Will cinder over mulch slow down weeds ?

[Larry T]

I have a area with about 6"to 8" of mulch and I am wondering if 4-6" of cinder would help keep down the weeds? What has been your experience? Any Help? I plan to use soil or soil cinder where I plant. If it will not help I may just soil/cinder it all.
Thanks Bill

[Carey]

Bill, our lot in in downtown Keaau, they put one layer of landscape plastic on the soil (yes we have soils...) then 6" of red cinder then another layer of landscape plastic (some areas 50# mylar mac nut bags) then 3" black cinders. The weeds have grown through, around & between all of the layers... the cinders do make weeding a little easier, as long as you get them early, before their roots go down into the base rock (less than a month for some of the weeds here) We are taking all of it up because over the years it is just a mess... root matts at the plastic barriers & all.
I have found that the best looking yards havve a tight ground cover, as anything seems to sprout plants (even lava rock - we even have some plants that have sprouted up on our concrete sidewalk with all of the rain recently, the roots are spreading out on the bare, moist concrete!)

[JayJay]

Yes, and the thicker the better ... although you'll need to go through periodically and weed.

JayJay

[mella l]

quote:

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Originally posted by Larry T

I have a area with about 6"to 8" of mulch and I am wondering if 4-6" of cinder would help keep down the weeds? What has been your experience? Any Help? I plan to use soil or soil cinder where I plant. If it will not help I may just soil/cinder it all.
Thanks Bill

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In response to your post, after preparing the tamed part of our manicured areas, just as you have noted, we plan to plant seashore paspalum.

Here is an older post I received about this fine cut and low growing grass mat 9-06;

SEASHORE PASPALUM

Mella L - We got stolons from Dean. He often has an ad in the paper and does deliver to Hilo (he grows the grass in Waikoloa). He sells sod as well as stolons. We planted some at our vacation rental and are happy with it.

You can also purchase flats at Home Depot. Cut the flat into small pieces and you have plugs that you can easily plant.

Once the plant is established, it takes off quite nicely.

LUM Sod & Stolons. Delivery available. Call Dean at Turf Hawaii
896-5645.

Perhaps someone else has experience with this grass also. Doesn't need much mowing!


mella l

[Carey]

Mella, I think that that is the grass in our front. The stuff in our yard grows thick, very few weeds get in. The ground cover we have grows over things in big puffy mounds. We are transplanting puffs to other areas of the yard....
It has stiffish runners that will start when planted.
(it looks like some of the pictures of S. Paspalum, but we used S. paspalum for experiments at the university (from Home Depot) that grew differently than the grass we have, so I am not positive that is what we have)

[mella l]

Hi Carey, This isn't a grass that grows puffy. It grows close to the ground and is used for golf courses in much of Florida as the new alternative to bermuda grass or other types. It is the new kid on the block! Here is a link to an overview written by an Oregonian, Oregon the grass seed capitol of the world.

http://www.allaboutlawns.com/grass-types...spalum.php

Aloha!

mella l

[Carey]

Mella, you inspired me to check a little, found this:
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=u44iKvNMvOAC&dq=%22seashore+paspalum%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=tVq2etdzA9&sig=2Xfh9ZyI0VqngtKCSwHMlgkGcVw#PPA31,M1
just glanciing throught the pages on the web, S. paspalum was used as bedding during the slave trade (pg 21)& some varietals were spread this way! Who woudda known? Still don't know what I have, but it grows tight to the ground until it puffs....usually around established landscape plants...
On that note, we are uncovering a lot of bromiliads, if anyone wants, just email or stop on by!

[gtill]

There are numerous strong covering grasses, centipde and st augustine come to mind. Location is critical, wet or dry, sun or shade. salt tolerant etc. Would be a good use for albesia chips, kind of help nature out. Until the grasses reach density to cover alone, a lawn mower would help,beats the back!