Weeding around Calluna (Heathers)

irelandjoe

I have about 1000 heather on 2 banks, I have in the past used a number of methods to weed in and around them, Manual pulling and have very carefully sprayed with Roundup(not killed any).

As they grow is there a better way to keep the weeds down without harming them?

Actually the weeds are easy. The biggest problem is grass growing through the heather.

Is there something that I can spray that will kill the grass/weeds and not harm the heather?




Thanks

Norfolk Enchants_

irelandjoe wrote: »

I have about 1000 heather on 2 banks, I have in the past used a number of methods to weed in and around them, Manual pulling and have very carefully sprayed with Roundup(not killed any).

As they grow is there a better way to keep the weeds down without harming them?

Actually the weeds are easy. The biggest problem is grass growing through the heather.

Is there something that I can spray that will kill the grass/weeds and not harm the heather?




Thanks

Weeding manually is the only method for removing the weeds growing up through the plants, the rest of the weeds can be dealt with by spraying and using a hood for your sprayer, like weeding manually it can be slow and tedious. Personally if it was my garden I'd use bark mulch.

irelandjoe

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Weeding manually is the only method for removing the weeds growing up through the plants, the rest of the weeds can be dealt with by spraying and using a hood for your sprayer, like weeding manually it can be slow and tedious. Personally if it was my garden I'd use bark mulch.

Thanks, I would need ALOT of bark and due to incline I would problem have to add steping in places to avoid it from slipping.

Would Bark stop weeds though ?

lk67

irelandjoe wrote: »

Thanks, I would need ALOT of bark and due to incline I would problem have to add steping in places to avoid it from slipping.

Would Bark stop weeds though ?

Bark won't stop existing weeds from coming up and won't stop grass seed from falling into heathers and sprouting.

The only other option would be applying glyphosate to the grass only by using something like Roundup gel.

Also, don't let the grass at the edge of the lawn run to seed as this is where the grass in your heather is possibly coming from.

Btw, just to be pedantic, they look like Ericas and not Callunas.

Norfolk Enchants_

irelandjoe wrote: »

Thanks, I would need ALOT of bark and due to incline I would problem have to add steping in places to avoid it from slipping.

Would Bark stop weeds though ?

Yes bark will keep the weeds down if applied at the correct depth (minimun 50mm, ideally 75mm), also you'd need to edge the bed to give definition between the lawn and bed.
Judging by your photos I'd say there would be no issue with the bark slipping on that incline.