Stale seed bed

By destroying them early, the farmer or gardener eliminates most of that season's annual weeds, which reduces their labor and improves their crop yields.

[2] The false or stale seed bed technique can be started immediately after harvesting a field, or at least two weeks prior to planting a new crop.

Final preparation is done with a cultipacker or other type of roller to firm the soil, which enhances seed germination.After the weeds have sprouted and reached the first-leaf stage, they are eliminated.

Seed bed finishing can be done with a heavy garden rake to break up clods and level the soil.

After the weeds have sprouted and reached the first-leaf stage, they are eliminated using mechanical or thermal methods as above.

It skips the soil tillage steps, but may involve removing enough plant residue to avoid problems with the tarps.

The no-till stale seed bed method involves covering the soil with plastic or silage tarps.

With occultation, black plastic or silage tarps are laid over the soil, creating a moist and warm environment in which weed seeds germinate, and then die due to lack of light.