[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey, I'm Nick Volesky with Utah State University Extension's
IPM program.
Row covers are an effective form of mechanical control
for integrated pest management.
In agricultural use, row covers are
a transparent or semi-transparent material
used to cover the crop for various purposes.
So my row covers are on top of weed barrier,
but this can work in a field setting, or garden setting,
or even in raised beds.
Row covers are a physical barrier
to exclude pests, such as insects, birds, or mammals,
from getting to your plants.
There are a lot of material options available.
Lightweight materials, such as a non-woven spun-bound fabric,
work well as an insect barrier starting in mid to late spring.
Thicker weight materials can be used
to extend your growing season and protect your plants
from an early or late frost.
Another option is insect netting or plastic mesh.
There's different grades and sizes available,
depending on the insect you're trying to exclude.
When you're using a floating row cover to protect just
against frost, it is most effective to lay it directly
on the plant.
However, for insect control, using a hoop system
makes management and maintenance a whole lot easier.
When constructing row covers, I like to use rebar.
So depending on the size of your row,
make sure the rebar are in equal intervals.
Make sure your rebar sticks out about 8 inches
above the ground.
So the rebar is going to be used to support our PVC hoops.
For my project, I'm going to use about 7-foot long PVC pipes.
But depending on the crop you're trying to grow
or how long you're going to have the row hoops out there,
the size can depend.
You want to make sure they stick on there all the way.
And then you want to carefully bend it to the other side,
as well.
OK, so the next step is to lay out
the material you want to use.
I'm going to be using an Agribon 15, which
is a super lightweight, spun-bound material.
But when you're laying it out, you
want to make sure it's a lot longer
than the lengths of your rope.
So that way, you're able to tie the ends up.
So I'm going to cut the row cover with some scissors.
So I found out these jumbo binder clips work really well
to attach any material to the PVC hoop.
And typically, I put one on the bottom, one on the top,
and then one on the other side.
And then depending on how bad the wind is,
you can always add more to help keep it more secure.
So at the end of your hoops or the tunnel,
it's super important to make sure both sides are completely
covered.
So with all this excess material,
you want to weigh it down with something,
with another clip, a brick, or I just sometimes like
to tie it in a knot.
And then the idea is just to make
sure it's completely covered.
So wherever you're using row covers at,
it's super important to secure the bottoms.
So whether it's digging a trench and burying it, putting dirt
on top of it, using sandbags, bricks, or some sort of rock,
it's important to weigh it down to make sure your plants are
completely covered.
Floating row covers work best for insect pests
that would come in from an outside source.
This includes pests like aphids, whiteflies, and leafhoppers,
as well as squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and grasshoppers.
Other pests overwinter in the garden from areas
where they fed last season.
So if you do crop rotation, you can use row covers
to protect those crops from last year's pest.
These include Colorado potato beetles, tomato hornworms,
flea beetles, and various root pests.
If you have any questions about this or other integrated pest
management methods, contact me or check out our website
at utahpests.usu.edu.