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Reflecting on Weather Patterns and What They Bring

By
Cary Sims
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As our growing season progresses and rain picks up in Angelina County, I’m intrigued to hear gardeners and agricultural producers comment on what weeds, insects, fungus, or other pests are causing problems for them. I know it is too exhaustive to cover in the scope of this column, but I wish I could wrap my head around how the temperatures, rainfall, and vegetative growth work together to affect pest populations as well as the success of gardens, pastures, lawns, and hay meadows.

Just twelve months ago, we had a hot, dry fall that left grasses, trees, and shrubs in a grim state as they entered their winter dormancy. Those stressed lawns and stressed pastures, which were then followed by an abundance of rain, left opportunities for weeds to germinate at rates higher than we’ve seen in some time. The fall-germinating weeds seeds are what created our abundance of weeds in the spring. And we all well remember just how much rain we received in the spring and early summer of this year!

That abundance of moisture (excessive rainfall) encouraged all types of vegetative growth – both for the better and the worse. Additionally, I believe those downpours encouraged many insect problems as well as increased fungal pressure. These weeds, insect populations, and fungal outbreaks were noticed throughout the summer and have had to be dealt with at a rate we have not seen in a while.

Several homeowners have reached out to me complaining about weeds in their lawns that have never had weed problems before. Stockmen studying pastures are also confused why such an abundance of weeds have grown in larger numbers than ever before. I’m convinced that the all the grasses were thin and suffering last fall, giving weed seeds the opportunity to germinate and grow. 

Though we’ve had crape myrtle bark scale here for some time, I have seen and heard more reports from homeowners about this pest this year. I believe that this bark scale has been able to flourish because of the stressed crape myrtles going into the winter dormancy and the incredible rainfall received as they started this new growing season.

Army worms in pastures and hay meadows also seemed to have made an early appearance. True, I always get caught off guard by how early these “fall” army worms appear, but I think they were much earlier this year than in the past. Additionally, I believe that they were able to gain a larger foothold and cause more damage due to the excessive rainfall.

Scab on pecans was abundantly evident. Home orchards that have never had much of this fungal growth, saw nearly all pecan trees affected by this persistent disease. Adding insult to injury, the dry weather has caused remaining pecans to drop from the abrupt drying of the ground. 

As we make our transition out of summer and into the fall, I’m curious as to what the weather patterns are going have in store for us as we wrap up this growing season. Now, I do generally believe in our weather forecasts, but I am nervous about what lies ahead and what problems that may cause.

Looking to the coming days, I love the quote from an old and wise gentlemen who one told me, “Plan for the future? Heck, I don’t even buy green bananas.” 

My Five Cents… A Monthly Column from Sen. Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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Fall is just around the corner! This means the 2024-2025 hunting season is here. Dove hunting season opens this weekend. Be sure to get a license from Texas Parks and Wildlife and as always be safe. 

Here are five things happening around your state:  

1. Business and Commerce Committee discusses Artificial Intelligence, Texas Energy Fund

This week, the Senate Business and Commerce Committee held a hearing on two interim charges, one regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the other on the Texas Energy Fund. The charge asks the committee to recommend a responsible regulator framework for AI development, including data privacy, industry standards, consumer protections, risk mitigation, and compliance processes. The committee heard from higher education professionals that study AI about how AI works, the levels of AI, and how it’s commonly used. Panels also discussed AI in the public sector at state agencies, AI in the private sector, and AI in media, like the press, music, movies, and broadcasting. Ultimately, the state should develop a framework that addresses AI responsibly with the consumer in mind, but is not overly burdensome on new technology. It’s an intricate, but important balance to strike. 

The second charge the committee discussed was on the Texas Energy Fund (TEF). The TEF was created last session by Senate Bill 2627, by Sen. Charles Schwertner. It created four programs designed to incentivize the construction of more generation for the power grid. The fund was appropriated $5 billion last session. This week, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) selected the initial projects that will be funded by one of the programs. Out of 72 applications, 17 projects were selected to move on to the due diligence phase of the program. These projects represent 9,781 megawatts of new generation and a technologically and geographically diverse portfolio. This is another critical step forward toward the state’s commitment to enhancing the stability of the grid and increasing generation resources. 

2. One million ineligible voters removed from rolls

Governor Abbott announced this month that Texas has removed over one million ineligible people from the voting rolls since 2021. That year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Bryan Hughes, which further enhanced election security and integrity. Of the 1 million people removed from the rolls, over 6,500 were noncitizens, over 6,000 had felony convictions, over 457,000 were deceased, over 463,000 on the suspense list, over 134,000 had moved, over 19,000 requested to cancel their registration, and 65,000 failed to respond to a notice of examination. The safety and security of our elections is paramount and it’s our duty to maintain accurate voter registration rolls. 

3. TxDOT announces record $148 billion ten-year plan

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Governor Abbott announced a record $148 billion investment in Texas’ transportation infrastructure. That includes a $104 billion ten-year transportation plan and over $43 billion for development and routine maintenance. This plan is a $5.6 billion increase in total investment from the previous year. According to the department, many of the projects on the Unified Transportation Program (UTP) are roads included on Texas’ 100 most congested roadways list. Also included in the UTP is $17.3 billion for safety and $1.7 billion in funding for rural corridors and key roadways in economic hubs. 

4. HHSC awarding $3.3 million to rural hospitals for labor and delivery services

This month, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced the Rural Hospital Maternal Care Operations Grant for rural hospitals that are not currently providing in patient labor and delivery services. The funding totals $3.3 million and provides qualifying hospitals a one-time payment of $35,000 to purchase neonatal equipment, supplies, and training for emergency labor and delivery services. Grant applications are open now and close on September 13. 

5. Big Time Texas Hunts open for applications, hunting licenses now available

The Big Time Texas Hunts draw is open for applications. There are 10 premium guided hunt packages and new opportunity this year to win a chance to free-range hunt a mature male aoudad ram in the Trans-Pecos region. Also new this year, wild game chef Jesse Griffiths will join the draw winners of the Big Time Bird Hunt and give a private cooking lesson to the winner on the turkey hunt. Entries are available online for $9 each or at a licensed retailer for $10 each. The deadline to purchase is October 15 with winners announced within two weeks. Additionally, Texas hunting and fishing licenses also went on sale this month. Happy hunting! 

Texas A&M Forest Service Encourages Texans to Prevent Wildfires During Dove Hunting Season

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — During the upcoming Labor Day weekend and the start of dove hunting season, Texans are urged to help protect our lands and natural resources by being mindful of activities that may cause a wildfire.

Hot and dry conditions in August resulted in increased wildfire activity across North and Northwest Texas. Throughout August, Texas experienced 281 wildfires that burned 24,333 acres. With rain and increased moisture in the forecast, the risk of wildfire activity will be reduced. However, Texans should continue to be cautious with all outdoor activities that may cause a spark.

“Forecast rain will help to decrease wildfire potential across most of the state,” said Jared Karns, Texas A&M Forest Service Interim Fire Chief. “We encourage everyone to be careful with outdoor activities this holiday and throughout the fall.”

Wildfires caused by vehicles, trailers, ATV/UTVs and other equipment frequently used while hunting and camping are common during hunting season, which occurs each year from September to January.

Nine out of 10 wildfires in Texas are human-caused, and everyone can make a difference by taking personal responsibility for their actions. Remain vigilant as drought conditions continue to expand and intensify and be cautious with any activity that may cause a spark.

To avoid accidentally starting a wildfire while dove hunting:

  • Avoid driving over and parking on dry grass – the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
  • Always check with local officials for burn bans or other outdoor burning restrictions. Each county in Texas sets and lifts its own burn bans. View the latest burn ban map here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/burnbans/.
  • If you are taking a trailer out on your adventures, make sure that the tires are properly inflated, chains will not contact the road and any loose metal will not continually hit anything else, all of which can cause sparks.
  • Always be ready to put out a fire should one start. Have a shovel and water with you in camp and have a fire extinguisher with you at all times.

For more information on preventing wildfires this hunting season, please visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/HuntingFireSafety/.

To help prevent wildfires while grilling outdoors, please follow these safety tips:

  • Never leave your grill unattended. Wind gusts may blow embers into dry vegetation, potentially starting a wildfire.
  • Ensure your grill is kept clean of excess grease to prevent flare-ups.
  • Place your grill in an open space away from tall or dry grass, shrubs, woodpiles or other flammable materials. Also, avoid placing your grill underneath a tree or on a wooden patio deck.
  • After you are finished grilling, allow time for the coals in your grill to completely cool. Smoldering coals may reignite and release embers, which may be blown into nearby vegetation.

Additional fire prevention resources can be found here:

https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/preventionresources

No. 8 Roadrunners Beat No. 18 Western Texas in AC’s Season Opener

By
Gary Stallard
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Five Different ‘Runners Score in Rout

After losing a bevy of legitimate scoring threats to graduation following the 2023 season, the Angelina College men’s soccer team’s biggest question had to do with who would handle the scoring load for the new squad.

Tuesday’s match offered a solid answer: Everyone. 

Five different players scored goals in the No. 8 Roadrunners’ 5-0 rout of No. 15 Western Texas College in AC’s season-opening home win at the Soccer Complex on the AC campus. 

Mads Holm, Abdallah Traore, Samuel Bouable, Unathi Radebe and Elias Taj each found the nets in the impressive win. Filliph Kamfjord assisted on two of those goals, while teammates Patricio Villalobos, Enrico Singh and Jan Gutzeit also provided assists. 


The offensive attack backed a solid defensive effort, with AC keeper Casper Madsen tallying four saves as the Westerners managed just four shots on goal. 

The Roadrunner offense pressed from the opening whistle, with AC nearly scoring a goal off a set piece not one minute into the match. Jacob Blach’s header just missed the mark, but four minutes later, Holm took a pass from Kamfjord and avoided a scramble in the box to send home the match’s first goal. 

In the 20th minute, Traore received a pass from Villalobos and danced around Westerner defenders for the score and a 2-0 AC lead. With just 1:42 to play in the first half, Bouable benefited from Singh’s pass, creating an open shot with some fancy footwork for a 3-0 lead at the half.

Kamfjord again played setup man a mere three minutes into the second half, dishing to Radebe, who wound his way around the Westerner keeper and a defender to tap home his goal. Taj wrapped up the scoring in the 82nd minute, taking Gutzeit’s pass to push a kick off the side of his foot for the 5-0 final score. 

The Roadrunners (1-0) on Friday will host Northeast Texas Community College as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader at Angelina College. The Lady Roadrunners kick off at 5 p.m., with the ‘Runners following at 7:30 p.m.

Both matches will be live streamed on TSBN Sports.

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Governor Abbott Announces Over $140,000 Career Training Grant To Huntington ISD

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Governor Greg Abbott today announced a Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant totaling more than $140,000 has been awarded to Huntington Independent School District in partnership with Angelina College by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This grant will support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by helping schools purchase and install equipment to train students as welders.

“Equipping young Texans with the tools they need to succeed in high-demand industries is crucial for Texas to remain the economic envy of the nation,” said Governor Abbott. “This grant will provide hardworking students in East Texas with valuable career and technical skills so they can thrive in our booming economy. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission for their ongoing work to help students prosper and build a brighter economic future for our state.”

“This grant will provide new welders with access to cutting-edge equipment that will help them prepare for their future careers,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “JET grants like the one awarded today are an important tool to equip the future workforce of Texas for success.”

Earlier today, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III presented the award at a ceremony attended by state and local officials and staff at Huntington High School.

Through funding provided by the Texas Legislature each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs to develop career and technical education programs for public community, state and technical colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.

Learn more about TWC’s JET grant program.

Pictured:  State Representative Trent Ashby with Huntington students.  (Pic from HISD Facebook Page)

Teaming Up with Law Enforcement to Prevent Drunk Driving

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – The reckless act of drinking and driving could change your life forever, but it only takes a few minutes to find a sober ride. As law enforcement increases its presence leading up to Labor Day, drivers can save their own lives and the lives of others by finding a rideshare, transit, or other safe ride.   

While many people enjoyed an extra day off during the Labor Day weekend last year, 14 families and communities mourned the loss of a loved one.

With the holiday just around the corner, TxDOT is launching the “Drive Sober. No Regrets.” Labor Day campaign to remind motorists about the dangers of drunk driving. In partnership with local law enforcement, the campaign urges Texans to always make the right choice and get a sober ride home—or face the consequences.

“Every drunk driving fatality is preventable, plain and simple,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “If you plan to celebrate Labor Day by drinking, make sure you arrange a sober ride using a rideshare, taxi, public transit, or a designated driver.”

TxDOT is working with law enforcement agencies across the state as they boost efforts to identify and arrest drunk drivers from Aug. 16 through Sept. 2. This coincides with the national heightened enforcement period sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Last year, there were 334 DUI-alcohol-related traffic crashes over the Labor Day holiday weekend, resulting in 14 fatalities and 35 serious injuries. TxDOT wants to prevent these crashes and save lives by encouraging drivers to make the right choice this holiday and beyond.

Drive Sober. No Regrets. is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936-633-4395.

Meeting The Moment with a Historic Transportation Investment

By
Rhonda Oaks
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Texas is booming.  

Our state adds a new Texan almost every minute of every day. Our quality of life and vibrant $2.4 trillion economy make our state an attractive place to live and a compelling destination for future Texans. While growth poses challenges, TxDOT is meeting the moment with a record investment in our transportation system to ensure Texas remains the preferred destination for families and businesses.  

Thanks to the vision of Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature, the Texas Transportation Commission is up to the task with the adoption of the largest financial commitment to roadway infrastructure ever—$147.9 billion. This includes $104.2 billion for TxDOT’s 10-year transportation plan known as the Unified Transportation Program (UTP). The $147.9 billion investment—including development and routine maintenance—marks an increase of $5.6 billion from last year’s previous record.  

From 2010 to 2020, Texas’ population grew more than any other state. We added nearly four million people—roughly the entire population of Oklahoma. Currently, Texas has eight of the nation’s top 10 fastest-growing counties for numeric growth, which are part of our five largest metro districts, and home to 68% of all Texans.  

The support of Texans has been central to our continued delivery of new and better roadways, thanks in large measure to voter support of Proposition 1 in 2014 and Proposition 7 in 2015, which is the same year I joined the Commission.   

A lot has changed since then. These days, TxDOT has a record $52.3 billion in projects currently under active construction—more than triple the amount of projects under way in 2014.  

TxDOT is keeping pace with Texas’ growth and infrastructure needs. Later this year, we will break ground on an $11 billion project to improve mobility and reduce flooding along a stretch of Houston’s I-45 corridor. That stretch of roadway accounts for nine of the Top 25 Most Congested Roadways in Texas—a project supported by $5 billion from 2023’s UTP. Last spring, we also broke out the shovels to expand capacity of Loop 1604 to give San Antonians more travel lanes and better connections to I-10.  

Those are just two examples of turning dirt on congestion relief projects as part of the Texas Clear Lanes initiative. Since 2015, we have dedicated nearly $35 billion of funding toward $76 billion worth of projects on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list. The 2025 UTP features an additional $1.9 billion of funding for these Texas Clear Lanes projects.   

Soon, TxDOT will also break ground on the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project to expand and improve an 8-mile stretch in the heart of Austin. In North Texas, the just-approved UTP supports the full funding of the US 380/Spur 399 congestion relief and safety improvement project in Collin County, the second-fastest growing county in the nation.   

Improving connectivity for rural areas, which are home to one of every 10 Texans, remains paramount. 

To help connect the rural parts of the state, this UTP includes an additional $1.7 billion in funding for rural corridors and key roadways in economic hubs. Major improvements are occurring in rural Texas, including along US 87 and US 83 in the Panhandle running through Amarillo and Lubbock. This supports the transport of goods in agriculture, oil and gas production, lumber/timber and other products to our population centers. Border transportation also gets a boost with a planned alternate to I-10 and Phase 2 of the Borderland Expressway in El Paso.  

Safety is at the heart of every project at TxDOT, and this year’s plan reflects that. We will spend $17.3 billion on safety-focused programs, over and above our efforts to reduce congestion and improve connectivity. We understand that Texans want to make it to work and get their kids to school safely, and on time.  

Finally, our commitment to maintenance has not wavered. While the department celebrates a record-breaking UTP for the second year running, we also have established a record investment of $43.7 billion in development and maintenance funding. When added with the $104.2 billion UTP, the unprecedented $147.9 billion total investment will help keep Texans and our economy moving.   

I want to thank my fellow commissioners who have helped guide TxDOT as the agency works to improve safety, provide congestion relief, increase statewide connectivity, and enhance the quality of life for all Texans. As our population and economy continue to grow, we are meeting the challenge to provide a robust transportation system that will serve all current and future Texans. 

Ribbon Cutting New Location – R&R Bilingual (Nacogdoches County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Join us for the one-year anniversary and new location celebration.
We are excited to announce that as of August 1st, we will be at our new location 5021 Justin Street Suite. A thanks to all who have supported our business we outgrew our current location.

Please mark your calendars for our 1 year anniversary and ribbon cutting which will take place on Tuesday, September 3rd at 4:30 pm at our new office.

Location:
5021 Justin St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965-1306, United States

Angelina College Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
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Hey, sports fans,

We’ve got game (s). 

Soccer season kicked off this week, with the Lady Roadrunners playing their first regular-season game on the road and the Roadrunners finishing up their scrimmage schedule at home on Saturday. 

We also held our annual “Meet the Roadrunners” banquet at which we got to meet all our student-athletes and their parents. 

It’s only going to get busier around here. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next: 

Lady Roadrunners Battle Highly Rated Miami Dade College in Season Opener

The 2024 version of the Lady Roadrunner soccer team features a ton of new faces – from players all the way up to the head coach. Sergio Gardea, the new head guy on the sidelines, leads a group with just two returning players.

While the consensus opinion might point to a “rebuilding” year, the Lady ‘Runners already are showing they’re ready to compete right now.

AC opened its regular season Thursday in Tyler against highly regarded Miami Dade College. The Lady ‘Runners came out on the short end of a 5-3 final score, but the team proved it was not about to back down to any competition.

Brenda Izaguirre – a Lufkin product – scored two of her team’s three goals. Camila Rico scored the other goal for the Lady Roadrunners.

AC’s ladies will now focus on Friday’s home opener against Northeast Texas Community College as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader at the Angelina College Soccer Complex on the AC campus.

The women kick off at 5 p.m., with the men following immediately afterward.

Roadrunners Battle NAIA’s TAMU-San Antonio to Draw

Fresh off the men’s soccer program’s second straight appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, the Roadrunners have spent their pre-season tackling bigger opponents. 

On Saturday, AC’s guys squared up against NAIA-level opponent Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and the ‘Runners held their own in battling the Scorpions to a 2-2 draw in AC’s final scrimmage before kicking off the regular season.

In Saturday’s match, ‘Runner Jacob Blach sent a back-header to the corner of the net to tie the score 1-1 in the 40th minute. The ‘Runners’ Filliph Kamfjord gave AC a short-lived lead with his penalty kick in the 64th minute, but the Scorpions equalized just five minutes later, leaving the match at an equal 2-2.

The Roadrunners kick off the regular season with a home match Tuesday against Western Texas College. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at the AC Soccer Complex. 

AC’s men then kick off conference play on Friday as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader against Northeast Texas Community College. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Meet the Roadrunners Banquet

More than 300 student-athletes and parents attended Sunday’s annual Meet the Roadrunners Banquet. There was a recap of all of last year’s highlights, and each head coach addressed the crowd while introducing his or her team. 

Meet the Lady Roadrunner/Roadrunner Soccer Teams

The 2024 rosters for both the Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners are now available for viewing on the AC Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com). 

AC Softball, Baseball Post Fall Schedules

A new year brings new days for all our sports, and now the Angelina College Lady Roadrunner softball and Roadrunner baseball teams are showing they’re ready to roll.

Both softball and baseball have posted their “Fall Ball” schedules for the next few months.

Baseball opens its fall schedule on the road at Alvin College on Friday, Sept. 6, while the Lady Roadrunners open their fall agenda on Saturday, Sept. 14 against Houston Nitro. 

Click the links for each sport to view the schedules:

Lady Roadrunner Softball: https://angelina.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/schedule

Roadrunner Baseball: https://angelina.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/schedule

Changes, Upgrades Coming to AC Athletics Web Site, Social Media

We’re gonna need a bigger website. 

Angelina College Athletics’ official website (www.angelinaathletics.com) and all related social media have been getting much-needed overhauls throughout this summer. Joining our staff are some true website and graphics wizards, and they’re going to help with the redesign and upkeep of all our forms of internet and social media presence going forward. 

Our tentative launch date for all the new-look websites is mid-September. That’s when we’re hoping to reveal the new website, along with all the revamped (and possibly reborn) social media sites. For now, the “old” website will continue to post information. 

In the meantime, we’ll be posting on all those sites to make everyone aware of the coming changes. Some of the current sites need only a little updating, while others may have to disappear completely in order to make room for the new version.

As always, we’ll keep you updated all the way up until the big launch date.  

Live Streaming Reminder: 

All AC Athletics regular-season home games will be live-streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. 

Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics website, look at the scrolling schedule on the right and click the blue “Video” link. 

TSBN also offers an app great for smartphones, devices, and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)

Reminder: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free. Any link offering streaming for a fee is a scam. 

Upcoming schedules:

Tuesday, August 27: Roadrunner Soccer vs. Western Texas, 6 p.m., AC Soccer Complex. 

Friday, August 30: Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. NTCC, 5 p.m., AC Soccer Complex

Roadrunner Soccer vs. NTCC, 7:30 p.m., AC Soccer Complex

For any other information, contact Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu. 

We’ll see you at the games.

Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614

Soil Solarization

By
Cary Sims
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Soil Solarization photo from: https://natraj.org/news/soil-solarization/

Remember the start of this year’s growing season in East Texas? More rain than we had seen in a good while, and then sometime in July, the rain shut off. That rainy weather gave us a number of weeds, insects, and diseases that came about from the excessive rainfall and resulting humidity.

As we are now in the midst of summer heat, you can ‘clean’ up your soil from pathogens, residual seeds, and any insect eggs with a process called soil solarization. 

Soil solarization is a simple, safe, and effective control of plant parasitic nematodes, soil borne plant pathogens, and some weed pests.  It offers an alternative to some pesticides and the lengthy crop rotations now needed to control many damaging pathogens that linger in the soil. In addition, this procedure may give good weed control in many situations.

Radiant heat from the sun is the lethal agent involved in soil solarization. A clear polyethylene mulch is used to trap solar heat in the soil. Over a period of several weeks to a few months, soil temperatures become high enough to kill many of the damaging soil pests and weed seed to a depth of nearly 8 inches.

None of these pests will be completely eradicated from the treated area, but their numbers in the plow layer (the top 6 to 8 inches) will be greatly reduced, allowing successful production of a vegetable garden. 

Just how hot can it get? Results from studies in 2011 and 2012 indicate that when the ambient air temperature reached 99 degrees F, the solarized soil reached over 170 F. That’s hot enough to cook chicken.

To be clear, none of these pests will be completely eradicated from the treated area, but their numbers in the top layer (say 6 to 8 inches) will be greatly reduced, allowing fewer problems in following crops. 

The soil to be solarized must be worked up to seed-bed condition–that is, cultivated until it’s loose and friable with no large clods or other debris on the soil surface. A garden tiller will eliminate clods or other debris that create air pockets that reduce heating of the soil and keep the tarp from fitting tightly over the soil surface. A clean, flat surface will also prevent the accidental puncturing of the thin plastic drop cloth by debris.

Make sure moisture levels are adequate for working the soil before laying the plastic tarp. If the soil is dry, water the areas to be solarized before laying the tarp.  This is crucial because most soil pests are more sensitive to high temperatures in wet soil than in dry soil. When possible, lay a soaker hose or drip irrigation lines under the tarp to maintain moisture levels during soil solarization. Tarped raised beds may also be watered by flood-irrigating the adjacent furrows.

You can use any cheap plastic painting “drop cloth”.  Using two layers of thin plastic sheeting separated by a thin insulating layer of air increases soil temperatures and the overall effectiveness of a solarization treatment. The edges of the sheets must be buried or otherwise secured to prevent blowing or tearing of the tarp by the wind. 

For effective solarization, the edges of tarps laid over raised beds must be buried in the adjoining furrows. Expect some increase in pest and weed problems along the edge of the stripped mulches. Do not cultivate solarized areas, because healthy weed seed will be brought to the soil surface.

Long, hot, sunny days are needed to reach the soil temperatures required to kill soil borne pests and weed seed. The longer the soil is heated, the better and deeper the control of all soil pests and weeds will be. During our hot summers, a solarization period of 4 to 6 weeks should be all that’s needed to control nematodes and soil borne plant pathogens. 

For those concerned about losing beneficial microbes, indeed you will lose them in addition to you unwanted pathogens. However, populations of beneficial, growth-promoting and pathogen-antagonistic bacteria and fungi quickly recolonize solarized soil with the addition of compost or adding a biological control component to soil. 

Soil solarization will tie up land for a period of 1 to 3 months. If you have plans for a fall garden, this can definitely interfere.  But the results of letting our hot summer work for you, can be fantastic. 

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