewer weeds can grow so the hole should be as small as possible. For rows of seeds cut or burn a slit in the mulch and plant seeds as normal. Once again keep the exposed soil area as small as possible.
Related Videos:
Using Plastic and Woven Landscape Fabric Mulch in the Garden
Organic Mulching Options
Why to Use (and Love) Mulch!
Newspaper Mulch
Kinds of Mulch
Related Resources:
Types and Uses of Mulch in the Landscape
Mulching Your Trees and Landscapes
Mulch - A Survey of Available Options
Gardening with Mulches