Observation tells me the exercise of (good) land management is not what it could be and owners are paying the price in time, labour and aesthetics.

As I drive around from site to site the visual impact of ‘weeds’ — plants growing in the wrong or undesired place — is increasing rapidly to the point they are outpacing maintenance. From private homes to hotels and plots of land weed growth is creating problems for the long-term, it is also not very attractive to our guests.

Weeds or unwanted plants evolve in several ways: seed is a major distributor of many species with wind and birds being major factors in the spread of same. Poor weed control can lead to propagation of small pieces of the stem taking root and becoming a rooted out of control weed simply by the act of not removing the offending plant in its entirety. Partial removal of a root will allow the remaining part to re-establish itself and thus become a nuisance plant.

Controls are varied and often quite simple, in the average home garden the simple act of hoeing the soil on a weekly basis will result in the removal of any germinating seed.

Using ground cover plants between shrubs and trees or palms also reduces weed growth whilst enhancing the garden in general. The application of herbicides (weed killers) works on many types of weeds but care must be taken in the form of application as spray drift alone can damage garden plants to the point of death if the ‘mix’ is too strong. The use of granular weed killer spread on bare soil will control newly germinating weeds only but again caution should be observed with application. The simple act of pulling out a germinated seed when it first appears needs less effort but the gains are less labour input and thus a reduced cost if using hired labour.

Land management is not just the control of weeds it also includes correct pruning and associated density of plantings. Chinese Fan palms — Livistonia chinensis for example are in my opinion a useful plant when used correctly in the landscape — as are indeed most plants — however, they do produce a heavy crop of seed on a yearly basis; by removing the flower spike when it first appears the problem of seed production is eliminated, with a reduced labour need and less likelihood of reproduction from this particular plant. Dense growth can become problematic during heavy winds with the after effects of peripheral damage from fallen branches.

Damaged branches will over time become susceptible to decay from limb damage being ripped and rain being an agent for fungal activity when decomposition sets in. Dense foliage can also harbour insect activity which can spread to other areas in the garden and become an ongoing problem. In some cases plants with dense foliage and weak or immature root systems are susceptible to be blown over, which can cause damage to structures and neighbouring plantings. Large trees in small areas especially can be potential problems causing structural damage via root penetration into foundations and if not pruned regularly become a nuisance value to overhead utility lines.

Collateral damage not directly linked to plants but of a causal nature include the disposal or lack thereof of toxic chemicals in the soil, ranging from paint to solvents and acids, which in most cases are totally toxic to plant roots with the result plants decline and eventually die and there is a cost both aesthetically and financial in removing the dead structure.

Incorrect use of machinery is also a major factor in damaging tree trunks and de-barking with strimmers causing untold damage by ringing the base of trunks and stems which eventually will cause the demise of the plant. Mowers are also to blame for ‘bruising’ the bark which can lead to disease and causal damage leading to deterioration in the plants health and thus growth. Driving over root systems causes compaction of the soil as well as the root system itself doing nothing for the health of the tree. Tools should be maintained on a regular basis if they are to do justice when used correctly, a clean cut heals faster than a ragged one with the latter also doing more damage in the long term in reducing the creation of new healthy growth.

Parking on lawns whatever type of grass creates compaction and deterioration of a grass sward with the result weed grasses become dominant and spread rapidly into areas of non-compacted grass.

Poor land management also impacts hard landscaped areas, e.g. weeds growing through Tarmacadam paths or drives and concrete and bricked areas being cracked or ‘moved’ by underlying roots which were not removed prior to the areas being installed. Brick paths and patios are easily restored by simply lifting the offending area and remediating the foundation before replacing the bricks, which is not possible with concrete or asphalt. Wooden fences that rot because it has not been treated or perhaps was the wrong wood for the job; dry stack walls which are not maintained by cleaning out potential weed growth or root activity penetrating the courses and ‘shifting’ the stones.

Poor design often leads to poor management because the subject was not thought out in a practical and functional manner, the adage ‘measure twice and cut once’ certainly has its merits both financial and aesthetically with long lasting effect.

Malcolm D Griffiths

griffm@northrock.bm