Do you spend hours weeding, but the weeds come back again and again?
German scientists from the Institute for Ecological Farming in Bonn have found a solution that will revolutionize your understanding of gardening.
Their method, described in Science Daily , doesn't require chemicals or backbreaking labor.
All you need is black film and... beer. Yes, you heard right!
Researcher Anna Schmidt explains:
"Malt yeast combined with organic mulch creates a weed barrier while nourishing the soil."
The technology is simple: two weeks before planting, the bed is covered with a film with holes for future plants, and then watered with a solution of beer and water (1:5). Alcohol suppresses the growth of unwanted herbs, and yeast stimulates beneficial microorganisms.
Tests on experimental plots in Bavaria have shown that the number of weeds has decreased by 92% over the course of a season. Farmers in the Ruhr region are already calling this “brilliant madness” – and are switching en masse to the new method.
Why beer? Dr. Schmidt explains:
"The malt contains enzymes that break down the cell membranes of weeds, and the hops act as a natural herbicide."
But not just any beer will do. Experiments have shown that dark varieties (such as porter or stout) are 3 times more effective than light ones due to the high concentration of polyphenols. But non-alcoholic beer is useless - you need ethanol.
The black film acts as a "sun trap". Under it, the soil temperature rises to 50°C, which kills the roots of weeds. But how can you avoid destroying cultivated plants? The holes in the film create microzones with normal temperatures, and the beer solution protects the roots from overheating.
Fun fact: The method is inspired by the “biodynamic farming” technology developed by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s. Modern Germans just added beer – and it worked!
However, critics point to the risk of soil acidification. Dr. Karl Hofmann of the University of Hannover warns:
"Too much yeast can upset the pH balance."
To avoid this, sprinkle the bed with crushed chalk after harvesting. It is also important to use a film made of biodegradable material - regular polyethylene pollutes the soil with microplastics.
Surprisingly, the method works even against couch grass and hogweed. In the agricultural cooperative "Gruene Felder" near Berlin, 20 hectares were completely cleared of couch grass in three years, which had resisted chemicals for decades.
"We now save €10,000 a year on herbicides," says manager Hans Grüber.
But what to do if there is no black film? German gardeners advise using cardboard soaked in beer solution. It decomposes during the season, enriching the soil with cellulose. The main thing is not to take newspapers: printing ink is toxic.
