Black plastic has become a major weapon in our constant fight against weeds and pernicious grasses. I previously wrote about how I use it in some of our vegetable beds to help us garden without tilling.
In fact, I have three lidded garbage bins labeled “Black Plastic” in the garden shed to protect the plastic from the mice during the growing season. And not just because I like it- it’s mainly because this stuff is NOT cheap, and I was not happy the spring I went to get the plastic and found it riddled with mice holes (and a nest of babies, but we’re not gonna talk about that!).
So we protect our plastic here at An Oregon Cottage, and we use it to take care of areas we need to keep grass and weeds away on a permanent basis like pathways and between crops like berries.
We do NOT use it in flower beds covered with bark mulch- a look I find particularly nasty and one that does not enrich the soil for the plants living there. For those beds we use the newspaper-and-mulch method.
However, we did not always embrace black plastic as we do now. Here’s our story.
Watch this video full size on YouTube.
How do you deal with major weeds?
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Brian says
I canβt stand the weeding in my vegetable garden! I saw your video about organic weed control using newspaper and mulch. In it you mentioned you use a different kind of mulch for your vegetable gardens, I assume to go over the newspaper. Can you let me know what would keep the weeds out yet still be good for the soil?
Jami says
I hear you, Brian! If it’s between the plants, I use a garden compost that usually includes manure to feed all season long. If it’s in paths, I’ll use straw or grass clippings. You might want to check out my no-till garden technique – I don’t have weeds with this method and so don’t even need the paper, just the mulch. π No-Till Gardening Method = Less Weeds
Beverly says
Please pardon my ignorance, but where do you purchase black plastic?… We have *Morning Glory* taking over our entire back yard and that is NOT the look we are going for! (my husband says it should be called *Devil Weed*! ha!)… Anyway… Do you think the black plastic will work to get rid of that?
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
We buy it at home stores like Home Depot or Lowes. They have all different thicknesses – the thicker is more expensive, but it lasts longer. We now just suck it up and buy the thicker (they also sell clear plastic in the same area – make sure the box you get is black).
As for the “morning glory” that a weed called Bindweed and is not at all like the beautiful Morning Glory that we can grow from seed. It is one of the most noxious weeds I know of and is named appropriately: it covers other plants, binding them and choking them to death. Do what you can to get rid of it- but be warned: ANY little piece of root left in the ground will grow TWO or more plants from it! It’s really awful. π
robert says
is the plastic advertised as a weed screen or is it just random plastic? also is it uv resistant? is it sold by the roll? thank you in advance
Jami says
No it is not the stuff sold as “weed block” – that has tiny holes in it that allows the grass to grow through (in our experience). You want the black plastic sold in rolls in various thicknesses at home stores – obviously the thickest you can afford will be the best. Hope that helps!
Anne says
Oh wow — we had a similar problem. More grass in our vegetable beds then veggies, and that was AFTER using plastic. An alternative that worked GREAT was to use old sheers that I was going to toss anyway. We pinned ’em down over the grass, added 8 inches of soil and mulch, and voila; gorgeous vegetable beds that are a snap to weed now that the pernicious grass is dead and buried. OK, so all is not perfect in our garden, yet. The grass growing around the outside of the fence has begun to encroach, but I’m fixing to bury it with more curtains (so many windows; so many bad choices) and mulch from the white pine that crushed our garden three weeks ago. The garden survived. That grass won’t!.
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
That’s quite a creative use of window coverings, Anne. π I say whatever you find that helps is good!
April says
Love the video and the tip. Keep em coming. π
Daniel says
Love the videos!….However who uses the word ” pernicious “! he he…bet it was Brian’s idea! Keep up the great blog. Wish my back yard could look as good as yours.
Bangchik says
With little garden of ours, weeding is still a wonderful chore.., sitting on a low stool, pulling one after another. With acres of garden, that would definitely be a different story altogether.
~bangchik
Putrajaya Malaysia
Ellada says
Hi,
I removed them by hand, every day.
Great idea the black plastic.
Candi says
We used the newspaper method last year. It worked great so I plan on implementing it this year too.
Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage says
You guys are adorable! Great video! I need to get me some black plastic π
affectioknit says
I love your videos – so fun! We’ve used newspaper and landscape cloth – but never black plastic – we’ll have to give that a try…