How to Remove Couch Grass without Weed Killers Let's make our position clear at the outset. We are fully aware that the quickest, easiest way to clear couch grass (Elymus repens) is to strim the grass to a height of about 2cm (1 in) and then spray with the weed killer glycophosphate. It will kill the grass stone dead in 2 weeks and if it doesn't, a 2nd spraying certainly will. If you believe claims that glycophosphate is safe then by all means use it. But maybe, like us, you have doubts over the environmental safety of a chemical that can kill a virulent weed like couch grass stone dead. Maybe you don't have 100% confidence in the manufacturer's claims or those of governmental agencies. Maybe you remember those reassuring claims that beef was safe around the time of the BSE outbreak and the subsequent findings on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. These pages are for those who want to clear couch grass without using chemicals or at least using them very sparingly. Is It Couch Grass? Click picture to enlarge The picture on the right (click to enlarge) shows the roots of couch grass. They are very dense in the soil and go down about 15cm (6in). The other key identifier is that couch grass will not be killed by burying it under ground as happens with normal grass. Click picture to enlarge Strong Points of Couch Grass 1. Burying or turning couch grass will not kill it. The roots will spread and shoots will reappear. 2. Digging the roots of couch grass is hard work, they are dense and bind even the lightest soil. 3. Couch grass grows extremely quickly. Weak Points of couch Grass 1. Couch grass is shallow rooted, no long taper like roots going deep into the ground. The roots of couch grass typically go down about 10cm (4in) and rarely more than 15cm (6in). 2. If the soil is well-dug, the roots of couch grass can be pulled out with relative ease. 3. Digging of the soil weakens couch grass. 4. Couch grass produces less seed than most grasses Our Non-Chemical Clearance Strategy for Couch Grass 1. Cut the couch grass to about 2cm (1in) high with a strimmer. Alternatives are to burn it off with a flame thrower or cut it down with a scythe. 2. Rake up the cut grass, don't use it on the compost heap unless you plan not to use the heap fro 9 months. 3. Rotovate then dig the soil or simply dig the soil. Use a fork not a spade to dig, this will keep the non-rotovated lower roots of the couch grass uncut and easier to remove in long strips. 4. Whilst digging, remove as many of the couch grass roots as possible. A sieve will make a thorough job and give you the crumbliest soil ever. 5. Dig a trench at least 15cm (6in) deep around the cultivated bed. This will stop the couch grass re-infesting the cleared area. 6. Over the next few months, weed out any couch grass which reappears from roots left in the ground. This is an easier task than most think because digging the soil will have opened the structure of the soil. We reckon about half an hour a week for the next 4 months will be enough to remove the remaining couch grass on a half allotment. 7. Once step 5 has been completed, any soil which is not to be used immediately can be covered in mulch (black plastic, carpet etc). This will clear any remaining couch grass in six months and will seriously weaken the grass after only one month. BACK TO ALLOTMENT INDEX PAGE

Name: jim@GardenAction
E-mail: webmaster@gardenaction.co.uk
Date posted: January 23, 2012 - 05:07 pm
Message: Broad beans, they germinate at low temperatures. Put down cloches or polytunnel and prepare a seedbed for carrots.

Name: jackie
E-mail: jackiepickett@btinternet.com
Date posted: January 23, 2012 - 02:11 pm
Message: hi there just taken on a allotment here on the southcoast. going through the digging and box making. what do i plant first.

Name: jim@GardenAction
E-mail: webmaster@gardenaction.co.uk
Date posted: November 03, 2011 - 02:46 pm
Message: Use a weed 'wand' or 'wiper'to touch the grasses that grow above the ground cover.

Name: Ed
E-mail: Barry37@comcast.net
Date posted: November 03, 2011 - 11:36 am
Message: I have a lot of myrtle (ground cover) and long blades of grass are growing in it - is there some type of grass killer I can use to eliminate the grass without hurting the myrtle?

Name: Craig Limbert
E-mail: craig.limbert@68mailcom
Date posted: September 18, 2011 - 05:37 pm
Message: Sound advive about couch grass. Thank you.

Name: Moira
E-mail: Private
Date posted: October 11, 2010 - 04:02 pm
Message: Thank you for this chemical-free advice.
I have couch (and ivy!) growing through a garden. I am getting the ivy under control but the couch requires time-consuming weeding. I don't want to rip up all the plants that the couch grows amongst. There are trees roots also, including a kowhai and young kauri. There are some agapanthus but not tightly clumped. Do you think if more of these were planted they could choke out the couch?? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thank you.