dogs mercury and couch grass

whats the best weed killer please
infested down to 4 deep

 

try looking at http://www.forestry-suppliers.com. Are we talking 4feet? Thats some infestation! I presume getting in a rotavator isn't on? Couch grass is a real pain - don't know about others

 

The best way and proberbly the only way is to dig it up , small area at a time and often.Nobody said it would easy..........

 

Dig, dig, dig.
Then next year dig again.
In three years time you'll be just about on top of it.
It gets better year by year, but I wouldn't introduce any shrubs of perennials until you are sure the bed is clear. We had a large rose bed that was infested and it has taken three years to get rid of most of the couch. We are now at the stage when we can dig out the few remaining rhizomes in late spring with a hand fork.
Using a rotavator will just chop up and spread the rhizomes. There are weedkillers that will help reduce the infestation, but they are not as efficient as digging the horrible stuff out.

 

Agreed, horrible stuff. Any small piece left behind will readily grow so rotivation is a waste of time. Clay soil is the worst, digging out and general improvement will get rid of it eventually but you have to be persistent. Any weedkillers that will destroy it will kill any other plants you have. It's one of our toughest weeds.

If there are other plants you need to keep you will probably have to lift them and clean out all the couch from between the roots and replant once the soil is clear. Drastic but it does give an opportunity to divide congested clumps and they normally benefit from new rooting and freedom from competition.

 

mmm
yes 4" of couch grass, and dogs mercury over the whole garden, customer wants to sow grass ... this mite be one solution, not a perfect solution...... ive got rid of most plants from the infested area . which is most of the back garden

[ 03. March 2006, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: Lady Gardener ]