Maybe the only sunny area you have for a garden is currently a lawn. How about reducing the size of that lawn and converting it to a food and flower producing garden? Or, maybe you’re trying to get rid of persistent weeds in a current garden. Or maybe your soil has pests or diseases such as nematodes or verticillium wilt. This is the time of year to tackle all those tasks…with soil solarization. Were going to tell you how to heat up the soil to kill off an unwanted lawn, do away with bermudagrass, and thwart soil borne pests and diseases, resulting in some of the best soil you’ve ever had, using clear plastic. Soils expert Steve Zien has the tips. Here's what we did in our own yard.This episode is brought to you by Smart Pots. Visit smartpots.com/fred for a money-saving offer on the original, award-winning fabric planter, USA-made. Listen to learn how to win a free, Smart Pots 6-foot long bed! (By the way, if the podcast service you listen to doesn't have a ratings/comment section, you can send your ratings/comment here to enter this contest.)Don’t be in a hurry to pick apples from your backyard trees. In many cases, the longer you wait, the better they taste, and that is especially true for one particular very popular apple variety that is probably harvested two months too soon.And as you stroll through the garden, maybe you’re noticing some wilting plants, browning leaves or lack of growth. Our favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, has a quick tip on solving a very common problem in yards and gardens: ignored irrigation systems. Make sure your drip irrigation on-off valves are open!It’s all part of Episode 24 of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Get comfortable on the clear plastic sheeting and give us a listen.More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fredhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1004629.Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. It's available just about anywhere podcasts are handed out. Please subscribe and leave a comment or rating at Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: call and leave a question, or text us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: [email protected] or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local.All About Farmer Fred:Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.comDaily Garden tips and snark on TwitterThe Farmer Fred Rant! BlogFacebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"Instagram: farmerfredhoffmanFarmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTubeGarden columnist, Lodi News-Sentinel Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter.

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