Gardening Tip: Preparing the Soil for the Next Season

If you're planning on having a garden in the New Year you may want to consider preparing your gardening spot to suppress weeds, fungi and other pests.

One of the simplest ways to prepare your favorite gardening spot for the coming season is to solarize your soil. Solarization helps to prepare the soil for the next planting season in a number of ways.

Controls and suppresses the growth on seeds, weeds and weeds seedlings.

Reduces the growth of bacteria, fungi, wilt and root rot.

Encourages the release of nutrients.

Prevents the growth on soilborne plant pathogens and pests.

The purpose of Solarization is to heat the soil to a depth of about 6 inches. This heat produces chemical, physical and biological changes in the soil. The result of Solarization will vary depending on amount of direct sunlight and the climate of the area in which you live. Although, Solarization performs best in warmer climates it can be achieved in areas with cooler climates and during winter months. In areas where the climate is typically hot, soil temperatures of 125º F can be achieved to an optimum depth on 6 inches. There is only a slight difference between preparing you soil in warmer climates as opposed to the cooler climates of winter months.

The first thing you will want to doe to prepare your garden spot is to determine how much sunlight the area receives each day on average and the type of plant you intend to grow so that once you're ready to start planting you don't discover that the area is unsuitable for your intended plants. In addition to sunlight you will also need to determine how much water the area typically holds. Next to actually prepare the spot you will need to clear the area of any debris, leaves and other tall plants which may be growing in the area already. You can cut or mow the area if possible to help prepare a relatively smooth gardening area. After clearing the area, you'll need to till the soil, clear away any large roots and break up any dirt clods. Once you've finished this task you will want to rake the area and smooth it down as much as possible. Once you have smoothed the area as much as possible moisten the soil, but do not overly saturate the ground. Wet soil will conduct heat better then dry and too much water may actually aid the growth of bacteria and fungi rather then suppress them. Finally cover the area with a thin layer of clear plastic to allow sunlight to heat the ground and to retain the heat. Secure the plastic with landscape logs, dirt or brick so that the plastic remains in place and to reduce any air pockets under it. Ideally you will want the plastic to be in direct contact with the topsoil. Leave the plastic in place for 4-6 weeks to allow the process to be effective.

To treat your garden spot in the winter months and in cooler climates complete the steps above and substitute black plastic instead of clear plastic. The black plastic will absorb the heat from direct sunlight and store it. However, black plastic will not capture enough heat to penetrate to the desired 6 inches in depth. This method should still produce the desires results but to a lesser degree then when used in hot or warmer climates.