Tips For Sun Drying Garden Beds

A good way to eliminate garden pests and weeds in the soil is to use soil temperature gardening techniques, also known as sun exposure. This unique method utilizes heat from the sun to reduce the impact of soil borne diseases, pests, and other soil problems. Sunlight is suitable for all types of gardens, from vegetables to flowers and herbs. It can also be used for raised garden beds.

Soil temperature horticulture

Soil temperature gardening involves placing thin and transparent plastic on the soil, with its edges buried in external ditches. Most families and gardening centers can buy large rolls of plastic. Plastic uses the heat of the sun to increase soil temperature. In fact, if operated properly, the temperature of the soil can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) or higher. These high temperatures can easily eliminate many soil borne diseases and other garden pests in the soil.

However, it is important to only use transparent plastic for sunlight exposure in the garden area. Transparent plastic makes it easier for sunlight to pass through, which is crucial for soil insulation. Black plastic is not enough to heat the soil. Thin plastic (about 1-2 million) can also produce better results because sunlight can penetrate the plastic more easily.

In hot summer, when the soil receives the most sunlight, sunlight is most effective because it kills weed seeds and soil pathogens deep in the soil. Unfortunately, this is also when most people plant plants in their gardens, so summer sun exposure is only practical if you have a large garden and can sacrifice some space each year. That is to say, it is also effective to have four to six weeks of sun exposure in the spring before sowing and in the autumn after harvest.

How to Sunlight Garden Beds

To expose the garden bed to sunlight, the garden area should be level and free of any debris. Generally speaking, before placing any plastic, the area will be tilled and raked flat. For better soil insulation, the soil should be moist but not saturated. Moisture helps heat to penetrate the ground more easily. When the ground is damp, most soil problems are also more susceptible to the influence of sunlight.

Before laying any plastic, a trench should be dug around the outer edge of the garden. The depth can be 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) and approximately one foot (30 centimeters) wide to hold the plastic in place. Once the trench is excavated and the garden area is raked flat, plastic can be placed. Cover the entire garden area with plastic, place the edges in the trench, and backfill with excavated soil.

Be sure to tighten the plastic when leaving. The closer plastic is attached to the soil, the fewer air pockets appear, allowing the soil to retain more heat. After laying the plastic, it should be left for about four to six weeks.

Sunlight can keep the soil warm, which not only helps eliminate most soil problems, but also stimulates the release of existing nutrients in the soil. Soil temperature gardening or sun exposure is one of the most effective methods for controlling garden pests and other related soil problems in the soil.