Garden fleece is a lightweight polyester material with a soft structure. It is very useful as itPlants before frost, wind, hail and pests. You can lay garden fleece to insulate plants, to encourage an earlier harvest and to provide broader winter protection. Because nonwoven is porous and water permeable, it creates a healthier environment for plant growth than non-porous materials such as polyethylene. Garden fleece should be durable, UV-stabilized and therefore sunlight-resistant, tear-resistant, washable and rot-proof.
Laying garden fleece: instructions
One of the principles of garden fleece is that it can be placed directly over a crop and the crop underneath can still grow normally. In most cases this applies to fleeces up to 20g and even 30g for use over a period of around a week. If coverage is required for a longer period of time, it may make sense to support the fleece with padding.
You can lay garden fleece to protect sensitive plants from frost when bad weather is forecast. Garden fleece can be used with different thicknesses. Heavier fleece weighing 30g protects plants down to temperatures of around -3°C, while standard fleece weighing 17g provides protection down to just below freezing. Cover individual plants or groups of plants with fleece and secure it with stakes or string. If the fleece comes into direct contact with the plants, you should remove it as soon as the weather conditions improve.
For individual plants there are fleece “jackets” made of 70 g fleece that offer protection down to around -5 °C. The design varies - some have a drawstring at the bottom, while others have zippers. Sizes vary. As long as there is at least a few inches of space between the plants and the fleece, the covering can stay in place for weeks or months.
Garden fleece – what thickness?
Fleeces come in different shapes and sizes, so you should always consider the thickness of your fleece. The thickness of frost fleeces is measured in grams per square meter (GSM), with a higher GSM value meaning a thicker fleece. The thicker the fleece, the more protection it offers from low temperatures. A thick frost fleece is also durable, meaning it can be reused for many years. The normal mesh size of the garden fleece is 2mm and is small enough to fit mostto prevent insects from doing soto get to your plants. Although it is not very strong, garden fleece is more than sufficient to protect plants from bird attacks.
Lay garden fleece to protect against frost
A fleece against frost is ideal protection for allotment gardeners as it covers the ground and prevents frost. Before you lay the garden fleece, first measure the area you want to cover. Since you're just laying the fleece on the floor, it won't be taut. Therefore, always use a larger fleece than the area to be covered and secure it with clips.
If you want to protect palm trees or cord trees, you need to wrap a thick frost fleece loosely around the crown and trunk. As a rule, one layer of fleece is sufficient to provide sufficient frost protection, but larger trees may require a second layer.
For other plants, such as shrubs, hanging baskets or solitary plants, use a protective cover. These covers feature a side zipper and drawstring that allows you to quickly and easily cover groups of plants, even when they are in beds.
Remember to always use slightly larger fleeces or “jackets” than you need. By leaving a gap between your plants and the frost protection, you create an air pocket that provides an additional layer of insulation for your plants.
Protect plants with weed fleece
It is also very practical that you can use garden fleecePlants before frostcan protect. By laying garden fleece, you control weeds in your garden without using harmful and expensive chemicals, while at the same time creating wonderful, nutrient-rich soil in which your plants can thrive without harming the environment. An efficient remedy for unwanted growth under garden paths, patios, driveways and gravel areas, the fleece is a cost-effective, long-term solution and also helps your soil stay warm and retain moisture.
Laying garden fleece for raised beds
You can also use garden fleece to cover raised beds by making pads out of wood or metal to raise the fleece so that it does not rest directly on the ground and plants and to create a sufficient air gap between the fleece and plants.
Protective fleece is useful for all seasons
Winter: Use fleece outdoors to protect plants from frost or cold wind.
spring: Cover the soil with fleece for a week or two before sowing to keep it warm. Grow plants under fleece to increase the temperature and allow for an earlier harvest compared to uncovered plants.
Sommer: Use fleece to protect the plants fromInfestation by pestssuch as flea beetles or cabbage white butterflies.
Cover sensitive plants with fleece during storms such as hail.
Herbst: Cover tender plants and flowering annuals/tender perennials to allow them to grow longer as temperatures drop.
How long is it suitable for use?
With good care, the high quality garden fleece can last for several years as it does not rot and is washable. If it is dirty, machine wash it on a gentle cycle or hand wash it. Then allow it to dry completely before storing it in a dry place away from sunlight.
The disadvantage of garden fleece is that it doesn'tcan be recycled. Therefore, purchasing good quality material is advisable as it has a long lifespan compared to cheap fleece that may only last for a season.
