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Ground Cover For Fruit Cage

Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
in Fruit & veg
I am going to be creating a fruit cage over my blackcurrant and  gooseberry bushes,  I will placing my fig tree and Blueberry bush which are in Potts in it also. To cut down on weeding can anyone suggest a safe ground cover that will not in any way affect the bushes in the ground.
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Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    You presumably don't want anything perennial so an annual flower seed mix perhaps ?  African marigold ( single flower type are more useful but with a cage it won't matter ), Nasturtiums ? You should be able to add to that list and then be able to choose what you wish the bed to look like.
    If you want to ensure the bed is kept "clean" for the following season,  either remove any seed heads or be prepared to hoik out any self seeded plants come next Spring/early summer.
    Your other option would be to mulch with bark chippings or your own shredded material between the main plants.   
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Our fruit cage has a thick layer of chipped bark laid down after improving the soil with loads of our own well-rotted garden compost and horse manure from bags and then a generous watering after planting.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    @Obelixx that probably is the best bet TBH :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I like your annual flowers idea @philippasmith2 but there's not enough room between our currant bushes and gooseberries for them to get the sun they need.   

    However, I've sown loads of annuals in the new apple tree area tho most of the plants coming up seem to be creeping buttercup and fat hen which were already in the soil.  I can see some cosmos, linaria and cornflower tho so will do some refereeing.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    edited May 2023
    @Obelixx, I have creeping buttercup in my veg patch, it's a nightmare but thankyou for your suggestion re the fruit cage cover.
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    @philippasmith2, I like your idea re Marigolds, I never thought of actually planting anything else, maybe I could cover it in more fruit bushes as I don't suppose you have to leave a gap.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited May 2023
    @Willow99 We have some strawberries at the sunniest end of our fruit bed so you could try those.  Fruit and ground cover!
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    @Obelixx, even better idea as I have a south facing garden so one side of the fruit trees are in the sun. I knew asking you good people on this forum would bear fruit, excuse the punnet 😂
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    edited May 2023
    Creeping buttercup is a horrible weed, but it would also make a good groundcover under fruit bushes! Wild strawberries would also work, but they take a little while to spread.
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    @Skandi, I have them  in my veg patch where my fruit bushes are as well before the fruit cage is being erected so not keen on them at all, strawberries sound a more pleasant option.
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