Do You Need Weed Barriers With Lettuce?

Plastic Weed Barrier

• Using a plastic weed barrier has multiple benefits. Not only does it suppress weeds during the growing season, but placing the black plastic over your beds a few weeks prior to planting will warm the soil, extending your growing season. This is particularly useful for early, cool-weather crops such as lettuce. Cut holes at least 3 inches in diameter according to the spacing requirements of the variety you are growing, and insert a lettuce seedling or three lettuce seeds and water well.

Mulch

• Mulch such as straw, composted leaves or wood chips create a natural weed barrier while keeping the soil cool. This is important in warmer climates where lettuce tends to bolt quickly. Plant lettuce seedlings in bare soil, then surround them with 2 inches of mulch. To grow from seed, plant according to the package instructions and allow them to reach about 4 inches tall before mulching. This will prevent the mulch from suffocating new growth.

Types of Lettuce

• The type and amount of weed barrier required for your garden may depend on the type of lettuce you grow. Head lettuce grows well surrounded by natural or plastic mulch because of the larger spacing requirement compared to leaf lettuce. Leaf lettuce can be planted as its own living mulch. Broadcast leaf lettuce seeds about 1 inch apart. As the plants grow and expand, thin the crop to allow enough room for each plant to grow. Since lettuce can be harvested and eaten at any time, you can make a salad out of the thinned plants.

Herbicides

• Herbicides are indiscriminate. They will kill both desired plants and weeds when sprayed near crops, so the use of chemicals near lettuce is not suggested. Any weeds not controlled by weed barrier should be removed by hand.