How To Kill Reeds?

[skipstar]

Hi i have an allotment and the only problem i have is that i have reeds that grow up under everything. I've tried to dig them out but they go down over 4ft. Any help or ideas. Cheers Skip

[sewer rat]

Before I started growing veg for a living, I worked for an agricultural contractor and we controlled reedson various farms in one of two ways.
1. Chemical Sprays
2. Continual cutting back - we used a grass topper but a strimmer would be the same - this continual cutting eventually weakens the plant and it gives up the ghost.
Reeds by their very nature require constantly wet ground to thrive, so maybe drainage would be another option ?

[skipstar]

Thanks for the reply. Ive been cutting them back now for 3 months, i know thats not a long time. Just the bloody things keep on coming. The next allotment next to mine still has reeds coming up after 7 years, though not as many. I really dont want to be spraying chemicals on my allotment . As for drainage, it does drain away. But after 4ft you do hit water as people used to have wells on the allotments. Thanks for the advice Sewer Rat, guess i'll just have to dig the buggers right out come winter. Regards Skip

[sewer rat]

Skipstar
You must be unlucky as we topped 16 acres twice a year for two years on the edge of an estuary for the RSPB and the reeds near as damn it disappeared.

[skipstar]

Trust me i can cut one 1ft down in the ground . A week later and its coming up again. Although a few plots down they have mare grass i think thats whats its called growing and growing. I'd rather the reeds.

[sewer rat]

Trust me i can cut one 1ft down in the ground . A week later and its coming up again. Although a few plots down they have mare grass i think thats whats its called growing and growing. I'd rather the reeds.

Think what they have is Mares Tail - and trust me, you would definitely rather have reeds !