Couch grass in fruit bushes.

[DAVEM]

Why is it that couch grass and its stringy roots seems to love to grow right in the very centre of gooseberry bushes or tayberry plants. It is so difficult to dig it out and seaparte it from the fruit bush centres and I am not sure whether to risk using a weedkiller for fear of damaging the fruit bushes while trying to destroy the couch grass. Suggestions?

[shirlthegirl43]

You could try tying a bin bag over the plant - taping the bottom round the stem then spray glyphosphate on the grass. If you are careful you should avoid the fruit bushes that way and after a half-hour or so when the spray is dry you can remove the bag. Good luck.

[Nicos]

Try painting the grass shoots rather than spraying them...more accurate!

It's worked a treat on a patch of creeping ground elder

[Two_Sheds]

I had this... I picked it all out by hand, just keep pulling those Couch shoots out as they appear and you will weaken it. My raspberry bed was totally infested 3 years ago, it is now clear of Couch and Creeping Buttercup. Just keep at it!

[DAVEM]

Try painting the grass shoots rather than spraying them...more accurate!

It's worked a treat on a patch of creeping ground elder

I like this suggestion - only someone who had dealt with the pervasiveness of the couch grass root will really understand this problem. It can get right into the middle of other roots and so hard to separate. Working at it as you suggest seems laborious, but I do know with persistence you can get rid! Thank you

[DAVEM]

Try painting the grass shoots rather than spraying them...more accurate!

It's worked a treat on a patch of creeping ground elder

Sounds like a good idea and worth a try - but what would you use as a killer and will it destroy those pervasive couch grass stringy roots?

[Nicos]

We used glyphosate( as Shirl has suggested) , but it wasn't the garden centre stuff as that isn't very strong. Ours was from a local Farm Suppliers.

If it killed our creeping ground elder, I imagine it should work on couch grass - give it a go and let us know! ( Remember it has to be in the growing phase when you apply it to the leaves.)
If you use the weaker stuff which is generally on sale,and do it too early in the year then it may need doing a few times to get results.
I like the idea of the bin bag around the bush too!

[roitelet]

You could als try mixing the glyphosphate with wallpaper paste and painting it on the couch grass. It helps to keep the weedkiller under control.

[Two_Sheds]

here's a useful page:
How to remove couch grass with pictures

[Derek]

Hi all

I also have the couch grass problem and yes, would you believe around the base of several gooseberry bushes.

It was interesting to read your comments which endorsed my thoughts of carefully treating with glyphosate

I made a start today by pruning the bushes so that when the grass emerges I can zap it

[diggerdelaney]

you could use a sprayer with a makeshift spray guard by using a piece of plastic that bend easily but rigid enough to hold its shape. make it into a cone around the spray nozzle it then keeps the spray contained can also use in breezy conditions with care