Gardening Tarpaulin Maximizing Soil Health and Pest Control with Tarps

Tarps are an effective gardening tool that can greatly improve soil health. By covering patches of soil with Tarpaulin, gardeners can stimulate microbial activity and encourage the development of beneficial soil organisms. The buildup of heat underneath tarps supercharges the soil food web.

Benefits of Increased Soil Microbial Activity

The rise in microbial populations and activity levels within taped soil has widespread positive impacts on garden health and productivity. Soil microbes are vital decomposers that recycle organic matter and make plant nutrients readily available. With their numbers increased under tarps, these functions are taken to the next level.

Nutrient Availability:

As bacteria, fungi, and other microbes break down dead plant and animal matter, nutrients within are released in a soluble form that plants can uptake. Nitrogen fixers like Rhizobia bacteria associate with legume roots to naturally fix nitrogen from the air.

Soil Structure:

The exudates produced by certain fungi and bacteria act like glue, binding soil particles into aggregates. Fluffy, crumbly soil structure forms that have excellent porosity for air and water movement. Protozoa consume bacteria and fungi, excreting nutrients and regulating populations.

Disease Suppression:

Predatory microbes like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa compete for space and resources with pathogens. Some microbes also produce antimicrobial compounds that directly inhibit plant diseases. With robust microbial communities protecting root zones, plant diseases are less able to invade.

Research has shown biological disease control through balanced soil flora can be up to 90% effective. Healthy plants suffering fewer biotic stresses are also less susceptible to secondary pests.

Water Retention:

Well-aggregated soil formed by microbial exudates holds 25-30% of its weight in water within pore spaces.[2] This endows soil with a greater water buffer even during dry periods, making plants more drought-resistant

Timing Tarp Placement

Proper timing is key to maximizing the benefits of tarp placement while avoiding potential pitfalls like overheating plants or depleted soil moisture. Some best practices for when to apply tarps include:

Early Spring:

In cooler regions, tarps can help warm the soil 4-6°C above ambient air temperatures when applied around the end of winter. This allows getting a jump start on heat-loving crops 2-3 weeks earlier than normal planting time.

Summer:

From June through August, Tarpaulin Sheet over newly cleared garden beds or areas heavily infested with perennial weeds. Two to four weeks of blocked sunlight is typically sufficient to smother most weed species. Tarps also retain moisture during the dry summer months.

Late Summer/Early Fall:

As nights begin to cool off in August and September, tarps conserve warmth and moisture to extend the harvest window for heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers. They also accelerate the composting of spent plant matter before winter.

Winter:

Leaving tarps in place over dormant beds provides insulation from hard frosts and fluctuations in temperature that can heave soils or damage soil structure. Lift corners occasionally to prevent moisture buildup.

Tarp Placement Techniques

It's important to secure tarps properly to fully realize their soil improvement benefits without damaging plants. Some effective techniques include:

Edge Securing:

Fold or roll tarp edges under by 4-6 inches and secure them with soil, sandbags, stones, boards, or landscape pins pushed into the ground. This prevents flapping in the wind.

Slit Technique:

For spring soil warming, cut a few 1-foot slits in tarps and open briefly after rainfall to allow water drainage. Slits can be resealed with loose soil.

Crossed Weights:

Place pieces of rebar or landscaping timber across the middle of larger tarps, then secure edges. The cross-weights prevent billowing without needing complete edge burial.

Folding Corners:

For airflow under summer tarps-uk, fold corners up 6-12 inches on the north sides of beds and secure with soil or rocks.

Lifting Periodically:

During hot weather, flip back one corner of the tarps for 30 minutes a few times a day. This releases built-up heat and prevents soils from becoming too hot for microbial life.