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Mexican marigold

AnguisFragilisAnguisFragilis Posts: 95
in Plants
Help me resolve a potential domestic conflict. My OH has decided to plant Mexican marigold after reading about its effectiveness in managing ground elder. However I can find very little reliable information on this and particularly its potential impact on other non target perennial plants and as such a not in favour. All I can find is that it inhibits perennial weeds. My issue is that it’s not species specific to ground elder so why wasn’t it affect our perennials. Does anyone have insight on this?

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I haven’t grown it but it’s worth a try. Who knows? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @AnguisFragilis Marigolds do release a chemical into the soil that is supposed to help with weeds. I think it might be survival of the fittest with ground elder being the winner. 

    Achillea is know to put nutrients into the soil too and promote the health of other plants.
    Interestingly both these plants have a strong smell as well as making good companion plants.
    The more we find out the more we need to know.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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