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Re: sterilizing my garden

-----Original Message-----
From: Claude M. Boland <cboland@olympus.net>
To: sqft@lists.umsl.edu <sqft@lists.umsl.edu>
Date: Sunday, August 09, 1998 3:53 AM
Subject: Re: sterilizing my garden


>I thought you where not suppose to sterilize soil because it kills off all
>the good stuff also ?? ...
> ... Claude M. Boland   cboland@olympus.net


I think it depends on whose rules you are following.   Rodale's "All New
Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening" recommends solarization as one of two
best techniques for combating weed seeds, insects and  disease organisms in
the top 4 inches of the soil (the other recommended technique is crop
rotation).  Our cooperative extension publications on the topic indicate it
is very effective for the top two inches decreasing in effectiveness at
increasing depth.  It has been some time since I've seen chemical
sterilization or fumigation recommended for home gardens but even though
solarization is also nonselective, there are no residual effects and it
seems it would be preferable.  We seldom see earthworms in our desert
gardens at this time of year because they usually go down to escape the heat
so they would be unaffected by solarization if it is done during the summer
and will come back nearer to the surface in fall through spring.    In a
small area like a sgft garden other less mobile organisms soon return from
the surrounding soil or in new compost when it is added.   I wouldn't worry
about it -  but to each his own.
Olin Miller millero@worldnet.att.net>


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