Cardboard or dig over?

[Mr Potato Head]

Hi, I got my allotment back in June or July and got a couple of beds dug and couch grass removed. However I still have large areas I didn't get around to.

I have read here that covering the ground in cardboard can drastically reduce the couch grass and make it easier to dog over and remove the roots.

What I would like to know is, at this point would I be best using the cardboard method, digging over in Feb/March or should I dig over the affected areas as soon as the ground is soft enough and let the frost get to them?

[vicky]

I think if you want to use the infested area this year for crops you'll need to try to dig the grass out. As it'll take a while I'd say start as soon as you can! Then you can do it at a slower pace and take time to get out all the roots. I don't think cardboard will help now as it's dormant anyway.
If you don't need the ground this year then I'd wait till the grass is actively growing then spray with glycosate and cover with cardboard till you need it.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Give it a belt of glyphosate based weedkiller in the springtime. Glyphosate neutralises on contact with the soil so no harmful residues.

[Alison]

If you don't need the ground this year then I'd wait till the grass is actively growing then spray with glycosate and cover with cardboard till you need it.

Give it a belt of glyphosate based weedkiller in the springtime. Glyphosate neutralises on contact with the soil so no harmful residues.

Alternatively there is no need what so ever to go the chemical route and I am proud of not falling for this. I dug the beds over which I had the time to do but also rely on card in other areas until I can get around to the proper digging. First year had a large expanse of spuds growing through card with no prior digging and last year squashes in the same way. Much easier to dig over afterwards and kept the annual weeds at bay too so can highly recommend it as an approach although you won't get rid of everything. If you're happy with chems then fine but they don't clear everything either.

[Jeanied]

I agree with Alison on this one - the glyphosate will need several applications to get rid of deep rooting weeds like couch grass - you are on a hiding to nothing really. At least cardboard is free, and in my opinion does almost as good a job.

[Currysniffa]

I got my first plot at the back end of April 2010, the raised beds just needed tuning over and some muck adding but the rest of the plot was coved in weeds and good old couch grass, I sprayed this area with Roundup as the old timers on the plot suggested, 3 weeks later its was all dead, I turned the soil over and then used the allotments Rotavator and I was really please how well the growing season was (see my photo album).

Plot 2 that I took on in November I have dug over but there was a lot of twitch root in the soil when the weather picks up and the soil dry's out a bit I'll turn it over ready for the Rotavator, no roundup as I've had more time...

[Snadger]

One of the first things that you are taught if you sit a pesticide application course is, if you can get away in any way without using them....DON'T!

If it was me, I would dig it over removing as many weed roots as possible and THEN cover with cardboard. I would then try and get a hold of some FYM, soil conditioner,home made compost, spent mushroom compost,straw or any type of organic mulch and pile as much of it as I could on top of the cardboard.

Glyphosate is so safe, it's been banned in certain parts of the world

Have a look at the site below and make your own mind up!

Glyphosate fact sheet

[Geordie]

Give it a belt of glyphosate based weedkiller in the springtime. Glyphosate neutralises on contact with the soil so no harmful residues.

Try spraying a row of seed potatoes that have yet to shoot.....if what they say is true, once it hits the soil its no harm done....see what sort of crop you get!

[binley100]

I would do as Snadge says and then plant through the cardboard.........

[Mr Potato Head]

Thanks all for the great responses.

I really don't want to use any chemicals, particularly glyphosate as I am totally unconvinced about its safety.

The whole reason for getting the allotment was to get away from chemicals that poison our food.

Ideally, I would like to dig over the affected areas, removing as many couch grass roots as possible as I go and then covering in cardboard.

Do you think there is any value in covering up the areas until I can dig them over? I am thinking that it will reduce the amount of the actual grass blades, making the digging process a bit easier. Or am I barking up the wrong tree there?

[Jeanied]

One year I just covered my weeds with cardboard, manure then black plastic and planted spuds through the lot. I got a crop of spuds off it, with only tufts of grass and bindweed - along with some colonies of slow worms who moved in to eat all the slugs and snails!

BTW, the slow worms still thrive in the compost heap!

[jackie j]

I would dig it over, the frost will help to break up the clods you leave. Remove as much as you can, cover with cardboard if you dont want to plant in it yet. I cover the area with as much manure as I can get but only on the area's that wont be having root veg in.

[Alison]

As you move into the growing season then card even over totally undug areas will help (just make sure you weigh it down OK ) although at the moment it won't make much difference.

[SarzWix]

It IS worth covering undug areas if you're not likely to get them done before spring. It will prevent the weeds from putting on a new growth spurt when the warmer weather arrives, and will begin the job of weakening them.

[Mr Potato Head]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I think I will be digging over the areas I know I will be using come spring and put card over the rest until I can get to them.

Here is a question though, today whilst digging over part of the area in question I noticed very few of the long, white couchgrass roots. Those I did find I fully dug out but if that root is not present does that mean it is normal grass and can just be dug in and let the grass rot down?