Gardeners everywhere know the effect that frost, wind, and insects can have on plants. Whatever your climate or crop, Carriff has a Garden Cover that can help you protect your plants and extend your growing season.

Carriff’s Garden Cover is available in three weights for different applications and temperature tolerances. The lightweight Garden Cover is a soft white, point-bonded polypropylene fabric cover that transmits up to 85% of all available sunlight while allowing rain through. This product is perfect for defending against birds and insects (and their diseases) in many climates, though it is not suitable for frost protection. A popular commercial crop cover in Europe for years, this version of Carriff’s Garden Cover is now available for the home gardener in North America.

The medium-weight Garden Cover transmits 80% of available light. Like the lightweight version, its soft white, point-bonded polypropylene fabric construction allows water through but keeps insects out. Unlike the lightweight fabric, the medium-weight Garden Cover provides frost protection down to 28° F and is an excellent windbreak for transplants. As versatile as it is durable, it can be cut with scissors to fit over both conventional-width or wide rows.

If a heavyweight fabric is needed, Carriff offers a thicker, spun-bonded polypropylene version that transmits 60% of available light. Providing frost protection up to 25° F, this thicker fabric is ideal for extending the growing season in both early spring and late fall. It can also be used as all-winter protection for tender landscape plants, perennials, herbs, and small fruits.

Extended Season and Winter Protection
To protect plants sensitive to cold and frost in the fall, unroll the Garden Cover fabric over the row and secure the edges with mounds of the surrounding soil. Hoops or other support devices can be used to keep the fabric from coming into contact with new foliage during mild winters. Wait until the first hard frost to cover perennials, and do so only after cutting away any dead foliage and mulching around the plans for extra natural protection.

Insect Protection
Using Garden Covers can help break the cycle of insect infestation, if used correctly. Before application, check the underside of the foliage for insect activity and treat with organic pesticide or remove any plants showing infestation. Then, when applying the Garden Cover, be sure that the plants are completely covered and that all edges are securely pinned to the ground. If used properly, Carriff’s Garden Cover will block most insects includes Japanese beetles and potato beetles, aphids, grasshoppers, root maggots, leaf miners, cabbage worms, and even some vine boring insects.

Pollination and Temperature Control
Keep in mind that some crops require pollination in order to produce harvest fruits and vegetables. When blossoms appear on strawberries, beans, peas, squash, and pumpkins, temporarily lift the covers to allow bees to properly pollinate the plants. This process is unnecessary for self-pollinating plants such as tomatoes and peppers, though you may need to lift the covers during the heat of the day to release excess heat if temperatures reach above 85° F under the covers. If exposed to these temperatures without relief, fruit yield may suffer as tomato pollen becomes sterile and peppers will not set fruit. For all plants, careful monitoring of temperatures is recommended. Look for yellowing or wilting of the leaves and slowed growth in addition to small flowers and lack of fruit as signs that the cover should be switched out or substituted with a lighter-weight version. Ideal temperature for most plants is between 60° F and 80° F.

Sizes can vary based on applications.  Please contact us for more information.

Please note that our online store is currently closed.

Special Orders

FAQ