New Zealand Plant Protection 58 (2005): 164-168
Long term ground cover options for apple orchards
K.C. Harrington, M.J. Hartley, A. Rahman and T.K. James
ABSTRACT
A trial was established in a new Hawke's Bay apple orchard in September 1998 to determine how well various ground cover treatments could control weed competition and influence tree production. Results are presented after six growing seasons. Competition during the first growing season resulted in effects on the trees that were still measurable many years later. Dichondra (Dichondra micrantha) gave a good ground cover for the first few years but slowly regressed to hard-to-control weed species. The red fescue (Festuca rubra) plots survived better than dichondra although also had problems. Bark mulch needed continual assistance from herbicides. Some of the treatments were modified after two growing seasons to investigate establishing ground covers after initially using bark mulches. Results are discussed in terms of using any form of ground cover as a weed control option in orchards, looking at advantages, disadvantages and effects on the weed flora.
Keywords: ground covers, mulches, weed control, orchard understorey.
 | Assessing ground covers in a newly planted apple orchard M.J. Hartley, A. Rahman, K.C. Harrington and T.K. James (2000) New Zealand Plant Protection 53: 22-27 |
| Use of mulches and herbicides in an apple orchard M.J. Hartley and A. Rahman (1994) Proceedings of the NZ Plant Protection Conference 47: 320-324 |
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