[PaulF]

I wanted to grow more melons and fewer weeds by covering my melon patch with weed barrier fabric. My idea sounded good and may have worked if I had used a heavy duty barrier. I opted for the medium cost stuff.

After a couple of hundred sharp hooved deer walked all over and poked deer hoof holes in the fabric followed by a week of 30 to 60 mph winds, the fabric was shredded and useless. A ten by 50 foot section of heavier weed barrier is still intact and the weeds are not growing.

In the beginning there were suggestions to use straw as the weed barrier. That cost would a lot less and easier to apply. Straw will be spread over the uncovered area. By the way, all the melon plants are doing very well.