Topic: Couch grass in my chives...

[kippers garden]

During last summer i noticed that my chives have some couch grass growing through them.  Is it possible to dig them up in the spring, wash their roots and tease the couch grass roots out?...or should i dig them up and buy new plants?

[Paulines7]

Chives seem to survive anything.  I would do as you suggest, dig them out in the Spring, take out all the grass roots and then replant the chives.  If it's a thick clump you could also take the opportunity of dividing them.

[PurpleHeather]

I agree with Pauline. In fact I keep my chives in a big bucket/Pots now on the allotment and bring one home to cut, then take it back and swap with another as I use them.

Every year, in spring, I cut them in half, and re-pot them.  Giving away surplus.

So, you certainly are fine to dig up the patch and sort out the couch grass. Re plant in smaller clumps if you need to.

Mean while there is no reason not to grow a fresh lot in a small pot ready to replant.  If you feel so inclined.

[Mortality]

During last summer i noticed that my chives have some couch grass growing through them.  Is it possible to dig them up in the spring, wash their roots and tease the couch grass roots out?...or should i dig them up and buy new plants?

I think this is what ive been clearing from my garden, really tough root system that seems to be spread out all over  :-\