Greenhouse Plastic
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Greenhouse Plastics
Regular plastic sheeting that can be found in big box stores is inferior to greenhouse plastic. The intended use for sheeting from hardware stores is different from greenhouse film, therefore it lacks UV stabilizers that are required for plastic to hold up under intense sunlight. This means it will begin to shred quickly when left in the sun covering your property with shredded plastic.
When selecting a plastic greenhouse covering, you should choose a thickness of at least 6 mil. This is the benchmark standard set by the NCRS because it is meant to last 4 years or longer. There are other sizes available with more or less thickness, but 6 mil is the average thickness of a heavy-duty greenhouse film.
If you opt for a thinner plastic, you may find that you will be making a replacement purchase sooner than you would like to. Greenhouse films that are 4 mil or less are often only rated for one to two years. These ratings will go down dramatically if UV additives are not added into the plastic.
What is the best poly for a greenhouse?
The best greenhouse plastic for your gardening projects is UV stabilized plastic sheeting made of 6 mil or thicker polyethylene plastic. It is affordable but is able to provide cover for many years.
The greenhouse plastic that Bootstrap Farmer carries is under warranty for four years and will last well beyond that with good maintenance. It is easy to install without the use of heavy equipment and is less expensive than glass panels or polycarbonate sheets. Greenhouse plastic film's ease of installation makes it a popular choice among small and large commercial farmers.
Hobby growers as well as home gardeners also use it to great benefit for plant protection and season extension. Click here to learn more about greenhouse plastic film installation with spring wire and lock channel.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR GREENHOUSE PLASTIC LAST LONGER
- Always make repairs as soon as you see any rips or tears as they will continue to grow.
- Store in a cool and dry place when not in use.
- Do not let snow build up on your greenhouse film. Use a broom to remove any excess that could harm your plastic.
- Avoid pesticide use in your hoop house greenhouse as it can cause damage to your polyethylene film.
- Periodically check the tightness of your greenhouse plastic as loose areas can lead to rips, stretching, and tears.
HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT SIZE OF GREENHOUSE PLASTIC YOU NEED?
The size of your greenhouse film can be determined by measuring the length and width of the growing structure that you wish to cover. Account for the total length of the pipes you will use to complete the hoops and the endwalls. Roll-up sides will require an extra 4' of plastic.
If you are measuring plastic for the double layer, you will only need enough plastic to cover from hip board to hip board as the second layer will only need to cover the top of the structure.
| GH Width (ft.) |
GH Length (ft.) |
Plastic Width (ft.) |
Plastic Length (ft.) |
| 10 | 20 | 28 | 40 |
| 10 | 40 | 28 | 60 |
| 10 | 60 | 28 | 80 |
| 10 | 80 | 28 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 | 28 | 120 |
| 12 | 20 | 28 | 40 |
| 12 | 40 | 28 | 60 |
| 12 | 60 | 28 | 80 |
| 12 | 80 | 28 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 | 28 | 120 |
| 14 | 20 | 32 | 40 |
| 14 | 40 | 32 | 60 |
| 14 | 60 | 32 | 80 |
| 14 | 80 | 32 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 | 32 | 120 |
| 20 | 20 | 40 | 50 |
| 20 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
| 20 | 60 | 40 | 90 |
| 20 | 80 | 40 | 110 |
| 20 | 100 | 40 | 130 |
Check out: How to Determine the Size of Greenhouse Plastic You Need
TOOLS NEEDED TO FOR INSTALLING GREENHOUSE PLASTIC
- Ladders, it is best to have at least two available. For a taller hoop house, you will want to rent a scissor lift.
- Bolt cutters or a hacksaw for cutting spring wire to length
- Push brooms for easing the plastic over the hoops
- Tennis balls can be placed on pole ends to protect plastic when guiding it over the structure. They can also be tied into a corner of the plastic with rope to be used in pulling it over the length of your structure.
- Rope
- Box cutter or similar tool for trimming plastic
- Safety Gear, gloves, goggles, etc.
- Greenhouse repair tape (accidents happen)
How to install greenhouse film
Greenhouse film is straightforward to install. Lock channel and spring wire is the industry standard for properly securing greenhouse plastic. Installing lock channel and spring wire is a simple and economical way of installing greenhouse plastic and other coverings, including poly plastic and shade cloth, to a structure.
The PVC coated spring wire used to secure greenhouse coverings into a lock channel is sometimes referred to as wiggled wire because you will need to "wiggle" it up and down during installation. Spring wire, used in conjunction with the lock channel, forms a tight and secure attachment of your greenhouse covering.
In order to install the spring wire, pull the polyethylene film tight and wiggle the wire back and forth into the channel. Each section of wire is 6.5 feet long so there will be places that you will need to cut the wire to fit. You can use bolt cutters or a metal saw to easily size the sections that you need.
We prefer the method of using spring wire and lock channel over the often used staples and batten board method because it gives the grower the ability to remove and reinstall the plastic without causing damage.
Click here to learn more about installing greenhouse plastic with lock channel.
SHOULD I USE REGULAR OR HIGH DIFFUSION GREENHOUSE PLASTIC?
Growers use both regular and high diffusion greenhouse plastic depending on crop and preference. Regular plastics will provide more light transparency which is ideal for most vegetable crops. High diffusion or white/woven greenhouse film provides more light dispersion.
This added diffusion gives a more even coverage of light on the foliage and the reduced transparency is great for plants prone to sunburn. Whereas the clear plastic will heat up more quickly, due to the greater light transmission, making it optimal for heat-loving crops.
Some growers use open UV greenhouse plastic. This UV open, 6 mil plastic is the premiere greenhouse plastic choice in the floral (excluding roses) and fruit industry. The open UV provides more UVA and UVB benefiting fruit and flower production. Its five layers include IR additives, anti-drip condensate, anti-dust, and high light diffusion, which help create more ideal growing conditions and higher yields.
This greenhouse film provides plants with more light, better light dispersion, and more comfortable temps through the sunless hours. Plants are less stressed, the foliage stays dry, and pests stay at bay because moisture is less likely to build up due to expiration from night-time cooling.
What is Woven Greenhouse Plastic?
Woven poly plastic is long-lasting, puncture, and tear-resistant poly. Woven hoop house plastic is ideal for those looking for added light diffusion and those in harsher climates looking for a strong, hail-resistant covering that still maintains the flexible advantages of poly coverings.
How long does plastic sheeting take to ship once ordered?
Our 6 mil plastic is cut in-house and will ship within 48 hours of ordering. If ordering woven poly or UV-open poly expect a 14 day lead time. Shipping is always fast and free to the lower 48.
Because each order is custom cut, we can not accept returns once the item has shipped.
Expedited Shipping is not available for Greenhouse Plastic.
What is the warranty on greenhouse plastic?
Our greenhouse plastic comes with a 4-year warranty. Have questions? Reach out to our customer service at contact@bootstrapfarmer.com