We are just over 2 months into this experiment. I’m trying to remain patient! We haven’t had the typical 100 or high 90 degree temperatures typical for August and September as in most years. For this solarization to work, we need heat! Not that I’m disappointed in our cooler than normal summer, mind you! But this may take more time than I had hoped!
You can see by the first picture that nutsedge has most definitely grown under the plastic but it is also dying. I am concerned that there is still the green growth. And in an area that is shaded in the mornings, there is even more green growth and from more than just nutsedge. But I am encouraged that I do see weed DEATH!!
Now, because of the way we secured the plastic, if you read from my first post, we used a channel of soil at the edges of the raised beds to cushion the t-posts and/or 2x4s. Great idea….until I looked closely. OMG there is nutsedge growing in this soil cushion! I don’t know if it came in the soil itself or through the plastic. So I investigated further. While I didn’t get my answer as to its origin, I certainly got the result. The nutsedge indeed has penetrated the plastic!! Yikes, that is serious stuff! No final results yet as I intend to leave the plastic on for at least a couple more months. I’m encouraged, with reservations!