Couch Grass (I think)

[SJA]

I took over my allotment last spring - it was covered in various weeds, including the dreaded couch grass. The neighbouring allotmenteers confirmed that they have all suffered with the dreaded stuff.

I decided to cover half of the allotment with plastic sheeting weighed down with old fence panels - and have patiently waited almost 12 months with it covered.

I decided yesterday to make the leap and remove the sheeting to see what was left - there does appear to be some weak stems still left and lots of stringy weeds/roots.

Does anyone know if the dreaded grass is actually dead, or is it just dormant - I really don't want to have to dig it all out as I don't think I'll have the time but would be heartbroken if my planting plans are scuppered by this invasive foe!

If anyone else has any advice it would be gladly welcomed - I don't get much time to go up as work full-time, have my kids down every other week and now have a three month old!

Thanks all

[Tracey]

Hi SJA

I've got coach grass in my garden. I covered the area with black sheeting and bark last spring and the couch grass still make holes through the sheeting and sprouts through, even in winter. I keep pulling the grass out hoping to weaken it. I've decided to leave the sheeting and plant potatoes through holes in the sheeting this year.

Kind regards
Tracey

[Flummery]

Beware of spuds and couch grass - if it's a dry year. I've had the shoots of couch grass go through spuds looking for moisture. You can chop them out when you're cooking but they wouldn't store.

Then again it might tip down this year!

[Tracey]

Oh flip,

Any suggetions of a veg that I could plant through sheeting that will crowd out any competing couch grass. A leafy cabbage perhaps?

kind regards
tracey

[PAULW]

Stick a fork in one corner of your plot, turn over lump of soil and pick out any roots, carry out this procedure until you reach the other end of your plot, this is not guarenteed to clear the couch grass but will reduce it dramatically.

[Snadger]

I don't want to dishearten you but my neigbours tried this with heavy tarpaulins over the lot. They had it down for about a year and the wind has recently dislodged it leaving a perfectly formed road map of couch grass and bindweed roots!

I know digging isn't to everyones liking but sometimes it's the only answer!

What I would do (because I don't particularily like digging) is remove some of the cover and spread a layer of cardboard over soil, followed by a 6" layer of straw, or manure if you can get it. Plant through all this and the plants will thrive. Any weeds will struggle to get through the mulch and by regular topping up each year the mulch will slowly feed the plants you are growing. Plants which would thrive are Leeks, any of the brassicas initially and anything at all the second year!

PS Have a look at my hero Supersprouts allotment!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html

[SJA]

Cheers all for the words or advice and encouragement!

There is no quick win just perserverance I fear - but I will try Snadger's tip - it seems the less time-consuming and also hopefully yield results whilst trying.

Will let you know how I get on....

[Peter]

Reserve part of the plot for hand weeding and to grow earlier crops.

On the rest, take off the cover, leave until the couch is about six inches tall in the spring and spray it properly (correct dilution, thouroughly wetting leaves) and leave for about a month. Repeat spray anything green and again leave to die.

Then dig, removing as much of the couch roots as you can, or rotovate, best to lump dig before rotovating though.

This should kill enough of the couch for you to be able to remove what survives by hand during the year.

[pete10]

It is hard work digging out the roots but the plastic will have weakened it
making it easier to get out .

[crichmond]

Reserve part of the plot for hand weeding and to grow earlier crops.

On the rest, take off the cover, leave until the couch is about six inches tall in the spring and spray it properly (correct dilution, thouroughly wetting leaves) and leave for about a month. Repeat spray anything green and again leave to die.

Then dig, removing as much of the couch roots as you can, or rotovate, best to lump dig before rotovating though.

This should kill enough of the couch for you to be able to remove what survives by hand during the year.

Thats what I did and I didnt have any come through this year, it did take about three successional spayings though. (using glyphosate)

[George Gray]

Couch Grass

My allotment was covered in it when I started 13 years ago but I eventually found how to get rid of it. Give it at least two doses of glyphosate (separated by a couple of weeks) and then cover in heavy duty plastic sheeting well weighed down. Leave over winter or at least 6 months. You can then just dig it in.
If you want to be organic you can still do it but every root has to be taken out by hand and it could take several years.

[stigoftheplot]

The only things I've heard of that it dislikes are tomatoes and mexican marigolds. I took on what seems like a field of the stuff too. Mines getting done by hand but thorough digging a bit at a time is the only way if you dont like spraying. Once you've thoroughly dug & made the soil looser it's easier to pull/ dig out the new growth. I think it'll never go but you just have to aim for getting it under control.

[Two_Sheds]

How to remove couch grass with pictures

[SarzWix]

If you dig the ground over roughly with a fork, loads of it will just lift out in long strings. I find it really satisfying! (Much easier to get out than marestail, whose roots are very brittle ) I did that on a couple of beds last year, then covered the soil with cardboard, thick layer of manure, then weed suppressant fabric & left for a few weeks. Then in one bed I planted maincrop spuds & the other sweetcorn & courgettes, through holes in the fabric. I didn't get massive crops, but definately enough to make it worthwhile! When the crops were harvested, I forked the ground again, taking out any more weed roots I came across then covered with cardboard, straw & more manure. The soil is looking good now & any weeds coming up are much easier to pull out. I wouldn't call it a finished job yet, but at least the ground has been productive