Couch grass

Hi, I'm new to this site but reading some of the postings I reckon I could learn a lot from the old hands.I have just taken over an allotment which has been left to its own devices,and is covered with couch grass.My question is should I try to dig it all out or rotavate it in and pick it off as it re grows.


Thanks in advance

 

Hi, Youngchip and welcome. Don`t rotovate it whatever you do you will increase the problem a thousandfold. I would wait until spring ,when it starts to regrow, and then spray with glyphosate. You may have to do it a couple of time, but it is essential that you kill off all the roots.

 

Thanks for the quick response,but what effect would glyphosate have on the soil as I want to grow veg.Does it damage the insects as I want the soil to be as healthy as possible.Yeah I know I want everything!!
cheers Steve.

 

Hi Youngchip and welcome. Sorry to have to tell you this but as it regrows it reproduces. (Naughty couch grass). I'm afraid you will have to dig it out, piece by painful piece. Or use one hell of a weed killer and not plant anything for months. It really is a very nasty weed and if you leave any bits in that can reproduce as well.

The good news is that once you have taken most of it out you can plant then just take the rest out at as it shows its ugly little head again.

 

David. Once again you type faster than me. Or maybe you drink slower.

 

Youngchip, glyphosate is biodegradable, once it touches the soil it is inert.

 

When I took my allotment over, a few years ago now, it was full of couch grass, thistles, nettles and the odd bramble.
The only way I managed to get it under control was to hand dig with a fork.
A slow process but if you do a small area at a time and plant up its not so bad.
Any areas that you cant get to in a hurry could be covered by old carpet or something similar.
I agree with David that weedkiller is the modern approach, but I reckon you will have to wait at least until late May before applying it, then a good month to six weeks for it to work.
By which time you've lost the growing season, or at least a good bit of it.

 

I disagree there Pete. March should be fine for treating it and you don`t have to wait to see the results. Give it a week or so to get into the roots and then start digging it out.

 

John YOU type faster than me, but then I think everyone does.
My one finger is going like crazy.
I see we agree yet again. :D

 

Do you think it will be growing fast enough or have enough leaf to absorb the stuff in March David.
If your going to have to dig it out, why bother poisoning it?

 

No Pete. Mrs Sarra will get very upset if I marry you just because we've agreed 3 times. :D

 

David. We are talking West Yorks. It's even colder than the coast here. It won't be growing in March.

 

Silly me.

 

Thanks again for your advice,I think the digging it out by hand seems the best option if I want to get anythig growing this year.(pity the poor wifes back)!!

I hear growing spuds the first year is good for breaking up the soil ,may give this a try and just take it steady the first year.

Steve

 

Yes. Take it steady chip. Spuds are a good idea this year. Also the wife idea. :D