Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, Walmart, Ace Hardware, etc. not to mention all kinds of online sources. Just look for 'landscape fabric' and 'weed barrier'.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape fabric sources

Digdirt, Thanks, but I'm looking for Pre_Punched plastic mulch with the holes already punched for various plants. I've used plastic mulch for years now, but have not found any with the holes already punched. luke

I have not used this product myself but saw it at a trade show recently. It's not plastic but looks good for single season use. It is available with various spacings. Page down on the link to see various layouts.

They had a WeedGuard transplanter at the show that looked like a bulb planter on steroids. The bottom edge was super sharp and could be pushed down to cut through the mulch easily. It is advertised in the left hand column of the linked site.

Here is a link that might be useful: WeedGuard Plus...prepunched holes

Landscape fabric - which is made of plastic but called fabric and is sold in rolls 3-4' wide and 25-300' long that is sold by all the stores listed above is already pre-punched. It is micro-punched if you will so while you may not be able to see the holes in the roll they are there and are readily obvious to sight and feel on the underside of the fabric.

Says right on the labels something like "allows air and water to pass right through". It comes in various thicknesses rated on the label by est. years it will last. Labels say things like 1 yr. biodegradable, 5 year permascape, 25 year landscaping, etc.

The stuff you are looking for is very common and readily available.

http://www.lowes.com/pl_Landscape+Fabric_4294857236_4294937087_

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1930383&CAWELAID=109333048

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Gardener-22340-Landsc-Fabric/dp/B00004RA0Y

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202214393/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Naturegirl, Thank you. although, made from biogradeable paper instead of plastic, this is what I;m looking for. Thanks, luke

If you use plastic mulch for heat gain also, weed guard likely will not warm the soil. If the plastic mulch comes on a roll, before you unroll any, drill holes with a drill bit.

Yup, I buy the 20 x 100 foot rolls of 6 mil black poly, and I drill through the cardboard box and the roll, all the way to the cardboard tube inside, generally I use about a 3/8ths inch drill bit, putting a hole every 4 to 6 inches. Takes only about 5 minutes per roll, and results in a nice, relatively even distribution of drainage holes.

But then you still have to punch holes for the plants. Do you use a knife and make a cross cut after laying it down, or do you use a 1 inch circular drill for the plant holes?

I melt planting holes with a long handled propane torch (currently using a Bernz-o-matic). Works great. Makes a nice, uniform hole about the size of a tennis ball in a few seconds -- simple, quick, and easy. Wear sturdy boots, you may need to stomp out the occasional plastic fire.

Alternate methods I've also used include cutting a round circle with a disposable knife (since the blades dull quickly), or just using a trowel or dibble to puncture a hole and plant through.

I prefer the somewhat larger planting hole with plastic removed, since it still presents a minimal area for weeds to grow, but removal of the area of plastic eliminates the danger of the small transplant disappearing under the plastic and baking during windy weather.

not to be a pest, but I don't know how well this will work if you have drip lines under the plastic.

i use a bulb planter to make the holes. pretty easy.

I use core aerator attached to my tiller.I just take out the tiller blade then replace it with the lawn core aerator.