Re: Will solarization kill bamboo?

In article <48201fa5$0$762$4c56ba96@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 "Mary Fisher" <mary.fisher@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> "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 

You're right, if you simply removed the plastic and don't do 
anything else to the ground. But, once the ground has been 
sterilized, so to speak, you can either cover it in three or 
more inches of mulch, and plant what ever your little heart 
desires, or leave the plastic in place, and cut openings in 
it, where you wish to place your plants (good to install drip 
irrigation if you do this).
-- 

Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTfcAyYGg&ref=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo59c7zU&feature=related