 If you are interested in using plastic mulch for sweet corn to increase the root zone soil temperature and extend the growing season in cold climate regions, you may have a few questions about the process. We will try to answer some of those in this video. What is mulching? Mulching is the process where the soil surface is covered directly by a material, such as straw, grass clippings, wood chips, or in our case, various forms of plastic sheeting. How many types of mulches are there? There are several different types of mulches you could use. The natural or organic forms of mulch consist of materials like straw or gravel. The plastic sheeting mulch varies in color, thickness, and transparency, and each variation of plastic mulch serves a different purpose. There are also different types of degradable mulches, such as photodegradable or biodegradable mulch. Why plastic mulch? Plastic mulch is more convenient to install and remove than natural or organic mulches, and they are relatively cheaper. What is biodegradable mulch and why would you use it? Biodegradable mulches are designed to act like plastic mulches when first installed. The only difference is after harvest, this type of mulch can be plowed into the soil and will degrade over time, usually in one to two years. These types of mulches can be made out of a wide variety of products from plant starches mixed with different polymers to different types of paper coated with plant starches. It is safer for the environment than plastic mulch. What's the purpose of using plastic mulch? It depends on the types of mulches you use. Clear mulch can increase soil temperature, extend the growing season for cold regions, and improve the crop yield, while black mulch can control the weeds, improve the near surface air temperature, and improve crop yield. Both mulches can conserve water by reducing the evaporation. White and reflective mulches can cool the air temperature, control weeds, and conserve soil moisture. Is there a sweet corn yield increase with plastic mulch? It depends on the seasons, mulch types, and time of application. In our study for sweet corn, the yield range was from a 0% increase with a late planting date on June 19th to a 150% increase when it was planted in mid-May with clear plastic mulches. A higher temperature increase with clear mulch is expected during the early growing season. How much does it cost to use mulch? The cost is about $326 an acre for plastic mulch. As a 4,000-foot roll of plastic mulch costs about $150. It's about $526 an acre for degradable mulch. As a 5,000-foot roll of biodegradable mulch costs about $300. A mulch planter can cost $20,000 if you want to grow in a large area. And if you just want to buy a 100-foot roll for your garden, it will cost you about $25. The bigger the roll, the cheaper the price per foot. Where can you get the mulch? You should be able to find mulch for sale near you as most stores with a gardening section have them. Nursery stores are also a good place to look. The bigger rolls of mulch, like the 4,000-foot ones, can be purchased online. How long is the season extended by using mulch? Well, it depends on when you use it. If you apply earlier in the season, it can extend the season for at least two weeks. But if you apply later, you may see no difference between the areas with and without the mulch. How long do you use the mulch? You have options here as you can apply before planting and take it off at the end of the season, leave it for a second season, or even take it off in the middle of the growing season. What are the disadvantages of mulch? Cost is higher with mulch because of materials and the additional labor cost. Also for the general public, the plastic mulches are considered as white pollution and have to be taken from the ground. They are either recycled or trashed, which can cause more environmental concerns to the public.