Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Soil solarization uses clear plastic sheeting and sunlight to heat soil, killing pests, weed seeds, and pathogens. It works best ...

David Kuchta, Ph.D. has 10 years of experience in gardening and has read widely in environmental history and the energy transition. An environmental activist since the 1970s, he is also a historian, ...

Solarization also eliminates some soil diseases, including Verticillium wilt, Phytophthora root rot, Fusarium wilt, damping-off, crown gall, tomato canker, and potato scab, allowing healthy plants and ...

Mealybugs are relentless pests that drain energy from your plants and are notoriously hard to get rid of. You'll often find them clustered on leaves, stems, and even roots, weakening plants and ...

“Oh, my goodness, I feel like I’m cooking!” exclaims my 9-year-old as he helps me pull weeds from a small plant bed. It was still morning but already above 80 F, and the humidity was in full force.

Applying clear plastic sheeting to soils in hot weather can reduce pests, diseases, and weed seeds. Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Landers Weed seeds, plant diseases and soil-dwelling pests can build up ...

After the temperatures we have had this week, going out to work in the garden may be the last thing on your mind; but these hot summer days are perfect to help control weeds and soilborne pathogens in ...

Soil solarization is a surprisingly simple organic gardening technique that uses heat generated by the sun to kill pests, pathogens, and weed seeds. All you need is some clear plastic sheeting and ...