SmartGrow Weed Shield

Keep weeds out of your containers with SmartShield!  This one-half inch thick woven fiber mat is porous to allow air, water and fertilizer into the soil, yet keep weeds out. 

       "I have personally field tested the SmartGrow products and achieved outstanding results. The SmartGrow weed shields were very effective for naturally controlling weeds at 95+ percent effectiveness. No herbicides were necessary. The weed shields kept the containers 4-6 degrees cooler in hot weather, increased plant growth, and yielded bigger plant heads and more leafs with more blooms."

       Felix Munoz

       Owner of F&C Nursery and Grower Consultant

       M.S. degree in Horticulture from Colorado State

• Stops hand labor for weeding up to 98 percent and reduces herbicide and pre-emergent application to zero.

• Blocks 100 percent of sunlight and withstands ultraviolet light.  University of Florida research reports that SmartShield prevents 100 percent of weed germination from above and dramatically reduces weed penetration from below.

• SmartShield is tough and durable.  Re-use for multiple growing seasons.  Won’t blow out of container.

• SmartShield conserves soil moisture.  SmartShield slows evaporation and reduces the need for watering.  Enhances the plant’s uptake of nitrogen and other nutrients.On hot summer days, the SmartShield creates a “humidity chamber” within containers, holding moisture in the soil and reducing soil temperature 4-6 degrees to accelerate plant growth.
  
   

University of Florida research evidence for the impact of SmartGrow weed shield is shown in the two charts below.

		University of Florida Test Results. Weight of weeds from 13 containers with weed shield mats compared to 13 containers with herbicide but no mats, after 45 days.
		University of Florida Test of Nitrogen uptake with SmartGrow weed shield and 60 grams fertilizer.
	Weed Shield on 3 gallon containers at Barcelo's Tropical, Miami, FL. Palms are approximately 8 months old. Hand weeding has been decreased by 96%. No herbicides applied. Picture taken in Sept., 2004.
	Weed Shield on 3 gallon containers at Acosta Farms, Homestead, FL. Palms are approximately 4 months old. Hand weeding has been decreased by 95%. No herbicides applied.
	Weed Shield on 7 gallon containers with LakeView Jasmine at Gold Medal Growers, Homestead, FL. Jasmines are approx 4 months old. Hand weeding has been decreased by over 98%. No herbicides applied.
	Comparison of containers with Smart Shield (foreground) and normal treatment of pre-emergent (rear) Ireland Cypress from Clinton Nursery, Havana, FL. Picture was taken after a 3 week trial. All containers started weed free. Picture taken in Aug., 2003.
	Comparison of containers with Weed Shield (on right) and normal treatment on Clematis from Clinton Nursery, Havana, FL. No herbicides used. All containers started weed free.
	Example of alternative weed shield product.