Q. My backyard is planted with a 20 tree fruit orchard similar to
a small scale UNR orchard or Dave Wilson backyard orchard. I have added many truckloads
of the free mulch from the orchard over the past 3 years, which has broken down
and made the soil much better. The problem is last year I got overrun with
bermuda grass. I put cardboard down, more mulch down, and the grass just came
up through it. Do you have any tips on getting rid of it naturally? Is there
any type of green mulch I could plant in the spring that would choke it out?
What do you guys do at the orchard to keep the weeds out?
A. Boy you do really have a stand of bermudagrass. Because it is
so dense and so much of it you might want to consider managing the Bermuda
instead of trying to get rid of it. Bermudagrass has a very high requirement
for sunlight, more than other grasses. You might want to consider mowing it,
weed whacking it or burning it instead and manage it as a stand of grass that
will never be erradicated. Of course it will never be a good solid stand of
grass without irrigation and I am not suggesting that.
so dense and so much of it you might want to consider managing the Bermuda
instead of trying to get rid of it. Bermudagrass has a very high requirement
for sunlight, more than other grasses. You might want to consider mowing it,
weed whacking it or burning it instead and manage it as a stand of grass that
will never be erradicated. Of course it will never be a good solid stand of
grass without irrigation and I am not suggesting that.
Organic controls
include burning it down with organic chemicals. Vinegars with high acetic acid
levels will help burn it back. Of course it will come right back since the
roots and rhizomes, stolons are not controlled.
include burning it down with organic chemicals. Vinegars with high acetic acid
levels will help burn it back. Of course it will come right back since the
roots and rhizomes, stolons are not controlled.
I have not had
much luck with the standard vinegars since the acetic acid level is too low,
around 5% or so. They do not cause much plant damage when I have used vinegar
made from coconut or palm even at some higher values. Vinegars with higher acetic acid content are
available from retailers on the internet but be careful using these products.
At this level of acidity they are very caustic. You must use all plastic or
stainless steel sprayers or they will corrode quickly. Vinegar is expensive.
much luck with the standard vinegars since the acetic acid level is too low,
around 5% or so. They do not cause much plant damage when I have used vinegar
made from coconut or palm even at some higher values. Vinegars with higher acetic acid content are
available from retailers on the internet but be careful using these products.
At this level of acidity they are very caustic. You must use all plastic or
stainless steel sprayers or they will corrode quickly. Vinegar is expensive.
One method I have
used at a small farm out of state is fire. I have used a propane and fire torch
used at a small farm out of state is fire. I have used a propane and fire torch
with great success. This is a great price since I paid about $119 for this same
torch last year.
torch last year.
You must be VERY
careful with this since you are hauling around a propane tank, rubber hose that
is pressurized and a fire torch. You get the picture. I would burn it down. Be sure to mow it first or cut it back to reduce the potential for fire. It
does not cause much smoke so it should not cause much alarm in the
neighborhood. If you find that it is a little too flammable then wet the grass
with a hose before you torch it. This will cause more smoke but the fire is
more controllable. With a potential of 400,000 BTU’s it will kill wet grass.
Torches of lesser capacity may not. Have someone on guard with a hose in case it does catch fire but it most likely will not.
careful with this since you are hauling around a propane tank, rubber hose that
is pressurized and a fire torch. You get the picture. I would burn it down. Be sure to mow it first or cut it back to reduce the potential for fire. It
does not cause much smoke so it should not cause much alarm in the
neighborhood. If you find that it is a little too flammable then wet the grass
with a hose before you torch it. This will cause more smoke but the fire is
more controllable. With a potential of 400,000 BTU’s it will kill wet grass.
Torches of lesser capacity may not. Have someone on guard with a hose in case it does catch fire but it most likely will not.
The next thing I
would do is find some old carpet. Natural fiber backing is best but synthetic
backings will work. Cut it in squares about one yard square. Cut a slit to the
center and cut a hole out of the center for the trunk. Lay the carpet on top of
the grass and it will shade it and kill it. You can use the torch right up to
the edge or the carpet. You can cover the carpet with wood mulch and it will look better.
would do is find some old carpet. Natural fiber backing is best but synthetic
backings will work. Cut it in squares about one yard square. Cut a slit to the
center and cut a hole out of the center for the trunk. Lay the carpet on top of
the grass and it will shade it and kill it. You can use the torch right up to
the edge or the carpet. You can cover the carpet with wood mulch and it will look better.
Carpet allows
water and air to get to the soil and roots of the trees. Putting plastic down
does not. I have a problem with newspaper as well. I tried newspaper and it didn’t work well for me. The carpet basically smothers the grass while still letting the soil “breathe”. It will work better than a
weed barrier but it will not last as long. There are some chemicals in the
carpet that will be released as it degrades. That is the tradeoff.
water and air to get to the soil and roots of the trees. Putting plastic down
does not. I have a problem with newspaper as well. I tried newspaper and it didn’t work well for me. The carpet basically smothers the grass while still letting the soil “breathe”. It will work better than a
weed barrier but it will not last as long. There are some chemicals in the
carpet that will be released as it degrades. That is the tradeoff.
You can also use
about four inches of wood mulch over the grass. I would mow it down as low as
you can before spring and lay the mulch on top. The grass will come through the
mulch and then you must spray the grass as soon as you see it so it does not
get to the light. Once it gets a few inches exposed to light you wont start
starving out the roots. The idea is to provide shade with the mulch, eliminate
new growth as you see it so it cannot emerge and rebuild itself on top of the
mulch.
about four inches of wood mulch over the grass. I would mow it down as low as
you can before spring and lay the mulch on top. The grass will come through the
mulch and then you must spray the grass as soon as you see it so it does not
get to the light. Once it gets a few inches exposed to light you wont start
starving out the roots. The idea is to provide shade with the mulch, eliminate
new growth as you see it so it cannot emerge and rebuild itself on top of the
mulch.
I hope this helps. But I like fire.