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No Sunscreen Needed
Have you ever tried solarization? Neither had I until last summer. The
first day I worked at the Upper Trinity Water Treatment project I couldn’t
help but notice a large bed covered in heavy black plastic weighted down
with cinderblocks. Came to learn that the plastic was put there to “cook”
unwanted vegetation. When removed all that would be left would be bare
dirt. The plastic had been down for over 6 months and the next time I
worked there it was time to remove it. We carefully picked up the stones
and rolled back the plastic and there was beautiful dirt with nary a weed
in sight. If such a process could work there I was sure I could copy the
procedure at my own house. I had an awful bed choked with nut sedge,
coralberry, and tons of invasive water clover I had innocently bought at a
plant sale. Got my heavy plastic at Home Depot and laid it right over all
of these pests and went away for the summer. When I got home in the fall,
I couldn’t wait to unveil my bed. Voila! A miracle. Everything was gone
and in its place was beautiful pure dirt.
 Check
out my new garden which now contains gaura, zexmenia, pavonia, calylophus,
scabiosa, skullcap, one Texas Kidneywood and three Cherry Laurels.
Solarization is so easy—no herbicides and no weed digging. All it takes is
plastic, sun, and a little patience for all of the little devils to cook.
Celia, Plano
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