Groundcover for Rough, Rocky, Poison Ivy Field

Western NC. Cleared poison ivy/rock field, covered with black plastic. Too rough to rake for grass seed. Wants easy-start groundcover to suppress weeds.

Reality Check

No commercial groundcover establishes fast enough to outcompete wind-blown weed seeds. Only kudzu works—and you don't want it.

Grass Is Still Viable

Don't need to rake seed in. Hand-broadcast seed, light wheat straw cover, water in. Keep moist 2 weeks. Late for fescue/rye but bermuda and warm-season grasses still work.

Need Long-Term Goal

Why clear the field? What's the end use? Answer guides better recommendations.

Sean Murphy