Mulch type affects degradation and weed control potential in container production^©

SIGNIFICANCE TO THE INDUSTRY
Weed control practices in container production primarily consist of two methods, hand pulling and herbicide applications, but these are not ideal for larger container production. Mulches have been proven to be an effective alternative method of weed control in large containers (Richardson et al., 2008; Bartley et al., 2014). Due to the abundance of fertilizer and water in the nursery environment, degradation rates of available mulch species and types could drastically vary (Altland and Krause, 2014). This research, conducted with the use of litter bags, shows that of five readily available mulch species, pine bark mini-nuggets, Eastern red cedar, and loblolly pine followed by sweetgum and Chinese privet showed the best weed control potential determined by elemental composition, particle size distribution, and degradation rates.