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Couch Grass fact or fiction?

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  • #1

    Couch Grass fact or fiction?

    Hi boys and girls I have a question on fact or fiction.

    I have been digging up all the couch grass rather than use chemicals and have been dumping all the roots of that and docks into a large bin half filled with water my thinking being that these will rot down and in turn give me a good liquid fertilizer?

    However I have been told that these roots will not rot down and the only way to get rid will be to use weedkiller and or burn the roots as I dig them up???? Surly the rule is they are got out drown, die, rot down then fertilize or am I missing something about couch grass???
    Today I will be mainly growing Vegetables.

    Tonight The bloody slugs & snails will eat them!

    https://www.facebook.com/manchester....ts?ref=tn_tnmn
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  • #2
    I have an innate distrust of couch weed but drowning is meant to be effective.... Personally id give it at least 6 months underwater, preferably light excluded and guarded with flamethrowers.
    Some people think I am paranoid but they haven't dug up 20 wheelbarrows worth of the sodding stuff!
    My new Blog.

    http://jamesandthegiantbeetroot.blogspot.com

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    • #3
      I have a builders bag for the couch grass and whilst the top bits do grow back, the bottom does eventually die and make good compost.

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      • #4
        It does take a long time to die, it's incredibly resilient.

        If you drown it, make sure that light is excluded, otherwise it will simply grow in the water, as an aquatic !

        I was pretty much on top of the stuff at my lotty after a year, I just get it creeping in from next door's plot now.

        As you can see, my plot was covered

        I'm digging it out of the school gardens now: I don't use weedkiller* at all: I dig it and then bag it, dry it, or drown it. It can survive bagging too, if light is getting to it, so double-bag it.

        The best way is to dry it out on a hot path, or at this time of year I throw it on top of netting (eg. brassica netting) until it's good and dead, then it goes on the compost heaps.

        Don't throw it fresh on the compost heap, or it'll regrow: make sure it's deaded first


        * I have tried RoundUp, to see if it worked: it didn't. The school gardener before me used superstrength glypho, and it didn't work: I'm still getting it coming up in all the beds. You need repeated applications of it, and it needs to be applied at the right time of year ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          Everything will compost. Eventually.

          Got a barrel with lid? I bet it'd rot down with the application of 'compost activator'.

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          • #6
            You could always eat it

            Elytrigia repens Couch Grass PFAF Plant Database
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Or beer... When boiled for a long time to break down the leathery membrane, a syrup can be made from the roots and this is sometimes brewed into a beer
              Last edited by alldigging; 29-03-2013, 09:58 AM.

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              • #8
                I have read that turnips will kill off couch grass - apparently there is some chemical reaction between them. The theory is, you sow lots of turnip amongst the couch and it dies off, the turnips are now of course the weed, but easier to remove and you can eat them.

                I have not tried this myself, so no experience that it works.

                a-a

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by alex-adam View Post
                  I have read that turnips will kill off couch grass - apparently there is some chemical reaction between them. The theory is, you sow lots of turnip amongst the couch and it dies off, the turnips are now of course the weed, but easier to remove and you can eat them.

                  I have not tried this myself, so no experience that it works.

                  a-a
                  Well beer and turnips I like both dug a 3rd bed today total nightmare 6ft by 12ft bed just a mesh of roots and at times I was going two fork length deep and still pulling up roots was going to recover it after digging but have decided to leave it uncovered and dig it each time i go the allotment and pick out the roots as I go it all went in the bin covered to stop the light fingers crossed it does rot down I used to like spaghetti but now all I see when I look at the stuff is COUCH GRASS
                  Today I will be mainly growing Vegetables.

                  Tonight The bloody slugs & snails will eat them!

                  https://www.facebook.com/manchester....ts?ref=tn_tnmn

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                  • #10
                    Scarey thing is the Aussies use it for lawns there and it's hard to keep it alive!
                    Last edited by RedThorn; 29-03-2013, 04:21 PM.
                    Never test the depth of the water with both feet

                    The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory....

                    Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by alex-adam View Post
                      I have read that turnips will kill off couch grass
                      every link I've found has your name on it ! You must be on every garden forum out there
                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                      • #12
                        Allotment Vegetable Growing Henry's Garden Hints and Tips 1

                        http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rass_7374.html

                        http://www.downgardenservices.org.uk/couchgrass.htm
                        Last edited by Two_Sheds; 29-03-2013, 04:30 PM.
                        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                        • #13
                          great reading thanks two sheds.
                          Today I will be mainly growing Vegetables.

                          Tonight The bloody slugs & snails will eat them!

                          https://www.facebook.com/manchester....ts?ref=tn_tnmn

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                            every link I've found has your name on it ! You must be on every garden forum out there
                            C'mon TS don't you like to flirt too ?

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by alex-adam View Post
                              C'mon TS don't you like to flirt too ?
                              Ohhhhh your flirting this could be the start of a beautiful blossom.......
                              Today I will be mainly growing Vegetables.

                              Tonight The bloody slugs & snails will eat them!

                              https://www.facebook.com/manchester....ts?ref=tn_tnmn

                              Comment

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