Methods for treating greenhouses in spring against diseases and pests

With the arrival of spring, all living things on our planet awaken, including pests, which are the main enemies of those who garden. And if you also have a greenhouse on your property, the work in the spring will double, because before you begin sowing, you need to prepare it for use, ensuring that nothing threatens the life and health of the future plants.

The fact is that a greenhouse provides favorable conditions not only for plant growth and development, but also for various bacteria and microelements that are harmful to them. Therefore, without treating the greenhouse, there's no point in growing plants, as there's a high risk of their death. So, how should you treat a greenhouse in the spring against pests and diseases? How to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse — methods and tips.

Disinfection work in spring

Before you begin treating your greenhouse, you need to clear it. For example, if spring has already taken hold, but the snow still refuses to melt, you need to melt it. To do this, simply sprinkle the soil with dark soil-bearing material such as peat, ash, or soil. Only after all the soil has been cleared of snow can you begin treating the greenhouse for pests and diseases in the spring.

There are three disinfection options: biological, chemical, and thermal. To understand the best way to treat a greenhouse in the spring against diseases and pests, it's important to examine each option in more detail, then draw your own conclusions and choose one.

Biological and temperature disinfection

Biological greenhouse treatment is the most time-consuming and complex process. It involves replacing the entire soil in the greenhouse with green manure. Green manure is a group of plants grown to fertilize the soil. It's important to note that biological disinfection, which involves treating a greenhouse in spring against pests and diseases, is impossible without completely replacing the crops grown in the greenhouse.

This is why many gardeners prefer a simpler method: heat treatment. To disinfect a greenhouse with this method, only hot water is required. Heat disinfection involves pouring boiling water over the entire greenhouse area, then covering the damp soil with a moisture-proof material. Steam is generated under this material, killing 80% of pests and germs within a few hours. Features growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.

Another option is to disinfect with low temperatures. In this case, the soil must be frozen. This method is most effective if the region still experiences cold temperatures in early March. All that's required is to clear the soil of snow, which must be thoroughly frozen. Using this method for greenhouse treatment eliminates any chance of survival for pests.

Chemical disinfection of a greenhouse

Another option for treating a greenhouse against diseases and pests in the spring is to use chemicals. There are wet disinfection methods and gas disinfection methods.

The wet method of disinfecting a greenhouse involves the use of chemicals such as formalin, bleach and creolin.

Bleach is the most popular and widely used solution. Dilute 400 grams of this chemical in 10 liters of water and let the solution sit for 4 hours. A suspension will form on the surface of the solution, which should be rubbed onto the transparent material of the greenhouse. The residue is then rubbed onto the metal joints of the greenhouse, the door latch, and other metal parts of the structure.

A gas-based chemical method for treating a greenhouse can also be used. Sulfur is a leading choice for this method. To disinfect with gas, ensure that the greenhouse structure is free of cracks, crevices, and holes, and that all doors are tightly closed. A special gas canister, available at gardening stores, should be added to a completely sealed greenhouse. Up to 80 grams of the gas canister is required per cubic meter of greenhouse. If the greenhouse is infested with spider mites, the dosage can be increased to 150 grams.

Important! This method of treating a greenhouse in the spring against diseases and pests is best used on wooden structures, since if the greenhouse contains metal parts, the gas used will promote its rapid corrosion. Methods getting rid of ants in the country.

All methods for treating greenhouses for pests and diseases in spring have proven to be highly effective and safe for both humans and plants. Without pre-treatment in the spring, there's a chance that much more time and effort will be spent on pest control than on the plants themselves and their care. Therefore, it's not recommended to ignore this step, which is where planting should begin.