Twelve ornamental ground cover species were planted then monitored for 2 years to assess their relative usefulness for controlling weeds Persicaria capitatum established quickly and covered the plots but it was unsuitable for keeping weeds controlled because it died back each winter from frost damage Acaena inermis and Muehlenbeckia axillaris also completely covered the plots within 12 months and they effectively prevented weeds from establishing during a 5month assessment period in the second year Many of the other planted species also suppressed weeds well and those that decreased the ratio of red to far red light intercepted by the soil underneath them best gave better weed control Other ground covers that suppressed weeds well included Ajuga reptans Coprosma acerosa Grevillea lanigera Juniperus procumbens Pimelea prostrata Sedum mexicanum and Veronica peduncularis Some species such as S mexicanum and P prostrata shaded the soil less well at certain times each year
Weed control strategies for establishing three ground cover species were investigated by planting them in late spring then assessing eight different control treatments during the following 14 months The prostrate woody Coprosma acerosa Taiko established best with black weed mat mulch and EcoCover paper mulch although bark mulches also gave reasonable establishment rates The brittle succulent Sedum mexicanum Acapulco Gold also established well with black weed mat and paper mulch although a sawdust mulch was particularly suitable The frostprone Polygonum capitatum which regrows readily from seed did best with soil kept bare by handhoeing or selective herbicides although the paper mulch also rated well Thus the best weed control strategy varied depending on the characteristics of the ground cover being established Other considerations including relative costs are also discussed
To determine how rapidly ornamental ground cover species can establish and thus potentially stop weeds from establishing 12 perennial species with different growth forms and habits were planted into plots covered with 7 cm of sawdust mulch Plants had a mean diameter varying from 10 cm to 41 cm when transplanted in November 2008 with 10 m spacing with three plants per plot and three plots for each species After 5 months Polygonum capitatum had established the most rapidly completely covering the plots in dense growth and seeding prolifically but then it suffered a sudden dieback apparently from frost damage Ajuga reptans Caitlins Giant produced the tallest and densest cover within the first 5 months with an average patch diameter of 83 cm Two other species exhibiting rapid establishment ability were Grevillea lanigera Little Drummer Boy and Acaena inermis Purpurea The remaining species were slower to establish but several were beginning to also produce good weedsmothering ground covers Sedum mexicana Acapulco Gold produced dense patches once established but was the species most prone to being damaged by rabbits Results obtained will facilitate selection of the most useful ground cover species for urban weed management
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