Tarps are versatile pieces of equipment that can be helpful for various purposes. You can use tarps to help your farm, greenhouse, or agricultural operation run more smoothly and efficiently.
Before you invest in any new equipment for your business, it’s essential to know precisely what you’ll be using it for and if it’s something that will make a difference.
With that in mind, here are five great agricultural uses for tarps.
1. Protect Crops from the Elements
One of the most common uses for tarps is to protect your crops from the elements. It is essential when growing plants that require a particular climate or environment for optimal growth. When growing certain fruits or vegetables, it’s sometimes vital to shield plants from the rain and sun.
In addition, if you plant certain types of plants in wet soil, they’re prone to root rot. If you grow certain kinds of plants in dry soil, they’re at risk of drought and becoming too brittle to harvest. A tarp can help keep the soil around your plant moist while shielding them from the sun.
2. Grow Produce Under Cover
If you’re growing crops indoors, a tarp can be a great way to create a covering that will help keep pests out while also providing some natural light and ventilation. You can use a tarp to cover a greenhouse or a portion of a building or patio where you’re growing produce. Or, you can even build a greenhouse out of a tarp.
Many greenhouse kits are available that are built using tarps and other recycled materials. If you’re using a tarp to cover your greenhouse, you’ll want to ensure it’s anchored at the top and bottom to keep it from blowing away in the wind.
3. Conserve Soil and Water
If your crops are grown in limited soil, or if you’re working with mainly sandy soil, a tarp can be a great way to conserve soil and water. For example, if you’re growing tomatoes in sandy soil, the roots of the plants will be very close to the surface, where they can easily get blown away by the wind. Using a tarp to cover the plants and protect them from the wind can help prevent this.
Similarly, if you’re growing plants in soil that is very sandy or doesn’t hold water very well, a tarp can help to conserve soil and water, especially during the dry season.
You can also use a tarp to help prevent erosion in areas where the soil is mainly sandy or where there is a risk of flooding or heavy rainfall.
4. Help with Harvesting
A tarp can be very helpful if you’re harvesting crops that have a ripening or harvesting period of just a few days or a few weeks. For example, if you’re harvesting strawberries in a covered area will help keep the rest of the plants from getting contaminated by insects or diseases.
It can also help keep the strawberries clean and free from dirt. Similarly, if you’re harvesting tomatoes, harvesting them in a covered area will help keep the rest of the plants clean and free from pests.
5. Repurpose Tarps for Other Uses
Don’t throw your tarps away if you’ve come to the end of your tarp’s lifecycle. There are lots of ways you can repurpose old tarps to help your farm run more efficiently.
For example, you can use custom tarps as a covering for an outdoor workstation. It can help keep your tools and other equipment dry and clean and protect crops from pests and diseases.
Besides, you can also use tarps to repel pests from certain areas or to prevent rodents from accessing certain crops. You can even use tarps to divert water from certain areas. Similarly, tarps can cover outdoor trash or composting areas to keep pests out. You can also use tarps to keep dust out of certain areas, such as outdoor workstations or a greenhouse.
Conclusion
When buying tarps for your farm, there are many ways they can be used. If you’re not sure what to buy, it can be helpful to talk to someone at a local agricultural store to get their advice on which types of tarps would be best for your needs.
