How to Kill Garden Weeds With Soil Solarization Techniques

Harness the free power of the sun to kill and prevent weeds in your garden plot! Soil solarization techniques super-heat the surface garden soil, killing most weeds and preventing their seeds from sprouting. This organic gardening method eliminates the need to use toxic weed-killing chemicals for all but the most stubborn weeds.

Soil solarization works best in zones that have lots of hot, sunny weather but can be modified to cooler climates.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 clear plastic tarps or heavy plastic drop cloths, each large enough to cover the areas you wish to solarize. The plastic should be between 1 and 6 mils thick.
• several bricks
• garden hose (hooked up to water, with a gentle spray)
• good quality mulch (optional)

1. Till the garden BEFORE solarizing your garden soil. As tilling loosens and aerates your garden soil, it also brings up dormant weed seeds. Depending on your climate and how long you leave the plastic on the soil, the solarization process will kill most weeds, roots and seeds within the first few inches of the garden soil,up to a depth of several inches. Avoid turning the soil up any more than necessary when it comes time to plant your flowers or crops.

2. Rake the garden as smooth as possible. You want to create close contact between the the soil. Wet soils conducts heat better than dry soil, so water the garden soil until it's damp but not soggy.

3. Cover the entire area with the sheet of plastic. If you use smaller pieces, make sure they overlap several inches and hold the seams down with bricks. Hold the outside edges down with bricks, or by burying them. The plastic should lay as closely to the ground as possible to trap the sun's heat.

4. To intensify the solarization process, put a second sheet of plastic over the first, creating an air space between them with more bricks. The sun's heat will be trapped between the plastic sheets and push the temperature even higher. Fasten the second sheet securely around the edges.

5. Now let the sun do its work! In hot climates, the solarization process may only take a few months. In more temperate climates, you may want to begin the solarization process in the fall soon after that season's crops are harvested, and leave the plastic on the garden until spring planting time.

6. Remove the top sheet of plastic at planting time, and the bottom sheet may be pulled up, or left on the garden for extra weed control. Seeds that fall from trees or are carried through the air will not be able to sprout and grow when they land on the plastic. Cut X-shaped slits large enough to plant your flowers or vegetable plants. Fold each flap back carefully and dig a hole, replacing the flaps once the plant is in the ground.

7. For esthetic appeal, you can place mulch on top of the plastic around the plants. The plastic will prevent all but the most determined weeds from growing in your mulch.

Tips & Warnings

• In moderate climates, use black plastic instead of clear. Clear plastic allows more sun through in hot climates, but in cooler climates the black plastic will absorb the heat and hold it next to the soil.
• Soil solarization is most effective during the hottest times of the year, but may help reduce weeds in cooler months.

[DiscountTickets]

on 11/9/2009 Very interesting ideas, go good to know.

[gahazeleyes]

on 6/21/2009 Thanks for the information.

[jenng]

on 6/11/2009 gREAT ARTICLE ON KILLING GARDEN WEEDS 5*

[ginamichellesat]

on 6/6/2009 5 star and recommended, thnx!