Clearing couch grass - worth cutting down first?

[Seahorse]

My 480 sq m lottie is hugely infested with couch grass I've already decided against either chemicals or rotavating and intend to dig it all (I'm just going out.. I may be some time!). I'd like to know though what are the merits (or not) of cutting it down first? I could hire, or even buy, a petrol strimmer but a) I'm a midget and although I'm actually quite strong, strimmers are bigger than I am and b) it would only really be worth strimming a tiny bit, then digging it, or it would all grow back before I got to it

Is there any major reason not to just dig it out as it is?

[jacob marley]

If you strim how much are you going to strim if you strim the lot it will all have grown back by the time you dig it all '
I know you do not like chemicals but i would spray with gyslophate and let it die down and then start digging and digging and digging jacob

[rustylady]

It's certainly easier to dig if the top growth is cut down, but only you can judge whether it's worth the expense of hiring strimmers etc. Also bear in mind how long it will take you to dig the strimmed areas and the rate of re-growth of the bits you don't have time to dig immediately. Some sort of cover applied after strimming is good (old carpet, thick cardboard etc). This stops the topgrowth while you have time to thoroughly dig the bits you can comfortably manage.

[Norm]

I fully understand your desire not to use chemicals, but 480 sq m of couch grass sounds like a strangulated hernia and a couple of slipped discs. In your place, just as a one off, I'd go for the weed killer

[SarzWix]

Seahorse, you could always just have a set of shears with you and chop down the section that you're just about to dig? Although that does allow it to gain strength a bit, it means you're not trying to wield a heavy strimmer! Been there, tried that - I'm a fairly strong midget too but that strimmer was heavy and really hard to get started - I put my back out for a few days trying to do it
I'd say shears, and chop as you go, or cover up and let it get squashed down and weak before you start.

[NOG]

Burn it all off. to stop the heads seeding then dig.

[Dobby]

Im digging the middle bed on owr plot at the moment i has couch grass I have not strimed it cos its easer to get hold of. It was last years brassica bed so it is really compacted and like a solid mesh under neathgoing to take a copple of days me thinks
Mrs D planted out some of the peas and beans yesterday while I dug and dug
Might try burning it thanks NOG

[Seahorse]

How can I burn it without starting a huge blaze? (Genuine question).

That's interesting that you're finding it easier to dig unstrimmed Dobby and I also think the shears are a great idea, thanks Sarah

[pete10]

I would strim it , For starters looks neater on the eye. Then dig it out in ,
Sections leaving a trench around the cleared area .

[Matt.]

How can I burn it without starting a huge blaze? (Genuine question).

It won't set on fire. Its living grass. The heat will destroy the cell structure and the leaf part will die.