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Natural Kurapia Ground Cover; Plantation, cost and care in USA

Kurapia "Lippa nodiflora" is one of the most versatile ground covers that can be used as a lawn substitute or as a ground cover for commercial and residential applications. It belongs to the Verbena family and was developed in Japan. Its broadleaf dark leaves will keep your landscape lush green throughout the year.

So if you are looking to plant a good ground cover in your yard then Kurapia is one of the best options to consider. let's understand how to plant Kurapia in your yard and the best ways to take care of it properly to keep it healthy and lush green.

Kurapia ground cover

Identification

Kurapia is a herbaceous plant that has a dense canopy and broad leaves.

  • Nature-  non-invasive and Perennial
  • Color- Dark Green
  • Height- It can grow up to 2-4 inches when matured.
  • Flower- White flowers that bloom during spring and summer.
  • Kurapia ground cover in USA

Growing conditions of Kurapia 

  • Temperature- Ideal temperature for maximum growth is more 40-degree Fahrenheit but it can tolerate as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit during dormancy.
  • Sunlight- Full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
  • Traffic handling- It can sustain in light foot traffic but don't use it in places with heavy foot traffic.
  • pH- It can grow in a wide range of PH varieties preferably 4-8
  • Soil- Sandy or Loamy soil

USDA hardiness zone- 7b and higher

Benefits of Kurapia

  • Kurapia is developed to overcome the disadvantages of normal ground cover therefore it has so many benefits. 
  • Kurapia is a good alternative to lawn grass and serves all purposes of turf and stays greener for a long time.
  • It has a very deep root system which helps to control erosion in your land, especially in sloppy areas.
  • It can tolerate high saline water like recycled water.
  • Kurapia is drought resistant and grows very low therefore it requires very low maintenance.
  • It is safe for pets like dogs, cats, etc. and its high salinity tolerance make it difficult to get damaged from Dog urine.

Cost of Kurapia 

Kurapia is slightly more expensive than other turf grasses but it is worth spending money on it. It is usually sold in plugs and sods. 

Price of one Flat(72 plugs) - 200$ to 400$

One flat is sufficient for about 100 square feet of area.

Plantation Guide for Kurapia

Kurapia is mostly planted through Plugs and sods during spring or summer. The establishment period is about 30-40 days. Below are a few guidelines to plant Kurapia properly in your landscape.

  • Removing the weeds

To keep your Kurapia weed free and ensure less weed invasion after installing sod, it is necessary to remove all the existing weeds by handpicking or by using pre-emergence herbicides which contain glyphosate. Apply herbicides on the soil during a sunny day and wait for at least 7-10 days before installing sods.

  • Setting up Subsurface Drip Irrigation or sprinkler system

Before getting the soil ready for planting it is better to install an irrigation system that will make watering easier in the future. You could install subsurface drip irrigation or an underground sprinkler system to ensure proper watering of plants.

  • Preparing the soil

The best soil to grow Kurapia is sandy or loamy soil however it can be grown on other soils by making some modifications. If you are planting it on clay or any other hard soil then you should lightly rototill the top layer of soil up to 2 inches or you can add a thin layer of sandy soil on other soil to make it loose to help roots get established easily. After preparing the soil water it properly to get settle down.

  • Planting from Plugs

After purchasing the plugs keep them unstacked and moist. Don't let direct exposure to sunlight on it and install it within 4-6 days after purchase.

To install plugs first, you need to dig a hole up to 1.5x to 2x times the diameter of the plug. The space between plugs should be 12 inches to 15 inches in the center. Then cover the plug with soil leaving the top part of the plug exposed so it can access sunlight properly. Water it properly to help it get established.

  • Planting from sods

After preparing the soil, level the surface of your soil with the help of a rake. Now start installing it from a straight edge. After that remove the loose area and make sure there are no air pockets beneath. Keep yourself away from sod while installing it. 

After installing the first row lay the next row without overlapping the first row and do not leave a gap between the two rows. Adjust the sods by trimming them to install on uneven areas.

Kurapia ground cover care

Although Kurapia is a low-maintenance plant yet it requires some basic maintenance to keep it green and healthy.

  • Fertilization

It requires more fertilizing while it is getting established and after that, you could fertilize it annually or bi-annually. you can use a 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer or 16-16-16 organic fertilizer.

Make sure you water well before fertilization and don't overfertilize Kurapia.

  • Irrigation

Kurapua is a drought-resistant grass and requires less irrigation than most cool-season grasses. Make sure you irrigate it properly during the growing period and after establishment once or twice a week watering is sufficient. 

To make irrigation easy consider installing a subsurface drip irrigation or sprinkler system. Adjust your watering system according to the weather to avoid overwatering.

  • Weed and Pest control

To keep weeds low in your Kurapia you need to remove weeds before planting and after establishment. We already discussed above how to remove weeds while preparing the soil. Now let's look into removing weeds on established Kurapia. 

You could use pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides to remove and prevent weeds. You might find that Kurapia is not listed on your herbicide. Then use the herbicide which is used on similar kinds of broadleafs.

Make sure you read the instruction and guidelines before applying it. Use it on a small section first to prevent any negative outcomes.

Some of the herbicides which can be used on Kurapia are given below-

  • Pre- emergence herbicides

Trifluralin, Prodiamine, oxadizon, etc.

  • Post-emergence herbicides

Fluazifop, Fenoxaprop.

Kurapia usually doesn't get affected by pests but sometimes fungus can appear on it. Use fungicides or baking soda to treat fungus on it.

  • Mowing

Although Kurapia doesn't grow high if you want to give it a lawn-like look then you could mow it during the growing season 2-3 inches per month. Kurapia produces so many flowers which attract pollinators so mowing also helps to control flower production.

  • Trimming the edges

It can spread rapidly outside the desired area so regular trimming of edges is important to control its spread.

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