Pre-Plant Weed Control: Solarize Soil Instead of Sterilizing

You can’t truly sterilize garden soil, but you can flush out weed seeds before planting. Spread the soil, cover with clear plastic for 1–2 weeks until weeds germinate, then spray with a non-selective herbicide (e.g., Roundup). Repeat once more. This “stale seedbed” technique eliminates most weed seedlings.