anti-grass disks?

jmac_2008

17 years ago

Hi,

At Lowe's I recently saw a large disk that when placed at the at the base of a tree prevents the growth of grass in a neat ring around the tree. Is there something similar for rose bushes? They didn't have such a thing at Lowe's or at the largest nursery in town.

I'm trying to eliminate the grass that has invaded an established rose garden, growing tall at the foot of the rose plants.

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (10)

donnaz5
17 years ago
I have seen them, and know what you're talking about. I haven't seen anything smaller, but you could fashion the same thing out of cardboard, and it would be alot cheaper..it will do the same thing, and probably hold up 2 or 3 seasons.Donna
jmac_2008
Original Author
17 years ago
Donna,
Thanks for this answer. Please tell me more! Will covering grass with a piece of cardboard kill the grass? Should I put weights on the cardboard?
Thanks again
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karl_bapst_rosenut
17 years ago
Yes it will kill the grass. Most often , covering the cardboard with a couple of inches of mulch will weigh it down and hold it in place. Be advised, grass at the edges of the cardboard will grow out of it as it would with those discs.
I control all the weeds and grases in my rose beds with mulch covered cardboard.
mgleason56
17 years ago
I am going to follow Karl's lead on this also. I was using newspapers, but they just do not hold up long enough.

Karl - What kind of space are you leaving around the base of the rose?
karl_bapst_rosenut
17 years ago
Mike, I place the cardboard right up to the bush but leave a few inches of it uncovered by mulch.
Be aware, as the mulch breaks down weed seeds will sprout in the composted mulch the second year but can easily be controlled. I've inspected the cardboard and it seems to be holding up well.
chuck_billie
17 years ago
Go down to Costco and buy Pizza Circles like the ones that frozen pizzas come on.
They are cheap and easy too.
mgleason56
17 years ago
chuck billie, they sell just the pizza circles?
jmac_2008
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you to all the posters in this chain for the practical suggestions. Cardboard or pizza circles will be inexpensive options that I want to try.

Say, what about watering if I've placed a carboard disk around the base of my rose plant? Do I lift the cardboard each time I water or water at the base of the plant in the center of the cardboard disk? What do you suggest?

Thanks everyone!
karl_bapst_rosenut
17 years ago
Just water as usual, the cardboard will get wet and allow water to seep through.
donnaz5
17 years ago
You can go to just about any store and ask for some cardboard..most likely they will give you a nice, neat bundle, all broken down flat and tied up with twine! I do have a question about those pizza circles..are they coated with a wax like surface? If they are, then the plus would be that they will probably last longer, but the downside would be that you can't water through them. Just check them...but the cardboard works very well for weeds. Donna