I believe you are referring to plastic sheets as a mulch?

It has it's place.

It greatly complicates watering, adding amendments to the soil etc. That's the problem with it.

However, it can still be used, the problems just have to be worked around.

Working the organic matter into the soil before planting, adding fertilizer (if any) is also done ahead of time. Watering can be done via drip irrigation under the plastic etc.

After the growing season remove it and work on the soil some more.

It is also great for warming the soil to get a jump on the season in areas where the soil takes a long time to warm up such as in the north.

As well, especially if using sheet plastic, it tends to break down with time and with UV exposure. However, the breakdown is into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic, not into the components that made up the plastic. So you never really get rid of the plastic, it just gets smaller....

I was reading about a year ago that some types of plastic used for food and drink containers break down into some potentially quite hazardous ways. We all know not to microwave food in plastic, but I'm talking about things like food storage containers and plastic water bottles releasing certain compounds with time and use.

I think one of the specific hazards was that some of these compounds mimic estrogen in the body and present an increased risk of cancer.

This being the case, I suppose it's not any better to have plastic in your garden breaking down.

Kristin

Plastic, when placed over your soil will not allow either air or water to enter that soil and since plants roots need both that will inhibit growth. The Soil Food Web needs both air and water to function in your soil and plastic restricts the availability of both air and water so the Soil Food Web cannot properly function. If plastic is left in place long enough and enough air exchange is prevented your soil enters the anaerobic (no air) stage and your plants will die and your soil will smell really bad, like sewage.
In addition plastics release toxic materials as they start to decompose.

I've never heard that you aren't supposed to microwave food in plastic...is there a website where I can read more on that?

The thing I'm most concerned about is if plastic releases toxin into the soil and does it start right away? Is it safe to plant a vegetable garden after plastic has been ther for a while?

Plastic will release toxins into the soil, because of what they are made of, but if the plastic is removed and the soil is properly tended by adding lots of organic matter those toxins will, eventually, be remidiated. While soil where plastic has been for a time is not the best place to grow vegetables you will see very little harm from that, if you add lots of organic matter before planting.

It would seem to me that the risks of planting in soil that has had contact with plastic are no more or less than the risks of planting in soil that's had synthetic chemicals used on it in the past or soil that's been exposed to road exhaust before leaded gas was outlawed or or or.

To my thinking it makes the most sense to fill that baby chock full of organic matter and plant away. Gotta be better than consuming the same vegetables storebought, and grown with synthetic chamicals all over them. No, it's not perfect, but very little is perfect, know what I mean?

I'm sure if you Google "toxic plastic", "microwave plastic" or "plastic estrogen" there's a LOT of info.

Kristin

If you could find some virgin soil to day and work that into a good, healthy environment to grow your fruits and vegetables you would still find that those were contaminated with pesticides because they are some prevelant. While you do not want to put stuff in your garden that would cause the foods you grew to be overly contaminated you still breath polluted air and drink polluted water because you have neighbors that use those poisons. Do what you can to lower your exposure to them by not using them in your yard and garden.

jkimmsr search for dioxins and ull find the microwave info

The things people argue about. Where do you see some safety from poisons weÂve been dumping since before your great-great-great who ever was born. You know what was killing the coral reefs just of Hawaii? Sun tan lotion. We even make excuses to allow us to keep right on polluting. The modern lifestyle of individual houses is polluting us to death and we keep on making them. How many times do you shower a week? ThatÂs all polluted water and how much chemicals did you add to only have it last a day? Get real. Think of all the trash weÂve been piling up since when? HavenÂt you ever worked for a construction crew and see whatÂs buried right below our feet? How cities. Some they didnÂt even bother to knock down just dump dirt over. How many factories have you in your cities? How many have been abandon for how many years? You have miles and square miles of land you canÂt even use and you want to start talking about organic? Everyday 4 times a day thereÂs a raging forest fire sweeping the surface of the planet. ItÂs called driving. ThatÂs all your really doing you know, burning old trees. In your car, to the gas station, store, work and just to get away. WeÂre long past discussing "organic" and better start thinking surviving. Those long before us set this course for building a world for machines to survive in.....not people. Now to donÂt look at me for an example because IÂm caught here too.

Pros and cons (like most things). Some advocate its use around melons and strawberries for example to keep the fruit clean. Personally, I avoid it as I don't like the appearance or what it does to the soil and from what I have seen of its use it doesn't do all that great a job at stopping weeds. Can't imagine that the needed earthworms, soil bacteria, microbes, etc. care for it either - be like trying to live in a dark oven.

I prefer layers of newspaper covered with shredded leaf mulch - turns to compost over time and really blocks weeds. Interesting article on the issues linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Feedback on Plastic Mulch

Well said, georgeiii.

And re: plastic mulch, it's also real fun to be out in a black plastic covered garden and see critters moving under the surface of the plastic, and not know whether to brain them with your shovel or let them eat your crops...argh.

Plastic, when placed over your soil will not allow either air or water to enter that soil and since plants roots need both that will inhibit growth.

That's just not true. Somebody on this list said the very same thing about newspaper a couple months ago. I have grown tomatoes very successfully under black plastic for years and years. If you use it, use it correctly. It is not better than newspaper, it is more expensive than newspaper and it might be easier to work with. Potentially toxic? I donÂt know. But some say certain newspaper inks may be toxic. Ideally you would lay down several inches of organic matter in the fall. Very early in the spring you cover with black or red plastic (use a good grade or it will tear), cut planting holes, cut water holes and plant your crop.

What it does is prevent weed growth, prevent soil moisture evaporation, warm the soil in the spring, cool the soil in the summer, and some say control disease by limiting fungus splash from the soil.

Nobody leaves the plastic on the ground to fall apart over the winter. Everybody cuts holes in the lowest places, and around plants, to allow water to flow into the soil. It does prevent evaporation and keeps soil evenly moist. It does not over heat the soil. It does not prevent airflow. Weeds do not grow under black plastic. IÂve never seen critters moving under it but it could happen. It is used successfully by commercial growers on huge acerage.

Try it for a season. If you think pulling it up in the fall is way too much work, donÂt use it.

bean counter, you make an invalid assumption. I know many people that put plastic down several years ago and, what is left of it, it is still there. The soil under that plastic smells somewhat of raw sewage because the soil has been deprived of oxygen. Plants growing in those beds exhibit many problems. An organic gardener should also be an environmentalist and be concerned about what we human beings are doing to our planet and using a product that uses more petroleum is probably not vry environmentally sound.

An organic gardener should also be an environmentalist and be concerned about what we human beings are doing to our planet and using a product that uses more petroleum is probably not vry environmentally sound.

It is as sound as wasting water to irrigate and it beats frustrated gardeners using chemicals to control weeds. Some studies indicate it helps control insects thus limiting use of poisons. Leaving plastic to rot on the ground is no different than throwing trash out your back door. You have to admit, it is not the fault of the plastic but of the trashy gardener. If people are pigs they will find a way to polute. I would always beg people to live, garden, work responsibly. The op has no intention of leaving torn plastic on the ground after harvesting--do you flowerthyme? Be aware, sun exposure and freezing will cause the plastic to tear and blow after one season. If removing plastic and disposing of it at season end is too much trouble, please don't use it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pen State on plastic mulch

Actually, I don't really like it too much. It may have it's place, but I was more concerned about possible toxic problems for the soil, then transfering to the fruit and vegetables. My mom is the one who likes it (to get rid of the weeds), and it gets rolled up every year, but it is around the vegetable garden area and I was concerned about it's affect. I like the landscape fabric (although very expensive), I'm not sure what that is made of. But the area is too big for landscape fabric, it would cost too much. I like the idea of barking. Courser bark lasts longer and keeps weeds out a little better, but they do still get through.

The area in question is for future gardening, we aren't using it right now. But it's a lot of work to mow, the grasses and weeds get out of control.

New York Times
-- Apparently Natalie Angier and [http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefair/] feel the same about the coming crackdown on plastic bags. Blind hatred of plastics, she reminds us, is pointless since "plastics" encompasses such a broad range of substances -- and doesn't have to mean petroleum-based material at all.

Here is a link that might be useful: An essay on plastic

>Well said, georgeiii.

???

What exactly did he say?

Wayne