Polyhouse Floor Setup: Weed Mat, Drip and Net Clips
A polyhouse protects crops from weather, but the floor inside is often ignored. Bare soil in the aisles grows weeds, turns to mud after irrigation and gives pests a place to hide. Getting the floor right, with weed mat, properly fixed drip lines and well-secured netting, makes the whole structure cleaner and easier to run. This guide walks through a complete polyhouse floor setup and the polyhouse accessories you need, with an example material list for a 1,000 sq m house.
Why the polyhouse floor matters
- Weeds compete and harbour pests. Weeds inside a protected structure can host the same insects you are trying to keep out.
- Mud and splash. Wet bare soil splashes onto lower leaves and makes aisles slippery.
- Labour. Hand weeding inside a warm polyhouse is slow, hot work.
- Drip stays where it should. A fixed, covered layout means drippers stay at the plants.
The three parts of a clean polyhouse floor
| Part | Product | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Ground cover | 1.5 m × 100 m weed mat, pinned with 6 inch nails or U-pins | Stops weeds, keeps aisles clean, lets water drain |
| Drip layout | 16 mm drip pipe holder stakes | Holds laterals straight so drippers stay at the plants |
| Netting and film | Shade net clips | Fixes insect net side curtains, internal shade net and film repairs to pipes without drilling |
Step-by-step setup
1. Level and clean the floor
Remove weeds, roots, stones and construction debris. Level the floor and form beds if you grow in soil. Good levelling now means water drains evenly later.
2. Lay and fix drip lines
Run mains and laterals before any ground cover goes down. Fix each 16 mm lateral with a stake every 1 to 2 m and at every bend, then run the system and check every dripper. Our guide on keeping drip lines in place covers this in detail.
3. Lay weed mat
You have two choices:
- Full floor cover: mat over beds and aisles, with planting holes cut over drippers. Cleanest result, most material.
- Aisles only: mat along walkways and around the edges, with soil or mulch on the beds. Less material, still removes most weeds.
The 1.5 m roll covers 150 sq m with fewer joins than narrower rolls. Overlap joins by 10 to 15 cm. Pin edges every 1 to 1.5 m and joins every 30 to 50 cm. Woven mat is water permeable, so irrigation water drains through instead of pooling.
4. Secure side curtains and internal netting
Insect net side walls, internal shade net and roll-up curtains all need to be held to pipes. Shade net clips clamp net and film to GI pipes and wires with no drilling or tying, and open again when you replace a net. Space clips every 30 to 50 cm, closer on the windward side. See how to fix shade net without drilling.
5. Plant support
For tomato, capsicum and cucumber on strings, attach stems with plant support clips every 20 to 30 cm.
Example material list: 1,000 sq m polyhouse (25 m × 40 m)
This is an estimate for full floor cover with 16 beds and two laterals per bed. Your layout will change the numbers.
| Item | Estimate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Weed mat, 1.5 m × 100 m | 7 rolls | 1,000 sq m ÷ 150 sq m per roll |
| Weed mat nails or U-pins | about 1,400 | Joins every 50 cm, edges every 1 m |
| 16 mm drip pipe stakes | about 900 | 1,280 m of lateral at 1.5 m, plus ends |
| Shade net clips | about 720 | Top and bottom of 130 m of side curtain at 40 cm, plus 10% |
| Plant support clips | depends on crop | About 8 per plant for 2 m tomato on strings |
Building several houses, or a builder supplying clients? Send us your drawings for a bulk quote across mat, pins, stakes and clips.
Maintenance tips
- Sweep soil and plant debris off the mat so weeds cannot root on top.
- Check pins after the first few irrigations and re-pin lifted edges.
- Walk drip lines monthly and re-clip any that have moved.
- Inspect side curtain clips before the windy season.
- Between crops, lift and clean the mat, then relay it. UV-stabilised 110 GSM mat is rated for 3 to 5 years outdoors.
Related guides
Read how to lay weed mat step by step and how to choose the right weed mat for your farm.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put weed mat on a polyhouse floor?
Yes. Weed mat keeps polyhouse floors weed-free and clean while letting irrigation water drain through. You can cover the full floor or just the aisles.
Which weed mat width is best for a polyhouse?
The 1.5 m × 100 m roll covers 150 sq m with fewer joins, which makes it faster to lay across polyhouse floors.
Do I lay drip before or after weed mat?
Lay, fix and test the drip lines first, then lay the weed mat and cut holes at each dripper.
How do I fix insect net side curtains without drilling?
Use shade net clips. They clamp net and film onto GI pipes and wires, and open again when you replace the net.
How much weed mat for a 1,000 sq m polyhouse?
About 7 rolls of 1.5 m × 100 m for full floor cover, plus pins for edges and joins. Covering aisles only needs less.
Do you supply polyhouse builders in bulk?
Yes. We quote mat, pins, drip stakes and clips together for polyhouse builders and farms. Contact us with your layout.
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