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Floating row covers, a transparent fiber-like blanket used to cover rows and beds of plants, have advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the pros and cons of using floating row covers helps you decide whether the covers are the right addition for your garden.

A floating row cover blankets your growing plants, and the thin material allows sunlight through but prevents harmful pests from getting to the plants. The cover contains no harmful pesticides or chemicals, and its light weight allows you to cover small, young crops without crushing the fragile plants.The whole story can be found at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2016163375_gardenerwithin10.html?syndication=rss The cover “ floats” by raising up as the plants grow. The row covers can also be used during a frost to protect plants and to hide plants from wild animals.

Despite its many benefits, there are disadvantages to using floating row covers in your garden. Floating row covers are typically harder to manage in a larger garden area, and even if you secure the cover, it may be dislodged during severe weather and damage the plants. You can’t easily see your plants — you must remove the cover — so you might miss the early signs of an infestation or plant disease. In warmer areas, the use of a cover during a hot streak can cause heat damage to the plants.