Weed control in annual bedding plants : A thesis submitted for the National Diploma of Horticulture (N.Z)

Abstract

Displays of annual bedding plants are a necessity in public parks and gardens at specific times of the year for additional colour. They are a labour intensive operation needing a high standard of maintenance and often requiring trained personnel. Their main disadvantage is the labour required for weed control and cultivation at a time when the labour is at a premium and could be used to better advantage elsewhere. In addition cultivation may damage plants, which if they subsequently die, reduces the overall effect of the display by leaving gaps. Any use of herbicides which could reduce the use of labour and free it for other purposes; and at the same time be able to keep the high standard of display bedding needed, must give greater satisfaction and better flexibility to the whole work regime. Chemical weed control is used widely in crops like maize, vegetables, nursery stock and many others, with excellent results. Why cannot the same concept be used with annual bedding displays? As both methods have their advantages and disadvantages it is not the aim of this Thesis to carry out any cost analysis. The aim is to investigate whether the use of chemicals for wee.d control in annual bedding displays can be carried out and to also give worthwhile results.