Response of Woody Landscape Plants to Bermudagrass Competition and Fertility

Abstract

Four species of woody plants were grown at 3 fertilizer levels in an established bermudagrass sod with 3 sizes of areas free of bermudagrass around the plants. By the end of the second growing season, all woody species were much larger when bermudagrass was kept away from the base of the plants. There was no difference in plant response between the sizes of the 2 cleared areas except the visual grade of holly and privet. Keeping a cleared area free of bermudagrass around newly planted trees and shrubs greatly increases growth.