Mulching & Other

Methods for Weed Control

Prepared by:
L. Robert Barber, Frank Cruz, & Ilene Iriarte

For:
Guam Cooperative Extension Service & Guam Department of
Agriculture

Funding provided by:

United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Western Region Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education, Administration for Native Americans,, &
Sanctuary Incorporated
 What is a weed?
Plant growing out of place
A plant can be desirable in one situation
and be a pest in another
Can be fast growing
Often produces a lot of seeds or has persistent
roots
How Weeds Harm Desirable Plants
Competes for water, nutrients, light, and
space
Harbors pests and diseases
Can release toxins into the soil
 Weed Management
The best time to begin an effective weed
management program is before planting
Proper site preparation can reduce weed
problems
Monitor frequently for weeds
Remove weeds while theyre seedlings
Maintain a directed low volume irrigation
system
Minimize disturbances in the soil
Correctly maintain mulch
 Weed Control Practices
Mechanical
Hoeing/Hand weeding
Plowing, harrowing, cultivating, other tillage
Fire/Propane Burner
Mowing/Bush cutting
Ground Cover Living Mulches
Chicken Tractor
Mulching
 Mechanical Weeding - Cultivation
Labor, equipment and energy intensive
Bare soil more susceptible to erosion
Frequent tillage speeds organic matter
decomposition.
Brings buried seeds to the surface
Cultivate once germinated
Plant spacing must allow for equipment
 Fire
Fire can be used to remove weeds in a big
area
Burns the organic matter
Leaves soil bear and high chance of erosion
Propane Burner is used for spot
treatments
Must be careful
 Mowing & Bush cutting
Benefits of maintaining a living cover and
mowing or bush cutting
May reduce competition
Can help prevent soil erosion
Disadvantages:
Often damages desired plants
Physically harms plants Bush cutter disease
(careless cuts girdle tree) kills huge numbers
of trees on Guam.
 Ground Covers or Living Mulches
Can be natural cover developed by frequent
mowing, or can be planned planting like sweet
potato or perennial peanut or other cover crop.
Benefits
Prevents germination of weed seeds
Prevents soil erosion
Insulates soil
May add nitrogen to soil (ex. Perennial peanut)
Attractive
Disadvantages
Can provide a habitat for pests
Can compete for water & nutrients
 Chicken Tractor
Mobile Pens
Weeding
Pest Control
Fertilizer
Food
 Types of Mulch
Two types of mulch; Organic & Inorganic
Inorganic Mulch (Plastic sheets):
Does not decompose
Non-living
May prevent water loss, soil protection,
increase absorption
Does not improve soil or add nutrients
Good for walk ways, and paths
 Benefits of Mulch
Conserves water & reduces erosion
Improves soil structure, & absorption
Adds nutrients
Suppress weed growth
Prevents pathogens from splashing on foliage
Insulates soil
Increases microorganisms, earthworms, & insects
Prevents trunk damage from bush cutter
Limits weeds near plant so no need to cut close to plant
Reduces landscape maintenance
 Organic Mulch
Organic Mulch:
Living Materials
Categorized by size; Fine or Coarse Material
Fine Material:
A lot of surface area
Can suffocate plants
Coarse Material:
Doesnt blow away as easily
Water & air can penetrate through
 Organic Mulch
Examples of Organic Mulch:
Grass clippings, small leaves*
Wood chips**
Pine needles (Gago Tree)**
Banana leaves & Palm fronds**
Coconut husks**
Branches**
Compost
Shredded paper*
*Fine Material & ** Coarse Material
 What is in a Mulch
Decaying organic material
Undecomposed compost
Applied to surface of the soil over time blends
with the soil
Consists of:
Nutrients
Leaves
Branches
Microorganisms
Insects
 Palm fronds around breadfruit tree
 Now That You Have Mulch
Apply in planting beds
Around established trees, & newly
planted trees
Mulch will eventually need replacing
Fine material need to be replaced often
Coarse material can be replaced either
once a year to every two years
Mulched Raised Bed

Bed mulched with pine

needles (Gago tree)
 How To Apply Mulch
Leave a 3-6 gap from the base of the plant
to mulch
For individual trees:
Make a circle that is 2 in diameter for every
inch of trunk diameter
Increase size as tree gets bigger
For planting beds:
Mulch entire bed
Undesirable - Mulch up Against Trunk
 How Much to Apply
Thickness depends on types of material
Fine Material:
No thicker than 2 3 inches
Can mat together & suffocate plants
Coarse Material:
At least 4 inches
Thinner weeds can penetrate through if too
thin a layer.
 Possible Problems
Mulch can turn sour
Air was not allowed to penetrate through
Toxic substances are produced
Plants drop leaves, turn yellow, and can die
Smells like sulfur, vinegar, or ammonia
Wire Chicken Barrier
 Possible Problems
Chickens and Pigs love it too
Can destroy plants, dig up roots
Scatter mulch
Where animals are a pest, create a barrier