permaculture

[<woodsjay@cox.net>]

Where I've had the problem of grasses (including bermuda grasses, crown vetch 
has solved the problem. However, crown vetch can't solve the problem 
unsupported. The use of old wire fencing which will allow the crown vetch to 
get up in the air will do the trick.
> 
> From: "Forest Garden" <forestgarden@gvtc.com>
> Date: 2006/01/29 Sun PM 02:17:30 EST
> To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] using old carpet
> 
> Hi Neils,
> 
> Thank you for your response.  I currently use living mulches (white and red
> clovers) in areas directly around the tree in areas I have hand removed the
> bermuda grass.  I tried planting a variety of legumes directly into the
> grasses - cow peas, winter peas, vetches, clovers, etc. as appropriate for
> each season.  The legumes could not compete with the grasses.  I was hoping
> the cow peas would at least shade them out some, but no.  I've also been
> trying to move the soil micro-biology towards more fungually based in an
> attempt to weaken the hold of the grasses.
> 
> It is a continual effort to keep the bermuda clear in the rings around each
> tree that I have.  In addition to simply keeping back the grasses from the
> existing inner rings, I want to expand those rings as the tree roots will be
> wanting to spread out further as the trees get older.  I thought to lay out
> the carpet in a ring outside of the inner ring.  The carpet would weaken the
> grass so the hand removeal would be easier.  The only thing I've found that
> stops the grass is blocking from light over a long period of time.  I've
> tried almost everyhting else - including 20% vinegar in the middle of a two
> month drought.  The grass thanked me for the moisture and kept right on not
> even noticing the acidity...
> 
> Black or clear plastic does work somewhat but needs a lot of rocks and logs
> to keep it held down.  Stiff carpet would be easiest to use and would stay
> in place in a windy situation.
> 
> Oddly enough, thick layers of cardboard and hay for mulch really didn't work
> that well.  The grass grew right through it, and very quickly.
> 
> I don't intend to keep the carpet there forever - only for 6 to 9 months
> which would be long enough to really retard the grass.  The plan is that I
> could retard the grass enough to be able to remove it easily.  Then I would
> plant with living mulches, and hopefully expand the rings outer further.
> 
> If you've never experienced it - you have no idea how tenacious bermuda
> grass is!  I absolutely love it in the pastures since it is such a great
> cover and holds the soils in so well even with heavy grazing.  But in the
> garden or orchad.... yikes.
> 
> - Marjory
>