Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

I'm in SW Florida, and just rototilled my vegi garden, and covered it
with clear plastic to sterilize the soil.
I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.
should I cut holes in the many places that the water sits?
Can I spray something on it a few days after it rains? It rains every
few days for 5 - 30 minutes this time of year.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

On 7/5/07 9:06 AM, in article
, "Sailor"
wrote:

I'm in SW Florida, and just rototilled my vegi garden, and covered it
with clear plastic to sterilize the soil.
I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.
should I cut holes in the many places that the water sits?
Can I spray something on it a few days after it rains? It rains every
few days for 5 - 30 minutes this time of year.
Any ideas?
Thanks

I use Mosquito Dunks in my hydroponics reservoirs. It uses a bacterium
bacillus thuringiensis to kill the wrigglers. This bacterium is available in
a form that can be sprayed.

Bill
--
Iraq: About three Virginia Techs a month

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

In article .com,
Sailor wrote:

I'm in SW Florida, and just rototilled my vegi garden, and covered it
with clear plastic to sterilize the soil.
I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.
should I cut holes in the many places that the water sits?
Can I spray something on it a few days after it rains? It rains every
few days for 5 - 30 minutes this time of year.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Can you sweep the puddles off the visqueen with a broom?
Or pick up one edge and roll the puddles off?

I don't know how large an area you have covered with
one sheet...

Jan

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

"Sailor" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in SW Florida, and just rototilled my vegi garden, and covered it
with clear plastic to sterilize the soil.
I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.
should I cut holes in the many places that the water sits?
Can I spray something on it a few days after it rains? It rains every
few days for 5 - 30 minutes this time of year.
Any ideas?
Thanks

would pouring cooking oil in the puddles work? It is used in water storage
tanks to control mozzies. The oil sits on the surface and stuffs up the
mozzies breathing somehow, it seems.

rob

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.

How long do the puddles last?

Mosquito larva take several days to grow (I've seen slightly different
numbers, so I won't try to quote exactly how many days).

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

The problem I see with leaving the water is this.
A few years ago, a nieghbor had a kiddie wadding pool, with a clear
bottom, in the yard, in the 90 deg FL weather. When he moved it, the
grass under it was the only grass on his property! The heat, without
rain, causes the lawns to brown out. The pool, with water in it kept
the grass (and soil) under it cooler.

I wonder how much a bunch of 1" long knife cuts would let heat escape?

Soil sterilization and mosquitos
 

In article ,
Jim Kingdon wrote:

I have to deal with the water that is left on the plastic after
rains. I don't like mosquitoes!.

How long do the puddles last?

Mosquito larva take several days to grow (I've seen slightly different
numbers, so I won't try to quote exactly how many days).

The local health officials told me 3 days...
--
Peace, Om

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