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Cardboard in between privets to stop weeds? (Or little geraniums?)

Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
in Problem solving
Good morning
I have a ridiculously long, newly planted (1 year old) privet hedge….120feet approx.
The good news is the birds love it, the bad news is i am starting to get weeds in between the base of the plants.
I have wondered if putting a bit of geranium macchrorrizum between each would help (i’ve got loads of this and it just sort of sits on top of the soil).
Or maybe bits of cardboard like you read about in the ‘no dig’ articles.
The geranium is free to me as is the cardboard, but i cant afford any bark chippings etc

Does anyone have any ideas please?
Thanks

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unfortunately, bark is the ideal solution, and you wouldn't need a lot, but for aesthetic reasons, I'd use the geraniums, assuming the privet is growing well and it isn't going to create too much competition.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Your local allotment might have woodchip going spare. Or a tree surgeon might provide you with some.

  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    Thanks all. Just out of interest, until funds allow, would cardboard kill the privet if put inbetween? Thanks
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    No, it wouldn't harm the privet - but if it was dry & windy it would blow about so you'd need to anchor it down somehow.  It rots down fairly quickly once it's wet.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    It sounds like your hedge is not very dense at the bottom, and that lots of light is helping weeds to grow. Is that correct?

    A solution would be to regularly trim the top of the hedge, especially during it's growing periods, to encourage dense growth at the bottom. This works very quickly with Privet. Our Privet hedge became very dense at the base within 2 years of planting, and there are zero weeds below it (and we don't use any mulch). 

    Cardboard won't kill the Privet. It will rot down fairly quickly into soil.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think I'd hold off planting the geraniums for another year to let the privet get well-established without the extra competition. Make sure you trim the sides on a slant so that it's narrower at the top than at the bottom. That helps to keep it thick down to the base.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I haven't seen a photo of your hedge but it is recommended (though not compulsory) that you cut it hard back by two thirds or more when planted. This will encourage it to branch from the base. Will also minimise weeds. Cardboard won't hurt at all,  just breaks down to add organic matter.
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    KeenOnGreen said:
    It sounds like your hedge is not very dense at the bottom, and that lots of light is helping weeds to grow. Is that correct?

    A solution would be to regularly trim the top of the hedge, especially during it's growing periods, to encourage dense growth at the bottom. This works very quickly with Privet. Our Privet hedge became very dense at the base within 2 years of planting, and there are zero weeds below it (and we don't use any mulch). 

    Cardboard won't kill the Privet. It will rot down fairly quickly into soil.
    Thanks for the answer . You are Correct. The bottoms ok ok but not massively thick. We put it up as a screen. So will cutting it at the top now (cos i think its growing), make it thicker at the bottom then? And will it then grow again at the top? 
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    Heres some picks….also some random floppy stems sticking out!
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    edited May 2022

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