About second-hand Plastic mulch layer machines

When growing delicate crops such as asparagus, strawberries or courgettes, the soil is it covered with a layer of plastic mulch foil. This is done using a mulch foil laying machine. There are mulch foil laying machines that also allow a bed or ridge to be formed, irrigation hoses to be laid or even seeds or seedlings to be planted directly – all in a single working passage. The functions and specifications vary from machine to machine. 

The advantages of a mulch foil laying machine

• Growing plants in plastic mulch foil results in fewer weeds and diseases.

• Covering the soil or plants with mulch foil can increase or decrease the ground temperature. Black foil can increase the temperature by 5°C, causing the plants to grow faster and produce fruit earlier in the season. Alternately, young cabbage plants can be covered with mulch foil to protect them from frost (particularly at night). White foil, which causes temperatures to drop, can be used for growing asparagus as this will curb growth so that the plants will continue producing asparagus over a longer period.
• Due to the insulating effect produced by the foil the plants need up to 35% less water and artificial fertilizer. Sometimes a T-tape drip irrigation hose is installed beneath the plastic to supply the plants with water and liquid fertilisers. This water is taken up very efficiently.
• This method is environmentally-friendly when biologically degradable (e.g. starch-based) mulch foil is used.

How a plastic foil laying machine works 

 All plastic foil laying machines basically work according to the principle that the plastic mulch foil is rolled out onto the ground from a roll, after which discs tuck the edges of the plastic mulch foil into the soil. The middle section of a bed or to ridge will, as a result, be covered with plastic mulch foil. Each crop may have different covering needs. Foil used for growing strawberries, sweet potatoes and courgettes generally has holes made in it for planting seedlings. Asparagus or cabbage, on the other hand, need the foil only for covering purposes.

Planting in plastic mulch foil

If you have laid mulch foil and want to start planting with a machine, you will need a special planter that can plant seedlings in mulch foil. This is because conventional planters create furrows in the soil, which is not possible when the soil is covered with plastic mulch foil. Special mulch foil planting machines usually make a hole at the place where the young plant is to be planted. Simpler machines have also been developed that only punch holes in the mulch foil, after which planting must be done manually. 

After the vegetables are harvested the foil is removed using a mulch foil winding machine. If you use biologically degradable foil this may not be necessary: al you will need to do is plough beneath the biologically degradable foil. 

Please do not hesitate to ask our staff if you have any questions about any of the new and used mulch foil laying machines on this page.