By Greg MacDonald Georgia Extension Service Home gardeners have used mulches for many years. And it's well they have. Mulches can be used in vegetable, herb and flower gardens as well as ornamental plantings.
Plastic mulches are usually clear or black.
Clear plastic mulches will warm the soil and sterilize it to a certain degree, providing control of weed seeds, seedlings, nematodes, insects and diseases. They may, however, cause the soil to warm excessively and damage your crops. Black plastic mulches don't overheat the soil. They prevent weed growth by blocking light, which is necessary for many weed seeds to germinate and grow. An important consideration when using black plastic mulch is to make the transplant hole as tight as possible to prevent weed growth.