Ground Cover Plants To Save Weeding

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 6

Ground Cover Plants To Save Weeding

Weeding is a task which few of us like so that everything possible is done to reduce it to a minimum. On paths, drives and waste areas, complete weedkillers can be used, and for best results these should be applied when there is plenty of moisture in the ground and plants are generally in active growth. Pre-emergence weedkillers are slowly making an appearance and by spraying these on to well perpared land, seedling weeds are suppressed. Application of mulches round permanent plants not only reduce drying out, they also suppress weeds. Organic matter such as compost, well

decayed manure or stack bottom. is rarely ever available in sofficient quantities for use as a mulch, but sawdust is easily enough obtained. Additional nitrogen should always be added when using sawdust to aid in decomposition and reduce the chance of nitrogen starvation. In the vegetable garden, polythene sheeting makes an admirable mulch; if the black kind is used weeds are suppressed. Another method of weed suppression that has been more used overseas than in New Zealand is the use of ground cover plants. This can be used under shrubs or trees and among perennial plants, and consists of close planting so that there is no bare soil in which weeds can find a foothold. This is only copying nature where all ground is almost always filled leaving no place for weeds to grow.

Plants used in ground cover are usually low growing; grow at a reasonably fast rate; tolerate conditions where plants—i.e., full sun, shade, poor soil, wet or dry conditions—and are reasonably attractive either in foliage, flower or fruit. Plants can be either annuals, perennials, or shrubs and, by careful selection, can prolong the interest of a group of plants and induce colour contrasts.

The ground where they are to go should be lightly forked and any perennial weeds should be completely removed. Whilst it is possible to prevent the establishment of annual weeds it is not possible to choke out persistent perennial ones.

Apply a general fertiliser and rake in before planting, for, as you will be increasing the number of plants in a given area, you must also increase the amount of food that will be available. Plants that are put out should be firmly planted, and it may be advisable to water until they are established. The numbers to be used will be determined by cost and and the speed with which the new plants will cover the required area. Until they have filled their allotted space, weeding will have to be carried out in the usual way, but once they are full grown, weeds will be choked out The following plants can be used in the positions recommended. Annuals: Livingstone daisies, garden nasturtiums, Arctotis, Venidium and Virginian stock. Perennials, for sunny areas. Gazanias, Lippia nodiflora, all kinds of mesembryanthemum, Verbena chamaedrifolia, Lithospermum diffusum, Erigeron mucronatus, Convolvulus mauritanicus, Acaena microphylla, Thymes. Perennials, for shade.— Ajuga reptans varieties, Saxifraga sarmentosa, Hosta in variety. Geranium wallichianum, Potentilla tonguei. Shrubs, for sun.—Halimum ocymoides, Rosmarinus lavandulaceus, Correa speciosa and C. pulchella, Juniperus horozontalis, J. sabina varieties, J. chinense tamariscifolia, low growing ericas, Calluna vulgaris varieties. Shade shrubs.— Periwinkle varieties, Ivy, Cotoneaster horizontalis, C. conspicua, C. dammeri, Mitraria coccinea, Euonymus radicans, Hypericum elatum, H. calycinum.