subject: Using Tarps in Your Garden [print this page] Using Tarps in Your Garden Using Tarps in Your Garden
When one thinks of tarps they typically envision the tarps that are used to protect cars and lawn furniture from the elements or to protect a floor from splatters while painting. But tarps have a plethora of other uses including in the garden. Now you may be thinking that the tarp would be counter-productive in the garden, possibly covering it up and therefore blocking both sunlight and rain, which are essential to the vitality of the garden, but this is not the case when tarps are used properly.
One handy use of a tarp in a garden is using it to block out those pesky weeds. By cutting holes in the tarp where you want your plants to be the tarp will manage to block the weeds from sprouting up. And if you don't want to see a tarp in the garden you can also cover it up with the organic mulch of your choice so the result is a beautiful garden without weeds.
And for those who are interested in exotic plants such as carnivorous plants that will live through the winter you can use tarps to keep them protected on the colder nights. But make sure you check with your local greenhouse about what temperatures the plants can withstand, because while a tarp will offer some protection it may not offer it for freezing temperatures. And for the delicate flowers in your garden that many not be able to withstand frost in the early spring months you can use a tarp to cover your flowerbed overnight to keep them insulated as well.
When you are purchasing a tarp for your garden it is important that you take into consideration what you are going to be planting. For example, if your garden consists of all very delicate flowers you do not want to buy a very heavy tarp that may crush them. You may also want to consider the life of your tarp after you are done gardening, will you use it for anything else? If so you may want to purchase a more durable tarp that is guaranteed to last longer than its inexpensive counterpart. Also make sure you give your tarp a thorough cleaning after using it for gardening purposes at the end of your season.
