Weeds and Ground Covers -- Fragaria
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ranjanir
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-29-2005 at 3:24pm Sorry - I need to order all my plants tomorrow, so today is 'question day'.
2 years back we planted a slope in part of our backyard (about 1300 sq feet of space) with plants/trees. We had to clear 40 year old Blackberry and English Ivy to do this. We've kept up with the weeding and now all the Blackberry and English Ivy is gone. But - at the very top of the slope , there are a ton of weeds.
Now my local nursery person is suggesting that I weed, mix corn gluten into the soil (to prevent weeds next year) and then plant a ton of Fragaria (Ornamental Strawberry). I am thinking of going with this.
Can some experienced gardener here tell me if this is a good plan? Can I do anything more to prevent weeds on a slope? It is thickly mulched with bark - but still every spring, I need to spend a full day weeding. It is also too steep to use landscape fabric.
I have an organic garden - so I will not use Roundup or any weed killer. So any options should be organic and non toxic.
Is this going to work. It is a lot of work (and a considerable amount of money to do this). SO I want to make sure it is a viable solution.
THanks a ton for any ideas,
Ranjani
P.S. I am on the Seattle Eastside. My nursery said that Fragaria would be evergreen. Has anybody had experience to the contrary -where the plant has behaved more like a perennial. Ranjani
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Apr-29-2005 at 4:57pm
I've had Fragaria, it is quite everygreen, very pretty and spreads fast (by runners)--can be a problem if you don't want it everywhere! It sounds good to me. Hopefully more folks will chime in here with an opinion.
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-29-2005 at 5:24pm
Fragraria in my opinion is not going to suppress weeds that much. Personally I would plant Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnickinnick), its evergreen, it spreads fast but is not hard to control and its urn-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds. I do not care for the look of Fragaria, so I have some bias against it, also.
I would also plant some small and large shrubs that do not need pruning and not just rely on one plant. This will help hold the hill better with roots at varying depths.
As far as weeding, you will always have that chore no matter what. The trick is to get plants thick enough on the hillside that the weeds have a hard time taking hold. The bark mulch will help until the ground covers take over. The more shade you provide the soil the harder it is for weeds to take over. If you can you might think about trees to help shade the ground or thickly planted with plants.
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-29-2005 at 6:18pm
I have both Fragaria chiloensis (native beach strawberry)and Kinnikinnik in my yard. The strawberry does a pretty good job of suppressing weeds (though not 100%). It is definately evergreen. The Kinnikinnik is growing on a low bank next to the driveway. It's very good at holding the soil, very attractive, and evergreen. It does a pretty good job of weed suppression (again, not 100%). For a slope, I think I'd prefer the K-etc. The roots are deeper, and I think it would do a better job of holding the soil.
The Seattle Aquarium used to have an exhibit simulating a watershed, and had K-etc cascading down a fairly steep slope, with small hemlocks and some shrubs interspersed. I agree with Debbie that small trees and shrubs, with the K., will do a better job of holding the soil than just the K. alone.
Barb
basilgirl
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-29-2005 at 8:28pm
Salal is also a good option.
I do like the Fragaria, I grow Fragaria vesca. Its a native with many herbal uses. The leaves are good in tea for menstral cramps and all around relaxing, berries are also pretty good! And its native so once established, usually needs little care.
Oh couple years ago I asked the Nursery inspector what to do about some morning glory I couldnt get rid of, and like you no chemicals,and get this.....VINEGAR! Diluted 5/1, is what I used. In the spring when the roots start taking things up. Kills it! I love it. only really works this time of year when things are emerging, but worked great for me. careful of other plants around they will get it too.
hope you have fun planting your new spot!
ranjanir
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: May-07-2005 at 3:02pm
Thanks a lot for all the replies. I already have a ton of plants on the slope (small trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses,etc). The groundcover is just fo fill in the blanks.
I will do a mixture of both Kinnikinnick (it was one of the suggestions that the nursery person had) and fragaria. The slope is pretty sunny and I cannot do much more to make it a shaded area.
Ranjani
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: May-09-2005 at 8:05am
Sounds like you have a great bunch of plants, Ranjani. Maybe you should plant a variety of groundcovers. I always find it more interesting to see different leaf types.
Vinegar does work good but you have to be just as carefull with it as you would any herbicide. Paint it on the leaves. Just because vinegar is organic doesn't mean it can't kill other intended plants as well.
Jeanne
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
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