A couch grass invasion and natural ways of controlling nettles.
How to get rid of couch grass uk.
By helen yemm 20 august 2013 07 00 am all hands on deck.
Where couch grass is growing in permanently planted borders it s easier to lift all the plants and tease out the weed from the rootballs.
Decorative grass cultivars benefit and grow stronger when mowed whereas coarse grasses decline.
It takes teamwork to keep an allotment up to scratch credit.
Choose one rich in nitrogen.
Rake up the cut grass don t use it on the compost heap unless you plan not to use the heap fro 9 months.
Make sure your mow on a medium.
If it is just couch and no other rhizomes like bindweed or horse tail then yes i would bury couch grass in the bean trench.
I must admit my bean trenches are a little deeper than most but i would be amazed if they regenerated if they are more than a spit down.
As you dig break up the soil and the roots of couch grass and most other weeds can be removed.
The best time to implement it will be in march as you will accelerate the fine lawn.
Apply a spring lawn fertiliser.
Cut the couch grass to about 2cm 1in high with a strimmer.
Its wiry underground stems and creeping shoots pop up around garden plants and before long can take over a bed.
Most of the couch grass was killed after one treatment of roundup applied using the hozelock wonderweeder hand triggered spray or pumped spray.
Alternatives are to burn it off with a flame thrower or cut it down with a scythe.
It involves digging the area to a depth of about 15cm to 20cm 6in to 8in deep with a fork.
As a perennial weed thorough killing or eradication of the roots is necessary.
Dig out all the roots and underground stems of this grass especially at the edge of infested lawns.
Gardening magazine trialled different methods for controlling couch grass we found that glyphosate sprays wins hands down.
If you are unsure then dry the couch grass rhizomes out first.
