Soil Solarization For Weed Control

Soil solarization for weed control

Here’s an interesting idea for reducing weeds. I think it would be useful for areas with a significant density of out-of-control weeds, to give the area a restart. It’s an alternative to using chemical weed killers, but as the article states, the downside is that sheets of plastic are used. Heavier plastic sheets that can be reused for several years would help offset the use of the plastic.

A few years ago, I was recovering from an illness that left me very fatigued for a few months. The weeds in my raspberry patch were proliferating, and I didn’t have the energy to pull them. I cut the flowers off the weeds before they could produce seeds, and the next year there were almost none of that kind of weed in my raspberry patch. So, with an annual weed that relies on yearly reseeding, one way to control it is to prevent seed formation by mowing or clipping the flowers.

Earth911

Soil Solarization for Weed Control

Have you tried soil solarization? Covering your garden soil with clear plastic can raise soil temperatures enough to kill dormant weed seeds

Eco-friendly cleaning

This is a great article discussing some of the sustainable living topics that have competing viewpoints on which is the most eco-friendly alternative. The actual article may be behind a paywall for some of you, so I’ll summarize some of the main points.

In recent years, green cleaning products have improved significantly and are generally just as effective. Various certifications such as EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, and UL Ecologo can help you identify the ones that work well.

Is a car more fuel efficient running the AC or driving with the windows open? It depends on the car and the speed. However, there are things you can do to help, such as keeping the windows open for a few minutes before you start the air conditioner to allow some of the hot air to vent out of the car. And use a sunshade against the windshield when parked to help reduce some of the heat buildup.

Studies show that reusable towels do a better job of cleaning than paper towels, so save the paper towels for the big messes.

There’s a lot of advice with diagrams on how to load the dishwasher for the best effectiveness. The two most interesting pieces of information are that the soap works better if your water heater is set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit (instead of hotter), and that modern dishwashers work better if you don’t pre-rinse your dishes.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/07/09/eco-friendly-house-cleaning-practices/