Plastic Mulch-Laying Machine

Plastic Mulch-Laying Machine FARM HOME Food 21-4-36 Here's a plastic mulch-laying machine I built to put plastic over prepared vegetable beds before planting. It works better and cost a lot less to build than commercial models, some of which cost up to $3,000. I used a 3-pt. off an old disk and tubing and pipe to build the 5-ft. by 5-ft. frame. The plastic-holding wheels are two 20-in. dia. tires off an old yard cart, while the 18-in. dia. disk blades, which throw dirt onto the edge of the plastic, were given to me by my neighbor. The wheels are adjustable on the pipe axle so I can use either 48 or 54-in. wide plastic. Downpressure on the disks, which mount in vertical shafts, is adjusted with the 3-pt. to throw more or less soil. The big difference between my machine and commercial units I've seen is that mine holds the plastic 1 to 2 in. off the ground so you're not destroying your beds. I didn't spend more than $200 on it. (LeRoy Ream, 5846 Old Ranch Rd., Sarasota, Fla. 34241-9774; ph 941 924-9992).

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