Solarization also eliminates some soil diseases, including Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Fusarium wilt, damping-off, crown gall, tomato canker, and potato scab, allowing healthy plants and ...

Soil solarization is a surprisingly simple organic gardening technique that uses heat generated by the sun to kill pests, pathogens, and weed seeds. All you need is some clear plastic sheeting and ...

After you remove the soil solarization plastic, plant a cover crop such as fava bean or leave the plastic on until spring. Or plant crops and use the plastic sheeting as mulch. Just cut small Xs in ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The Church publishes the Monitor ...

Applying clear plastic sheeting to soils in hot weather can reduce pests, diseases, and weed seeds. Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Landers Weed seeds, plant diseases and soil-dwelling pests can build up ...

Soil solarization, a process that uses solar radiation to rid the soil of pests, is most common in regions with high solar radiation and high temperatures during the summer season. An alternative to ...

Are you looking for a low-labor, chemical-free method to help eradicate weeds and soil-residing pests in the garden? Solarization and occultation, often referred to as “tarping,” may be just what ...

Researchers raised soil temperatures in high tunnels in southern Arizona to determine the efficacy of soil solarization using clear mulch on the soil surface and with tunnel glazing or with no glazing ...

As some summer crops are beginning to wind down, now is the time to consider what's next. There is still plenty of time to get that second planting of squash, beans and even tomatoes in the ground. If ...

Note: This article was originally published in this newspaper in 2011. Is there an area in your garden where you are battling noxious weeds or other invasive plants? If so, soil solarization is a ...