Plastic Mulch Layers - General Information Printable Catalog Page (opens a new window)

Our plastic mulch layers outperform other equipment available for plasticulture. Our experience in laying plastic mulch, and in equipment design, allows us to build you a piece of equipment that lays plastic mulch tightly and permanently over either a raised bed or flat ground. Plastic mulch provides a variety of advantages to growers involved in fruit and vegetable production. Plastic mulch increases soil temperature, enhancing germination and speeding plant growth. Quick crop development means an earlier harvest and increased early yields. It inhibits weed growth within the planting bed. Dark mulches prevent light from reaching weeds under the mulch. It improves control over soil moisture content by reducing loss of moisture from the planting bed, and provides greater moisture uniformity when used with drip irrigation. It prevents leaching of fertilizer from direct contact with rainfall. It reduces soil compaction and erosion around the crop root system caused by heavy pounding rains. It serves as a barrier between the fruit and soil to keep the fruit cleaner and prevent rotting. It improves the effectiveness of soil fumigants by preventing dissipation from the soil to the atmosphere. The keys to laying plastic mulch are to lay it tight and to bury the edges well so that it stays on the bed. Kennco mulch layers do this. When laying plastic mulch, it is important to make sure that it is centered equally over the top of the planting bed and that the plastic layer is square. It is difficult to do this with equipment that bolts together on a single tool bar. Bolted connections loosen and slide, and they require constant adjustment. Our standard products have a welded frame instead of components that are bolted to a tool bar. How to size plastic mulch: It is extremely important to bury a sufficient amount of plastic mulch so that it does not come loose over time. Most growers find that at least 6 in (15 cm) of plastic on each edge should be buried. Any smaller amount is difficult to bury and to keep buried. Example of how to calculate the needed plastic mulch width to sufficiently cover the bed and bury the edges.  If your bed is 36 in (91 cm) wide at the top and 8 in (20 cm) high: 36 in + (8 in + 8 in) + (6 in + 6 in) = 64 in wide or 91 cm + (20 cm + 20 cm) + (15 cm + 15 cm) = 161 cm Plastic mulch should not be greatly oversized. Too much extra mulch can wrap around the stretching wheels and block the soil from rolling into the burying cup.

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