Plastic Sheeting

This stuff is basically the Swiss Army knife of farm supplies, providing a reliable barrier against wind, rain, and mud. We see it used for everything from winterizing windows to protecting the bed of a pickup when you’re hauling mulch across the 417 area. High-quality Plastic Sheeting is designed to take a beating from the elements, though some versions are treated to resist UV rays so they don’t get brittle in the summer sun. It usually comes in large rolls that you can trim down to size for whatever mess you’re trying to contain. Having a roll handy is like having a spare tire, you hope you don’t need it, but you’re sure glad it’s there when the clouds start looking mean.

Heavy-duty poly is usually what we recommend for those “oh no” moments when the Ozarks weather decides to get rowdy. You want something thick enough to resist punctures, especially if you’re trying to cover a jagged hole in a barn roof or a broken window. At Nixa Hardware & Seed Co., we keep the reinforced rolls on hand because they won’t shred like a cheap trash bag when the wind starts whistling. Standard Plastic Sheeting is fine for dust, but for a real emergency, you need the stuff that can take a punch. It’s a lot easier to tape up a heavy barrier now than it is to deal with water damage and mold later on.

Heavy-duty shears or a dedicated box cutter will make quick work of a roll, provided you aren’t trying to do it in the middle of a windstorm. If you’re out in a field south of Springfield trying to cover a new hay bale, it helps to have a buddy hold the other end so the material stays flat while you work. We find that folding the Plastic Sheeting over on itself once creates a nice straight line that you can follow with your blade for a more professional finish. There’s no need to overcomplicate it; just make sure you have a fresh edge on your tool so you aren’t hacking away at it like a dull saw. A clean cut prevents the edges from fraying or catching on the wind later.