Planting Prep - Solarization
Solarization: Invasive Removal without Chemicals
When planting native seeds, it is often best to start with a planting area free of invasive weed species to limit undesirable plants that threaten your ideal vision for restoration. If you are inclined to steer away from the use of harsh chemicals and herbicides there are other effective methods. Solarization is one of them.
Solarization becomes a great option for the residential grower who desires a patch of native wildflowers and prairie grasses to replace a thirsty, costly lawn. St. Augustine and Bermuda Grass species can be invasive and difficult to remove but solarization can cut down on the back-breaking tactics required to completely eradicate them.
The solarization process is simple but requires forethought in planning. While it may take a few hours to execute the solarization steps, it will take several months for solarization to be effective. If you hope to plant seed in the fall then plan to solarize in late winter or early spring prior to planting. Summer months in the southern U.S. is prime time for solarization.
The solarization process is quite literally “cooking” unwanted weeds by sterilizing the intended planting surface. Sheets of silage tarp are used to create extremely undesirable and hot conditions for existing weeds. Leveraging the heat of summer for solarization will exacerbate the conditions in favor of weed control.
Step One
Read your land, decide on your planting area and measure. Keep measurements handy for ordering seed. Mark the edge of the planting area using, irrigation flags, marking paint, an old garden hose, or stakes and string.
