 V
BEFORE-Rough grade
& poor erosion control |
10 Steps
to Success
Vetiver is extremely robust, easy to grow and
very low maintence but it is not "magic
grass" and it has its limitations. Listed below are the 10 essential
things you must know to insure that your Vetiver project is a
success:
- Put
the right plant in the right place! In any project, it is important
that you choose the right materials for the job. In the right location,
Vetiver is an awesome tool. In the wrong place, it is a waste of
time & money. Please visit the Vetiver Network International
or
download the Vetiver
Systems Technical Manual to learn more and then
call or email us with your questions.
- Individual plants
should be placed about 6" apart (closer if you prefer a more dense
hedgerow). Rows should be planted along the contour line of
the
slope & should have a vertical interval of no more than
6'.
- Vetiver
is not sod! At 6" spacing it will not provide
"instant"
erosion control because it will take some time to grow in and
establish. Therefore it may be neccesary to use other erosion
control
techniques for the short term (silt fences, annual rye ect.). That
being said, Vetiver maybe planted in rows
denser than reccommended to
provide quicker control.
- Vetiver will
generally not grow north of USDA zone 8. http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html
It
may survive if protected during the cold months,
(it can even freeze solid in ice) but sustained temperatures less
than 15F will kill it.
- Vetiver
is not very shade tolerant. It will take some
shade, but the growth will be reduced. The more light the
plants recieve, the better.
- Vetiver
can be outcompeted by weeds during the establishment phase. Especially
noxious weeds (Cogon Grass, Torpedo Grass, et. al.) can steal
nutrients, light and water way from young plants. It is important to
keep the planting area as weed free as possible. Once established,
Vetiver's dense roots and deep dense foliage keep most weeds in check.
However, Vetiver improves the soil microclimate so desired
plants and trees will actually benefit from the Vetiver.
- Vetiver
is very sensitive to some herbicides, especially
Glyphosates (Round-up). A little careless overspray can be
catastrophic. On the other hand, Vetiver plants are essentially immune
to Atrazine herbicides. These products may be used to
remove weeds from
the row while leaving the Vetiver unharmed. Atrazine plus
fertilizer
(weed-and-feed) will kill weeds while giving the Vetiver a
boost
of
fertilizer.
- Young
Vetiver plants may be dislodged after planting and if left out of the
soil for too long, they will dry up and die. Care should be
given to
keep dogs, armadillos and other digging creatures away from the plants
until they have firmly rooted in the ground.
- Frequent
prunning (cutting back the foliage to about 15") encourages
tillering (the production of side shoots) and increases the
density of
the row. The grass clippings make excellent mulch and are a great way
of
recycling plant nutrients.
- Plant
the biggest & best highest quality, non-seeding (sterlie)
varieties of Vetiver Grass (such as 'Sunshine').
Large, mature plants fill in quicker and are more resistant to
environmental extremes than smaller, weaker plants. By starting with
superior planting material you can be assured of a better finished
project.
|
AFTER-Ideal
spacing between plants and rows |
