INVESTIGATION OF MULCH MATERIALS FOR WEED SUPPRESSION AND WATER MANAGEMENT IN CONTAINER GROWN NURSERY STOCK^©

Weed control is one of the main production problems for growers of nursery stock in containers. In Northern Ireland ornamental nurseries are family businesses growing relatively small numbers of a wide range of plants for the local wholesale market and direct sales to the public. The reduced range of chemical herbicides available and the difficulty of applying them on nurseries with a diverse crop range has encouraged adoption of alternative methods including loose mulches and container mulch materials or pot covers.
As part of the knowledge technology transfer programme at the Greenmount Campus, CAFRE, horticulture centre, container mulch materials have been assessed under local conditions for a range of criteria including their performance in reducing weeds and their influence on water management in the container. New technology available to accurately record moisture levels in the growing media has assisted in evaluations. This paper examines results for new types of container mulches such as wool-based materials. Some of these materials have been shown to give effective weed control and retain moisture in the container. The CAFRE technology investigation programme has involved working in conjunction with local growers who have adopted container mulches to share experience and results.