How to process a greenhouse in spring after winter - the main subtleties of preparing for a new summer cottage season
The new spring season for many gardeners begins with the preparation of the greenhouse, because the quality and abundance of the future harvest depends on the correctness of its implementation. Therefore, every summer resident should know how to process the greenhouse in the spring after winter and what measures must be taken before planting begins.
How to treat a greenhouse in spring after winter effectively
Precipitation and temperature fluctuations can damage the foil, polycarbonate or other covering material. Therefore, it is often necessary to carry out minor repairs.
Pathogenic microorganisms that cause plant diseases can multiply on the walls of the structure and on the soil. Indoor ground is characterized by a special microclimate with high humidity and temperature. In addition, the same plants are grown in greenhouses every year, which creates optimal conditions for the development of microorganisms and insect pests.
Therefore, before processing the greenhouse in the spring after winter, it must be disinfected and properly prepared.
Clearing the area from snow
Before working the soil in the spring after winter, you need to remove the snow from the surrounding area. Most often, summer residents bring it inside the greenhouse and scatter it on the ground surface.
This simple technique makes the soil softer and looser, saturates it with useful microelements contained in melt water. If you skip this stage of natural moisture, the soil will be compacted and it will be difficult for oxygen to pass through.
Snow can be thrown into the greenhouse in February or early March, before it melts. This will help not only loosen the ground, but also get rid of the pest larvae.
Garbage collection
Preparing the greenhouse after winter includes the obligatory cleaning of all garden tools left in storage. You also need to remove all wooden pegs, top dressing and other devices that were used by gardeners last year to tie plants.
The collected garbage should not be thrown away; it is best to burn it. The resulting ash will become an excellent natural fertilizer that saturates the soil with useful microelements. For this, ash is introduced in the amount of 4-5 glasses per 1 sq. m. during digging.
Also, the dismantling of the supports is carried out, which serve to strengthen the roof and protect it from collapse under the weight of snow. It is advisable to whitewash the wooden supports with a mixture of paint glue and lime.
Metal elements should be treated with special anti-rust agents. If they are not at hand, you can use lemon juice with the addition of baking soda or vinegar.
If polycarbonate sheets are bent or burst under the weight of snow, they must be replaced. In this case, it is necessary to strengthen the base of the structure. Seal gaps in transoms and frames with sealant.
Greenhouse cleaning
During the spring preparation of the greenhouse for the next season, you need to remove all the dust and dirt that has accumulated over the winter.This procedure should be carried out even if all structural elements were thoroughly washed in the fall.
When choosing how to wash the greenhouse after winter, it is best to give preference to the following means:
- soap solution with the addition of copper sulfate - 120 g per bucket of solution;
- chlorine - 250-300 g per bucket;
- soda - 300 g per bucket.
If pests were detected in the greenhouse last year, an insecticidal preparation must be added to the washing solution, intended to combat these pests.
Polycarbonate elements should be cleaned with a cloth or sponge on both sides. After application, the soap solution must be washed off - manually from the inside of the greenhouse and with a strong water solution from the outside.
To prevent harm to fertile soil, care must be taken that the soapy solution does not fall on its surface.
Greenhouse disinfection
Treatment of greenhouses from pests and diseases is an important element of the spring preparation of the greenhouse. To combat harmful insects and plant diseases, you can use various means - both special preparations and smoke bombs, lime, iodine, copper sulfate or hydrogen peroxide.
How to disinfect a greenhouse before planting:
- Lime - dissolve 200 g of lime in 5 liters of water, mix well and leave to infuse for 2-3 hours. Use to spray liberally inside the greenhouse with a spray bottle.
- Urea - for spraying, use a solution of 5 liters of water and 25-30 g of urea.
- Copper sulfate - Dissolve 50 g of the preparation in 5 liters of warm water and spray the inside of the greenhouse.
- Pharmayod or potassium permanganate - dissolve in water to prepare a weak solution.
- Hydrogen peroxide, Fitosporin, Metronidazole tablets - to prepare the solution, mix 3 tablespoons of peroxide with 4 tablespoons of Fitosporin and 10 tablets of Metronidazole.
Spray such solutions inside the greenhouse with a spray gun, trying to process all parts and structural elements.
Greenhouse fumigation
One of the most effective means of treating a greenhouse after winter is a smoke bomb. Such fumigations are used in case of extensive lesions of the greenhouse with fungal diseases. The use of a smoke bomb should be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise you can not only poorly disinfect the greenhouse, but also cause yourself serious harm.
Fumigations are not carried out if the structure consists of unpainted iron parts. Sulfur smoke provokes the development of corrosion and the elements will be damaged.
One way to prepare your greenhouse for the new season in spring is to use charcoal and chopped cuttings sulfur. Combine these substances in equal proportions and transfer to regular kitchen trays.
After that, place the baking trays with the mixture in the basins and place them inside the greenhouse. Light the mixture and leave the greenhouse with the door sealed. The consumption of components depends on the area to be treated - about 100 g per 1 sq. m.
Preparing the soil for planting
If fungal or other diseases were detected on the plants last year, all plant particles and twine for the garter must be burned and the soil replaced with a new one.
In the spring, the soil must be prepared for sowing. This can be done already in the second half of March or early April. To do this, the soil should be dug up and peat or ash should be scattered over its surface. Instead, you can tighten it with a dark film. This is one of the ways to warm up the soil in a greenhouse, allowing you to start planting seedlings much earlier.
After healing and heating the soil, you can start preparing it, which consists of several stages.:
- Top dressing of the soil with complex mineral or organic fertilizers.To do this, you can use bone meal, humus, peat, rotted manure, river silt, chopped bark, chicken or pigeon droppings.
- Soil mulching - allows you to preserve useful trace elements and moisture in the soil.
- Planting green manure is equally effective for both open and closed ground. Mustard, oil radish, rye can be used as green manure. They increase the fertile properties of the soil and protect it from pests.
To prepare the soil for planting, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment of diseases and insect pests. Many summer residents use Fitosporin for this purpose, adding 30 g of the drug to a bucket of water.
The prepared Fitosporin solution can be used in two ways:
- spill soil in a greenhouse from a watering can;
- process simultaneously with other surfaces and elements of the greenhouse.
After processing, the soil should be covered with a dark film and left for a while. Then remove and let the soil dry completely. Then you can start sowing.
Spring processing of the greenhouse is a great opportunity to prepare the greenhouse and soil for the upcoming season. Due to the observance of several rules and stages of preparation, it is possible to ensure consistently high yields of vegetable and fruit crops, as well as prevent the appearance of pests and the development of diseases.