Planters Paper®
 Many growers have asked for an alternative to plastic mulch to address environmental concerns and eliminate labor required for field removal. After several years of development and testing, Planters Paper® mulch is now available. It offers most of the benefits of black plastic film, and there’s no need to remove it from the soil at season’s end. Planters Paper® is degradable, contains no harmful ingredients, and leaves no harmful residues in the soil. Although it does not have the elasticity of plastic, it has enough flexibility to hug the soil and provide strength for mechanical installation.
 Because Planters Paper naturally breaks down in soil, it has a tendency to prematurely degrade along the edges where it is secured with a layer of soil. Due to expansion when wet and shrinkage when dry, the paper tends to tear along the edges of the soil line. Then the paper is subject to lifting by wind. To prevent this, add soil periodically to the edges of the Planters Paper to secure it.
When Planters Paper is used in limited quantities, the premature degradation can be reduced by the weighting the edges of paper with stones, bricks, etc. This method eliminates the soil along the edges.
Planters Paper is available for the landscape industry as Planters LandscapePaper. Please send us an email for more information.
Advantages of Planters Paper:
- Crop response similar to that of black plastic mulch.
- Completely degradable -- till or disk in at end of season.
- Good weed control (including nutsedge).
- Soil moisture retention and nutrient conservation -- can be used with drip irrigation.
Planters Paper is available in rolls 4'x 1500 and 4' x 500''. Retail sizes are 24" x 50' and 4' x l00'.
Installation Tips
- Prepare soil well. It should be smooth and friable.
- Do not lay paper on dry soil. Beds should be firm.
- To prevent tearing, adjust wheels on plastic laying machine so that they do not stretch the paper.
- Reduce speed of tractor when laying paper.
- Paper should be in close contact with the soil for maximum heat transfer into the soil.
- Paper is more fragile than plastic; therefore when making holes through the paper with a bulb setter, a quick, sharp jab reduces tearing. Also, when the paper is in contact with a firm, flat soil surface, there is less risk of tearing at planting.
- Do not walk on the paper.
Crops that are suited for Planters Paper:
- Vegetables -- Warm season and cool season transplant crops and direct seeded crops that are seeded in hills (e.g. cucumbers and squash).
- Cut flowers.
- Use on a trial basis with any crop where black plastic mulch is used.
References for further information:
- Brault, D., S. Jenni, and K.A. Stewart. 1998. Effect of paper and plastic mulches on yield of iceberg lettuce
(Latuca sativa L.), weed control, and bulk density in organic soil. Proc. Natl. Agr. Plastics Cong. 27: 93-98.
- Wells, O.S. 1999. Pepper growth and yield with plastic and paper mulches. Proc. Natl. Agr. Plastics
Cong. 28:111-113.
- Plastics website: http://www.plasticulture.org
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