Stopping Grass Around Trees (forum)

Nick starts with ...
Hi everyone, I've been looking everywhere for an organic way to stop grass continually returning around my fruit trees- I find I have to give all my trees a big weed every few weeks and the groundcover sure doesn't help with my hydrophobic soil. If I could place a barrier (say, wood because it relatively cheap?) to a certain depth could that stop it?

Time: 3rd April 2012 11:00am

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About the Author Nick T
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Xiem says...
You've considered straw mulch?

Time: 3rd April 2012 12:20pm

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Collect carton boxes, place underneath the canopy after weeding and watering then place a thick layer of mulch on top will help. Good luck.

Time: 3rd April 2012 12:31pm

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Nick says...
Unfortunately mulch never helps, the bloody couch always finds it way up (plus the birds toss half the mulch over the lawn....). I was thinking of maybe putting in some planks of wood in a square about a metre away from the trunk (not sure what would be a decent depth) and then spraying the grass immediately around the edge of the square with some kind of herbicide that would keep the grass at bay for a while. Apparently there's a kind of herbicide that people use in most orchards to keep grass away from their trees?

Time: 15th April 2012 9:37pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Nick, try Glyphosate (Round Up). I buy the cheaper version from bunnings, it's made by Brunnings.
Make sure you get the 360g/L one.
Try not to get too much on the trunk of the tree, but it doesn't seem to hurt my fruit trees.
When adding cardboard & mulch on top, try making the mulch thicker, like 300 to 400mm thick.

Time: 16th April 2012 6:40am

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GardeningAustraliaWanabee says...
Round Up considered organic??

A suggestion would be to set up root barriers, normally used to protect invading tree roots.

Time: 16th April 2012 8:37am

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About the Author GardeningAustraliaWanabee
 
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Nick says...
Thanks Brendan, if I spray some normal herbicide (say, roundup) about a metre away from the trunk, 1. would it kill the grass rhizomes as well as the leaves?, 2. would it harm the tree at all? and 3. how long would the effects last for? Ideally I wouldn't have to apply to often- I think there is a once a year path weeder herbicide at Bunnings? :)

Time: 25th April 2012 5:09pm

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Mike says...
Nick glyphosate breaks down very quickly on contact with the soil and doesn't seem to adversely impact on tree roots or the plant above the grass.Just don't get it on non-target foliage or the tree trunk.It is absorbed into foliage and circulates killing most rhizomes.It is best to follow up with a few squirts on surviving bits in about 4 weeks.

Time: 25th April 2012 6:44pm

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Nick says...
Thankyou very much for your help Mike, would I have to apply every four weeks or would the effects last longer after the second spray?

Time: 25th April 2012 10:20pm

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Mike says...
It should last until spring at least.The second spraying is to clean up the dregs and make sure it gets to every rhizome.Make sure there is no wind when applying it.

Time: 25th April 2012 10:38pm

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