Weed mat around fruit trees? (forum)

amanda starts with ...
I have a dilemma guys :-( The couch grass has really taken off in my orchard now and there is no turning back (as the area is just too big for hand weeding etc) and with 30 odd trees - I am not hand weeding them for couch.
I can't block it out with thick newspaper etc - because of the watering issues/set up. Thick mulches just don't work here for watering.
I get loads of other weeds too though, it's very much a part of life here.

So - I was thinking that if I put down my normal goodies around the trees - then a sheet of weed mat - then some straw on top (to keep it cool etc) do u think this would work to keep the couch away?

The weed mat does allow water and air through - but it's that black plastic stuff.

I can't think of anything else - other than spraying with Round Up - a bit further out than the drip line - which is a last resort, on a regular basis, for me.

Any bright ideas most welcome.. :) I need a solution that is cheap and efficeient - but does the work without hours of time from me...(a big ask, I know)

Has anyone used weed mat around their trees?

Time: 19th August 2011 10:00pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
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John Mc says...
You're still going to have to deal with the feeder runners comming into the drip line of the tree. Something like a 6" ditch or maybe a root barrier of some kind. Corrogated iron hammered in is good, 6 to 8 ". I recon when you stop the feeder roots comming in your mulching should take care of the rest.

Time: 19th August 2011 11:43pm

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About the Author JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
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Wazza McG says...
How about some spring lambs or a farm animal known to eat the grass and not your trees? The bigger problem you have is not being able to mulch.

Time: 20th August 2011 6:35am

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About the Author wazzamcg
Brisbane
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Jason says...
I would buy 100 male or 100 female guinea pigs and a few piles of something for them to hide in :P say goodbye to your grass. I swear one guinea pig eats it's weight in grass in about 5 minutes

Time: 20th August 2011 7:34am

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Original Post was last edited: 20th August 2011 7:36am

About the Author Jason
Portland
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Daisyetta says...
Or just one female. Odds on she'll be pregnant.

Time: 20th August 2011 8:44am

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About the Author Daisyetta1
Wallacia, NSW
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Jason says...
haha, that happened to a guy I know, he bought one female guinea pig and end up with multiple hundreds of them in his garden. Apparently after a few years the birds and snakes learned about this and they eventually died out.

I know of a another guy that has a couple hundred of them living in a colony on his farm, living in a wood shed, he like them so leaves them do their thing

Time: 20th August 2011 8:50am

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About the Author Jason
Portland
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amanda says...
Oh god no - not GP's! The dogs would go beserk for them :-O Good point about attracting the snakes too Jason... :-(

Does couch really take that much away from the soil though? It's so spindly looking.
Would I be better off just learning to live with it maybe? It's a type of living ground cover in it's way...

Does anyone else have couch around their trees? Does it cause any problems for your trees?


(ps John Mc - root barrier probably the way to go - bugger of a job tho isn't it...)

Time: 20th August 2011 11:13am

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Original Post was last edited: 20th August 2011 11:16am

About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
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Nick says...
Is couch worse than kikuyu??

Time: 20th August 2011 4:21pm

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About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
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Julie says...
They both have really deep roots that take the nutrients and moisture from your trees. Grasses are worse than other weeds around fruit trees.

amanda, I'm not a fan of chemical sprays, but in this case Roundup might be the only way to go, if it was a one off. Once you have it under control you can find ways to deal with any regrowth.

I had to go this route when I moved in here, as couch was all through paving and rock walls etc. No way to get rid of it without spraying. It didn't come back, though it persists a bit in the orchard. Nothing I can't handle.

Time: 20th August 2011 6:33pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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amanda says...
Probably a good idea Julie - especially as summer comes on as the couch is really easy to spot (it's the only thing that's still green-ish left!? lol)

All that free horse manure came at a hign price :(
Glyphos/round up is the only 'nasty' I have in my shed (except maybe Ant Killa for the bull-ants?) I only use it once a year - but at least it's not residual and it does do a fantastic job for me at the right time. There's much worse stuff than it, I guess...(I know folk who splash Lorsban around at the slightest provocation...eek!? I wouldn't let it near my property..)


Time: 22nd August 2011 6:53pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
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