solarizing soil

[csgray]

I have found this is a good way to "force" weed seeds, I would cover the soil with clear plastic after disturbing the soil and giving it a good watering, weeds would sprout, I would hoe and then recover the bed for the second round of weed growth and repeat as necessary until no more weed sprouts appeared. Since disturbing the soil with tilling or hoeing always brings up weed seeds this is a way to get them to germinate before I planted. This works best with annual weeds, but they are the most prolific seed producers, especially the wind pollinated grasses.

Carol