One is by cutting down the weeds, the other is that you are creating a dust mulch that will help to conserve moisture.

On the off chance it should rain hard during summer, it is very wise to again hoe a few times to rapidly restore the dust mulch.

Also, if it should rain during summer, we can hoe or rotary till a day or two later and again help a new dust mulch to develop.

And, soil moisture studies have proved that overall moisture loss using vegetation mulch slightly exceeds loss under a dust mulch.

If you are unable to seed low residue fields, canola, peas, lentils, etc., early, a spring harrowing may help to create a dust mulch on the surface to avoid excess moisture loss.

Next, we can keep the surface fluffed up with a rotary tiller or hoe during April and May, to break its capillary connection with deeper soil and accelerate the formation of a dry dust mulch.

Try to bring plant density down to those described in Chapter 5, "How to Grow It: A-Z" Then shallowly hoe the soil every day or two to encourage the surface inches to dry out and form a dust mulch.