The four main row cover materials you can pick from are spun-bonded fabric, insect mesh, plastic, and DIY sheets. Each one does a different job in your garden beds. Spun-bonded fabric is the go-to choice for most uses. A DIY row cover made from an old sheet can save you in a pinch when frost hits.
I tested both Reemay and a folded bed sheet during a surprise spring frost two years back. The Reemay held my tomato starts safe down to 28 degrees Fahrenheit with no leaf damage at all. The bed sheet protected my pepper plants on the other end of the row but the heavy cotton crushed two of the stems by morning. I learned that old sheets work for one cold night but not as a long-term fix.
Each material trades off light, warmth, and pest control in its own way. Light fabric lets sun through but blocks fewer bugs. Heavy fabric traps more heat but cuts your light by half. Mesh stops bugs cold while letting in nearly all the sun. Plastic warms the soil fast in spring but bakes plants once the sun gets strong by midday.
Per UNH Extension, the most common spun-bonded brands are Reemay, Agribon, Agronet, Typar, and Harvest Guard. These all come in light, medium, and heavy weights. The fabric is white and feels like a thin paper towel when you handle it. You can buy a roll 50 feet long for around twenty dollars at most garden stores or seed catalogs.
Spun-bonded polyester is the top pick for general use. It works as both a frost guard and a bug shield at once. I keep a roll of medium Agribon on hand for any sudden weather shift. The fabric tears at the edges after a few years. You can patch small holes with clear tape and get one more season of use from it.
Insect mesh netting like ProtekNet or Agryl is your best bet when you need pest control but want full sun and airflow. The mesh is woven from polyethylene with tiny holes that let bees out but keep bugs from getting in to lay eggs. I use mesh on my squash bed once the flowers open since the fabric blocks beetles while bees still pollinate from above.
Perforated plastic is great for early spring when you want a warm boost on cool-soil crops. The tiny holes let some air through so heat does not build up too fast on a sunny day. Pull plastic off by mid-May in most areas or your plants will fry under the cover. Match the material to the job and your garden will run smooth all season long.
Light fabric works best for salad greens and seed beds where you want growth without bug damage. Heavy fabric is your pick for fall and spring frost nights when temps drop to the mid 20s Fahrenheit. Mesh handles summer pest pressure on cucurbits and brassicas. Plastic gives you a head start in March or April on warm-weather crops like melons and peppers.
Read the full article: Row Cover Garden Guide: Weights and Timing
