SUMMER 2022
The Washington School garden is suffering from the heat. The watering system has not been repaired. But the good news is that the four large 12 x 12 foot beds that were infested with grass and weeds have been cleared of the worst of the weeds and grass. We plan to cover all of these beds with black plastic in the next week to prevent weeds from sprouting again. Hoping we can wait to re-plant until the summer heat breaks and the watering system is repaired.
HOW TO SOLARIZE YOUR SOIL
- Remove all plants and wet the soil
- Cover with clear plastic up to 4 ml thick and secure the edges
- If drip system is present, keep it under plastic to add moisture
- Leave in place for at least 4 weeks during hottest part of summer-longer in cooler weather
- IMPORTANT! After completion, remove the plastic and cover the surface with 2″ or more of organic compost to reintroduce beneficial organisms. (One bag will cover 4’x8′ bed)
BENEFITS OF SOLARIZING
- Kills bugs and their eggs
- Controls some plant diseases to a depth of 8″
- Increased crop yields
- Labor saving