There's a new solar gardening technique getting rave reviews all over the country. This method works especially well in central Colorado. Likely that's because Denver gardeners have plenty of solar power to work with. We get over 300 days of sunshine in the Mile High City. More and more Denver gardeners are turning to solar power for weed, insect and bacteria control.
How does it work? By laying plastic over the garden during the winter, Denver gardeners can kill off many gardening enemies. The ground under the plastic heats up to rid the soil of pests, bacteria and unwanted weeds.
What about the good pests? Don't worry, this technique will not kill “good” bacteria or nematodes. In fact, placing plastic over the garden area will encourage normal decay of latent plant matter. It will speed up the process, turning the whole garden into a compost bin of sorts.
Solar pest and weed control steps:
- Till garden soil lightly.
- Cover with ordinary clear plastic (Available in home and hardware stores)
- Pin or weight the plastic down.
- Leave on until spring.
- Till and amend soil as needed.
Do you use raised beds in your Denver garden? Don't forget to give them the same treatment. It's true, you don't have as many weed concerns with raised beds. Still, pests and bacteria are just as prevalent as they are in conventional gardens.
Solar weed control isn't just for the garden. If you have weed problems in your yard, consider using this technique for heavily weeded areas. Lay the plastic down as above. In the spring, pull up any latent weeds, till and seed. It's a chemical free solution for those stubborn Colorado prairie weeds, like thistle and sage.
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