It gets very hot here in DC and my garden gets full sun. Black plastic has not harmed any of my plants. I cannot keep up with the weeds without it. Most are woven, though, so water should drain through it within a few minutes. I find that it runs a little, but doesn't pool for more than 30 seconds to maybe a minute before it drains through. Poking holes may or may not defeat the purpose, depending on what kind of weeds you're battling. Ivy comes up around any holes in mine, including pins. As does speedwell. Some of the grassy weeds can get through small holes. The only holes in mine are for planting, stakes, and pins, for this reason. Larger weeds like dandelions cannot invade small holes.