Using Occultation and Solarization to Kill Weeds and Grass

It’s always desirable to get rid of unwanted weeds and grass without pesticides but
doing so can be challenging. Two methods that can be used are occultation and
solarization. In occultation or soil tarping, light is excluded from the treated area,

typically using silage tarps or black plastic. In solarization, clear plastic is used so that
the sun’s radiation can penetrate the treated area, killing the unwanted plants. In this
session, we will discuss our results using occultation and solarization at the Pollinator
Garden to remove a weedy patch of grass, as well as making a comparison of the
advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Pollinator Garden | Chelan & Douglas Counties | Washington State University (wsu.edu)