Sterilizing soil is the process of killing off all living organisms in the dirt. This can be done using some common household items that are not used very often, making it a great method to use if you are on a tight budget.
This article will discuss how to sterilize soil so nothing will grow. Some reasons for sterilizing your soil will be moving, planting perennials, or starting a new garden.
It is best to sterilize your soil in the fall, but you can also do it in the spring after any chance of frost. This will ensure that everything from next year’s planting will not start this upcoming season.
A Guide on How To Sterilize Soil So Nothing Will Grow
Method 1: Using Bleach
Materials Needed
- 2 pairs of rubber gloves
- A garbage bag
- Old newspapers
- Bleach
- A large pot and stove
- Water
- A spray bottle for bleach water
Steps to Follow
- Mix 1 part bleach with 4 parts water in a sprayer or a bucket.
- Wearing your gloves, thoroughly mix the bleach and water mixture into your soil until it is completely moistened.
- Put the moist soil from the bucket into a garbage bag and twist the top until it closes.
- Spray or pour 1 part bleach to 9 parts water mixture on your soil and mix thoroughly with your hands again wearing gloves.
- Once the dirt has been mixed completely, put it back in the garbage bag and twist shut, making sure all air is out of the bag.
- Place the bag outside with the top of the bag facing up and leave it there for at least 3 weeks.
- After 3 weeks have passed, take a handful of dirt from the bag and mix it into a pot full of clean soil to which you want to plant your garden or perennial roots.
- Put your new soil mixture in pots or beds as desired.
- For perennial roots, you can skip the bleach step because the perennial plant will be dead. You would only need to do steps 2 through 4.
Remember that sterilizing your soil kills all living organisms in it, so if you plan on using this method to start your garden, then the first thing you should do is plant seeds or plants specifically meant for growing in sterilized soil.
Method 2: Heat Sterilization
Materials Needed
- A gas stove or grill with a lid
- Old newspaper
- Newspaper shreds or straw for insulation
- Rocks, brick, or metal sheeting to prevent burn marks on your oven floor
- Waterproof gloves (heat resistant is best if using an oven)
- Pine needles, wood chips or straw (only if using an oven)
- A metal tray to place your pots on
Steps to Follow
- Heat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using a gas stove, leave the top off so you can keep an eye on it through the glass. If you are using a grill, cover it tightly with the lid so that no heat will escape.
- Place your soil mixture in your metal tray and place it into the oven. Allow baking at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until completely dry.
- Take out of the oven and allow to cool off before moving it.
- Once the sterilized soil has cooled, you can mix it into your new planting bed or use it for planting.
Remember that once the sterilized soil has cooled completely, that is when you will want to remove and seed and plant and start watering. There is no need to wait at least 3 weeks to plant seeds or plants when using this method.
Method 3: Solarization
Materials Needed
- Heavy-duty black plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Garden staples or sharpened sticks to hold down the plastic if laying flat on a garden bed
- Potting soil and seeds for your new garden
- A spray bottle of water for sterilization. (only needed if solarizing a garden bed)
Steps to Follow
- Lay plastic sheeting over your garden bed. Ensure the sheeting is taut, so it does not blow away in the wind or move when you walk on it.
- Secure a few places with duct tape if needed and pound some staples into the ground every 2 feet or so if you’d rather leave it in place.
- Allow sunlight to shine on the plastic for 4-6 weeks straight.
- Water your garden area a few times a week, ensuring that water gets into any cracks or crevices of the plastic.
- Remove from the ground and add soil, seed, and fertilizer as desired.
When solarizing a garden bed, you must spray the soil mixture with water before covering it with plastic sheeting.
Method 4: Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Material Needed
- 1 gallon of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Water
- A spray bottle to apply the mixture
Steps To Follow
- Mix hydrogen peroxide and water in a one-to-one ratio. When using this method for sterilizing soil, it must be diluted half with water.
- Shake the spray bottle well before applying the mixture to the soil.
- Spray your soil mixture thoroughly, working it into all cracks, crevices, and openings in the soil.
- Allow it to sit until dry, at least 3 days before planting anything in it or adding plants that are not meant for growing in soil that has not been sterilized.
When using this method, there is no need to wait at least 3 weeks before seeding and planting seeds or plants.
Method 5: Using Vinegar, Salt, and Dishwashing Liquid
Material Needed
- 1 gallon of distilled white vinegar
- Water
- A spray bottle to apply the mixture
- Coarse salt (enough to cover your soil mixture)
- Dishwashing liquid (one tablespoon per gallon of water)
Steps To Follow
- Mix distilled white vinegar and water in a one-to-one ratio. When using this method for sterilizing soil, it must be diluted half with water.
- Shake your spray bottle well before applying the mixture to the soil.
- Spray your soil thoroughly, working it into all cracks, crevices, and openings in the soil.
- Add coarse salt to the top of your spray-coated area until you have covered about one-quarter of an inch thick across the entire area.
- Allow it to sit until dry, at least 3 days before planting anything in it or adding plants that are not meant for growing in soil that has not been sterilized.
- Once dry, you can take your spray bottle and water the area once more to wash away all of the salt, which will also help remove any vinegar scent left behind.
- If desired, pour used dishwashing liquid into a spray bottle with water and shake until mixed.
- Spray the top of your wet soil mixture to help further kill off any unwanted organisms that may be in the area.
- Allow it to sit for at least one hour before using.
Final Remarks
Soil sterilization is an important process for any prepper who wants to start planting seeds and growing plants in their garden quickly. Using one of these methods will ensure that no harmful microorganisms, insects, or fungus are left living within the soil where you plan to plant your garden.
Prepping is all about getting back to nature and self-sufficiency, but that does not mean you should allow your garden to be plagued with disease or pests because you didn’t have the time or energy to sterilize your soil.
Now that you know how to sterilize soil so nothing will grow, you are completely capable of properly sterilizing your soil (or home, for that matter) and ensuring nothing harmful will hinder your growth.