How to Lay Plastic Mulch

Fertilize the soil. Use 4 pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil. Use 5-20-20 fertilizer if you are planting vegetables, 10-10-0 fertilizer for a flower bed.

Apply at least two-thirds of the fertilizer using a broadcast spreader in spring before you start spading or plowing the soil. Use the rest of the fertilizer just before you lay the plastic mulch. You can use all the fertilizer at once if you are laying the mulch in spring itself.

Dig two 6-inch trenches on opposite side of the planting area with a hoe. The trenches will be used when laying and securing the plastic mulch. A trench lesser than 6 inches will make it difficult to keep the plastic mulch buried for a long time.

Roll out the plastic mulch on the soil and tuck it into one of the trenches. Anchor the mulch with stakes, using sufficient stakes to keep the mulch in place. Wind will pull up the entire plastic sheet if it is not anchored properly.

Roll the plastic mulch towards the opposite trench. It is important to keep the mulch tight and flat to prevent the weeds. There should be no depressions. Tuck the mulch into the trench and secure it with the stakes.

Use a lawn edger or scissors to cut the unused portion of the plastic mulch. Pack the soil to cover the trenches with a soil compactor.