The frugal stonecrop with its bright yellow flowers that appear in June and July is actually a popular ornamental perennial. But if the robust ground cover overgrows the lawn and spreads excessively in the flowerbed, the plant can quickly become a pest.
How can stonecrops be controlled?
Since weed killers should not be used for ecological reasons,weedingthe stonecrop manually anddiggingall therootsas low as possibleout. If the competing plant grows in the lawn, ensure optimal growth conditions for the grass through regular fertilization and irrigation.
Why does stonecrop spread so widely?
The stonecrop is a native thick-leaved plant that feels at home almosteverywhereNot just on walls, dry meadows and in gravel pitsthe pioneer plant settlesIndependent. It is so adaptable that it can also cope with moist soil.
The plant is self-pollinating and does not rely on insects for fertilization. The seeds are spread by raindrops that fall on the flower shoots and throw away the small seeds. Ants can often be observed carrying the seeds and thus ensuring their spread.
How do I get stonecrops out of paving joints?
Thejoint scraper alone is usuallynot enough in the fight against the adaptable plant, which finds an optimal habitat in paving joints. No matter how thoroughly you work, tiny parts of the plant almost always remain, from which new stonecrops develop within a very short time.
Therefore we recommend the following procedure:
- Scrape all the weeds out of the joints.
- Then sweep weed-killing joint sand into the cracks.
- Since this has a high pH value, the stonecrop can no longer establish itself.
Does scarifying and mowing the lawn help against stonecrop?
We would like to advise against using the scarifier on lawns colonized by stonecrop. In addition to the grass roots, the device also breaks up the stonecrop into small pieces, which you will inevitably spread further and from which new plants will form.
Unfortunately, the frugal and robust plant is not particularly impressed by mowing. If you have problems with stonecrops, you should still mow regularly at the highest level, as this is the only way a dense turf will develop and the succulent will be displaced.
Tip
stonecrop as a lawn replacement
You can take advantage of the stonecrop's ability to grow and cultivate the plant where nothing else can thrive. The specialist for sandy and nutrient-poor soils reliably plants these areas. At the same time, you create an area in the garden that is interesting for insects, because the bright yellow flowers of the stonecrop are very rich in nectar and offer them a lot of food.
