Plastic mulch layer

[aarolar]

Any one feel like sharing any information or thoughts on building a plastic mulch laying machine? Looking to expand my operation in the next 5 years or so and this is going to be a major player. No easy options for buying one I checked my dealer can't source one.

 

[851 roger]

I made one, looks funny and is shorter than store bought ones, but it did work. I studied what they were doing and how they worked by watching you tube.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

I'm trying to figure this one out as well. I've built a disc hiller that works great. Looks like you incorporated yours into the design 851, that looks good. The longer, store bought ones form a bed, don't they? Do you have anything you'd do different if you built another? Mark

 

[851 roger]

Well I move those disc in some to form the bed. I have one of those hand roll sod rollers that is clamped to the tool bar at around 8" from the ground. That what seemed to work for me.
Doing it over, make it longer, use smoother type tires. I would still have my tool bar removable because it is used for other things.
When I enlarge my garden, I'll probably buy one already made. Can't remember where I found one for around 1200.00.
The plastic cost is somewhat high and then there is the irrigation stuff. But in my case, one 80' row with 36 tomato plants yielded more than 200 gallons of green ones, then when the cooler days set in there were about 60 gallons of green ones. Very little weeding, very little watering but a lot of picking. I watered about once per week for about 1--1 1/2 hours.
Here in central Oklahoma, just after everything was established, the rains came in and washed 1/3 of every thing out, so replanted, repaired and went on. The neighbors down hill had corn, tomatoes, squash, little bit of it all growing in their yards. What a deal !!!

 

[851 roger]

here are some pictures of some rows

 

[motownbrowne]

I've heard that these guys make a good mulch layer for the price.

 

[aarolar]

The other thing I'm battling is what to do with all the drip line and plastic after its been used I don't have a recycling center that will take it so right now it piling up on my place.

 

[motownbrowne]

The other thing I'm battling is what to do with all the drip line and plastic after its been used I don't have a recycling center that will take it so right now it piling up on my place.

As i understand it, the only way to get rid of the mulch is to pay to dispose of it. Another option though is the biodegradable version. We buy a little bit heavier duty T-tape and use it for 4-6 years before disposing of it. We use T-tape and plastic mulch on 2 or 3 230' raised beds every year. For many of our beds and all of the aisles, we use a Patz small bale chopper to shed straw and use that for mulch. You have to apply it pretty thickly, but it works well and is much more aesthetically pleasing than plastic mulch.

 

[aarolar]

I have the heavy duty t tape but in years past the weed roots (mostly joint grass) get enthralled in it and we end up damaging it attempting to remove it. This year we are only using it in tomatoes and peppers and we plan to mulch heavily with straw.

 

[ballaterach]

Lots of ideas out there if you Google for example 'garden plastic layer' but I found this website useful

Plastic Layer Attachment - DeMenTEd MeTaL

Enjoy!!