Couch Grass- work of the devil

[emmy1978]

I am in bit of a tizz over this mountain of couch grass that I am currently building.  I'm sure I read in a thread here that it won't rot down as turf does, but lottie neighbours are saying it will. I was originally going to take it to tip as garden waste, to be totally rid of it and not have it taking up loads of room. (Only half plot so all space required for g/house construction etc)
So all you lovely peeps, what do you think? Be very grateful of all advice as don't want to hang on to it for a year hoping for loamy lovelyness and getting, well, couch grass and soil.  ??? :-\ :(

[emmy1978]

[RobinOfTheHood]

Could drown it in your water butt, would make a nice feed.

[manicscousers]

stick it in bin bags or empty compost bags, leave it for ages and you get a bag of soil,  :)

[sally_cinnamon]

Or turn it into this...

http://www.healthsupplementsite.com/product_info.php?products_id=453690696

and make it earn you some dosh!

PS.  I think I've got couch grass too.  Boohoo   :'(

[caroline7758]

Is there anyone who hasn't? >:(

[timelady]

I have a growing mountain of the stuff too - Having clay soil, I just can't separate the soil from the roots very well. (My neighbour is but he has a LOT more time and on his hands.) At the moment it's becoming a backing wall to my bramble wall. I was told in a previous thread that it won't go loamy like turf but that I should cover it. But I have the space not to worry about it for now.

Tina.

[Marymary]

Or turn it into this...

http://www.healthsupplementsite.com/product_info.php?products_id=453690696

Amazing - I wonder what it's supposed to do.

[Baccy Man]

Or turn it into this...

http://www.healthsupplementsite.com/product_info.php?products_id=453690696

Amazing - I wonder what it's supposed to do.

There are some medicinal uses listed here.
http://earthnotes.tripod.com/couchgrass.htm

[Trixiebelle]

I could open a couch-grass product supermarket  ;D

I wonder if you can weave it into baskets as well ....

[dtw]

Nice to see it's Kosher.  ::)

[bunjies]

feed it to the rabbits!!!
they will recycle it for you ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

It will rot down perfectly satisfactorily. Just pile it up, cover it, and leave it.

[emmy1978]

I could open a couch-grass product supermarket  ;D

I wonder if you can weave it into baskets as well ....

;D ;D ;D ;D

[emmy1978]

If it sells at $7.95 an oz then I'm in the money people!! ;D

[ruffmeister]

burn the stuff!!! easiest way lol!! seriously though if you want to compost it down, cover it in the thickest darket material you can and leave it for at least 1 year and voila, however i would say burn it or take it off the land altogether

[cornykev]

Bag it and forget it for a year if it hasn't broke down then repeat. ;D ;D ;D

[emmy1978]

I would bag it and leave it, but there is already a huge amount and have only cleared athird of the plot. I'm already stacking manure and then with compost bins/ water butts/ shed/ etc I'm running out of space and don't really want it sitting there being all evil forever. Am inclined to maybe keep some to add to compost but really want it off the plot. Ho hum. Thanks all x :-\

[Columbus]

Hi all,  :)

On plot number two I made turves into a number of heaps, one runs the whole width of the plot against the path and marks the edge of my plot and I planted spring bulbs in it which are just coming into bud.

Two others are bigger and provide shelter and privacy to my lawn area - I planted squash into these.

The rest is a huge pile leaning into three dalek composters full of the same stuff I think parts of that pile will be used to earth up spuds as required and so find its way back into the soil.

Col

[louise stella]

I have tons of the stuff - I started making a heap and now thats full and covered so now I am bagging it and plonking it on top!  So I can just forget the d**n stuff and get on with the rest of the plot.  I have left four beds and will cardboard and poo mulch them to kill the stuff - I am going to grow curcubits through it!  Some has come up in  my so very thoughroughly weeded beds - but I find it comes out easily by hand or with a cultivator (great three pronged tool - long handled  - £4.99 from Wickes!!!!).

It does get easier and as this is my first year I am try to take a pragmatic approach - I'll get there in the end and so will you!

Plus it's easier when the sun shines!

Louise

[Robert_Brenchley]

This is how some of my couch ended up.