The Demon Couch

[KeithR]

A very merry Christmas to all.

It seems a little crass to be talking about demons at this time of year but I am now about one quarter of the way through digging my first allotment which has not been touched for 3 years. It seems that every other forkfull I come up with a crows nest of white couch grass roots. I have been removing as much of the root as I can by hand which is why I am now using a fork as it does not chop them like my spade. I have two questions: -

1) Is there an alternative to the method that I am using to rid myself of the couch without resorting to chemicals.

2) What do I do with the 3 wheelbarrows full of roots. I do not wish to put them in the communal composting bin in case they do not rot down. I cannot burn them as we are not allowed fires ( something to do with insurance and the grade one listed thatched cottage on the other side of the allotment hedge). Currently I have piled them on a large bit of black plastic and cover the pile when I stop digging.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

KeithR

[sandersj89]

A membrane mulch such as clack plastic or an old tarpuline will suppress couch but you will have to leave it in place for at least 12 months. You will still have some couch left but it will be much reduced.

As to what to do with the roots, you can bag it up in black bin bags or old compost bags and leave it for 6 to 8 months, it will turn into a slimy mess that can then be composted.

Or you can drown it in water, again it will breakdown with time and the water can then be used as a liquid feed or add it to the compost heap.....

Jerry

[derbex]

And I thought you were talking about a killer sofa!

Jeremy

[Jesse]

Ooooh, don't tell me that it should not be dumped and the municpal dump! I offloaded a few bin bags full at my local amenity tip in autumn. That went into the green waste skip, have I contaminated it?

[john_miller]

This may provide some solutions:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:TcczNURfNTUJ:www.hdra.org.uk/organicweeds/downloads/elitrigia.pdf++%22couch+rhizomes%22&hl=en
Note that digging the rhizomes (what you are handling are not roots) in winter maximises the chances of re-generation. June digging will increase the likelihood of eradication of the grass.

[RSJK]

The only way to get rid of couch grass is the way you have been doing hard graft l know but it is worth it in the end. Took me severn months to dig two allotments that had not been touched for eight years but boy have l been able to reap the rewards this year. Same two allotments have taken me about ten days to dig  and muck this back end. Do not loose faith keep at it  it is worth it.

[Andy H]

I too was waiting for the killer sofa!!!

[derbex]

Your wish is my command :