Plastic underlay in planter or not?

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Condor_Gardener San Gabriel, CA May 25, 2013

Dear Experts,

I'm living in an area with some ferocious quackgrass
and lots of gumbo soil.

Last year, I made a planter about one foot high,
12 feet long, and 2 1/2 feet wide.

Along the edge, I also dug a trench, and put the plastic
edging in. About 4 inches below the soil.

I dug and weeded the quack grass out.
It never seemed to end.

I decided to not put dirt in it until this year.
That way, if any remaining grass still grew, I'd weed it out.

Trouble is, a little grass is still growing.
The roots come from under the plastic edging!

I've heard that some people put down a plastic sheet
before putting in the dirt. The idea being, to stop the grass
from growing up.

Does this really work? Can't grass roots poke through the plastic
and come up anyway?

Would this affect the drainage? Especially in the spring?
My original idea was to let everything drain into ground naturally.

Thanks a lot!

Post #9534028
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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 25, 2013

Very strong roots can push through plastic sheeting like it is not even there.

Plastic sheeting affects the drainage a LOT, basically creating a planter with no significant drainage.

Are you willing to use Round Up or similar product? Research the right material and dosage.

Post #9534038
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timmijo Ellendale, DE(Zone 7a) May 28, 2013

If your planting box is moveable, why not move it and then treat the quack grass as mentioned, then place the box back where you want it. But place a "grass-barrier" under your wooden planter box first, like I do:

Sometimes I lay down old carpet under my wooden planter boxes. An old roll of discarded indoor carpet covered with a layer of pine bark mulch (to hide the carpet) should keep the quack grass out of your wooden planter box if you then place the box on top of the pine bark mulch. Let the carpet extend past the box's dimensions at least a foot on each side.

It's not a good idea to line your planter box with plastic. The ideal situation is fast drainage. Plastic would encourage water to just sit at the bottom of your planter. Any planter with this "perched" water quickly causes roots to die. Roots need air. They drown and die in water that doesn't drain off.

Try the barrier.

Post #9536634
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Condor_Gardener San Gabriel, CA May 23, 2015

BTW, Diana, I took your advice and never did put down an underlay.

But I still get quack grass sometimes.

If only my money and investments would grow as wildly as some of these plants! :)

Post #10079588
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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 23, 2015

I am afraid money does not grow like weeds. Needs more nurturing.

Stay on top of it, and remove all remnants of the weeds promptly. Have you removed the quack grass from the surrounding area?

Post #10079657
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