Re: Will solarization kill bamboo?

"General Schvantzkopf" <schvantzkopf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:MYWdndF-mqlYgoLVnZ2dnUVZ_u-dnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Mon, 05 May 2008 15:21:12 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote:
>

....

>>>>
>>>> What's solarization?
>>>>
>>>> Mary
>>>
>>> Solarization is done by covering the garden with clear plastic for the
>>> entire summer. The plastic acts as a greenhouse so it raises the
>>> temperature of the soil to > 110F.
>>
>> Thank you. It would also keep the soil dry though, which isn't good for
>> most plants.
>>
>> Mary
>
> It's not supposed to be good for the plants that are there, it's
supposed
> to kill them. Solarization is a means of sterilizing the soil, the idea
> is to cook the fungi, weeds and other undesirable pests out of the soil.
> It takes the whole summer so you can't use that piece of garden again
> until the next year. I have enough garden space so that I can afford to
> let some land lay fallow and I'm keen to give solarization a try
assuming
> it can work in my area. It's apparently a very effective technique in
the
> hot parts of the country, but it's not clear that it will work here in
> Massachusetts which is why I'm asking if anyone has used it in a New
> England like climate.

I've been thinking about this reply. It seems to me that not only would
you 
kill fungi, weeds and undesirable pests, you'd also kill fauna which you 
want. And weeds would re-establish themselves by seeding. It doesn't seem
a 
good idea to me.

How long has it been practised?

I suppose if you have a lot of land it's practicable, providing you don't 
mind killing everything.

Mary