Mulching the soil: what is it, types of mulching, how to mulch the soil with film, why do you need perforation on the film

What is mulching?

Mulching the soil is the process of preparing the ground before planting plants. This process is taken from nature: in natural conditions, the soil is covered by fallen leaves, etc. This process helps the soil to warm up and retain moisture, protects it from weeds.

Today, agronomists have invented many technologies of mulching with different materials, let's talk about one of them - mulching with film.

What's the point of mulching the soil?

Mulching the soil performs the following functions:

• soil moisture retention;
• keeping the soil loose;
• keeping the optimum temperature to prevent overheating;
• weed control;
• reduced moisture evaporation, so plants can be watered less often;
• protecting the soil from freezing in the cold season;
• improving the quality of the soil, which has a favorable effect on the growth of the root system of plants;
• reducing the amount of fertilizer needed;
• development of a supportive environment for microorganisms.

What to mulch the soil with?

Organic materials for soil mulching

Organic materials are often at the fingertips of every gardener, so they do not require additional financial expenditures. The advantage of organics is that after the decomposition, the soil quality on the plot improves.

Organic materials include:

• garden compost,
• fallen leaves,
• tree bark,
• grass clippings,
• straw,
• manure,
• pine,
• sawdust, etc.

Inorganic materials for soil mulching

Inorganic materials for mulching include both materials of ordinary use (old newspapers, cardboard, etc.) and materials developed specifically for mulching (mulching film, etc.):

• paper,
• cardboard,
• gravel,
• crushed stone,
• film.

Why do farmers choose a black film for strawberries?

1. Black mulch film attracts sunlight, so even in early spring and late fall, you can easily warm the soil.

2. The material does not let light and air in, so weeds do not grow under the film.

3. The garden beds do not need to be weeded.

4. Water simply runs down the film, so the soil is protected from overwatering during prolonged rainfall.

5. The soil is also protected from drying out because the moisture from under the film evaporates 2-3 times slower than from the open area.

6. The berries lie on the foil, which makes harvesting much easier.

7. Berries are 80% less susceptible to gray rot.

8. Fertilizer is not washed out by the rains.

9. No soil crust is formed after rain or watering, and enough air gets to the roots.

10.   In winter, the roots are protected from freezing by a layer of frost on the inside of the film.

The experience of agro-industrial complexes confirms the successful use of black films for cultivation:

• strawberries;
• vegetable and green crops;
• flowers (roses, chrysanthemums, etc.);
• fruit, berries, and other crops.

The most common use of mulch film is for growing strawberries. For this reason it is also called "strawberry film".

It is important to consider a watering system. The best method is drip irrigation, in which water is pumped directly to the root zone. The amount of water can be regulated using drip feeders.

Why is it necessary to perforate the mulch film?

Perforated film is a film with specially prepared holes in it. The presence of special "holes" on the mulch film speeds up the planting process: you do not need to make the holes yourself and calculate the distance between the planting places.

How to buy black mulch film?

You can buy black film for mulching with and without perforation on our website or from our partners.