Ball moss is an epiphytic, perennial monocot that attaches to many surfaces, including ornamental plants. Though not parasitic, ball moss can reduce the growth and health of host plants. Controlling ball moss has thus become necessary. Recommended methods include spraying baking soda or copper fungicide. This study was designed to validate the recommended methods and discover new, efficacious botanical ingredients in laboratory and field experiments. The efficacy of baking soda, but not the copper fungicide, was confirmed. However, baking soda blindly damages host plants and is not environmentally friendly. A screening study over several candidates (a monocot herbicide, eugenol, thymol, oleander extracts) selected eugenol from clove essential oil. In repeated laboratory studies, eugenol formulated into a soluble liquid (ESL) at 1% concentration achieved comparable lethal levels to 50% baking soda solution against ball moss. Efficacy was most apparent when applied in autumn. In the field trials, spraying ESL directly onto ball moss on live oak trees rather than broadcasting from the ground was efficacious. Possible mechanisms and limitations were discussed.

Groundcover plants are underutilized landscape features that often require less maintenance than traditional lawns. While the popularity of groundcovers has increased, the upfront installation costs and limited documentation of consumer preferences to groundcover species serve as barriers towards the incorporation of these turfgrass alternatives in the landscape. This study investigated whether groundcover species could achieve similar coverage and aesthetic appeal when planted at lower-than-usual densities. Twelve common and underutilized groundcover species were evaluated for coverage by assessing color saturation in aerial photographs taken over time in a full-sun environment and classified as annuals, tender perennials, or hardy perennials. The investigated annual and tender perennial groundcovers generally achieved similar foliar coverage when planted at the reduced density with the exception of Ficus pumila; however, hardy perennials were 53% lower on average. Growth, coverage rate, and flowering did not significantly differ for most species investigated, indicating that planting density does not unilaterally affect subsequent growth and development. Consumer insights from a consumer survey tool (n = 89) indicated an appreciation for non-traditional groundcover species, which were often preferred over industry standards when assessing aesthetic and coverage quality, regardless of planting density. Groundcovers represent a sustainable turfgrass alternative for providing vast vegetative coverage in the landscape; however, the initial investment often required with these systems serves as a barrier to adoption. However, this research demonstrates that through conscious selection of groundcover species, plant material and installation costs can be reduced without sacrificing canopy coverage or consumer satisfaction.