Print Page - How do I know it's couch grass?

Title: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: anemone on April 17, 2008, 22:44:50

I've just got a new allotment and am trying to clear it and get stuff planted.

How do I know if the grass I'm removing is couch grass or less worrying stuff?

Also i was hoping to keep the grass as paths - is this crazy?

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: Vortex on April 17, 2008, 23:03:10

If it looks like the pics from my blog http://vortexs-veg-patch.blogspot.com/2007/02/slow-going.html (http://vortexs-veg-patch.blogspot.com/2007/02/slow-going.html)
then its couch grass plus probably a number of other varieties of meadow grass. You rarely get one without the other.
Click on the pics to get a better view.

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: bupster on April 17, 2008, 23:18:46

Couch has very long, distinctive roots that sort of branch. You can see them in Vortex's picture with other roots too. Fork it out, it's a bugger.

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: manicscousers on April 18, 2008, 08:50:38

Hiya, anemone, welcome to the site..we had lots of couch on ours, a.k.a. spear grass here, don't panic, just clear it a bit at a time, you'll get there ;D

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: Plot69 on April 18, 2008, 09:15:10

Couch grass has long white, wiry spaghetti like roots and so does bindweed. Bindweed roots are more brittle but it's an equally evasive weed.

My philosophy has always been, if it's white and wiggly dig it out, if it's red and wiggly, leave it in.

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: redimp on April 18, 2008, 10:43:59

Mine was always blunter and more to the point - "If it's white, it's shite" and dig it out.

Sorry Dan :-[

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: Melbourne12 on April 18, 2008, 10:53:58

Quote from: anemone on April 17, 2008, 22:44:50
I've just got a new allotment and am trying to clear it and get stuff planted.

How do I know if the grass I'm removing is couch grass or less worrying stuff?

Also i was hoping to keep the grass as paths - is this crazy?

I can't add much to the good advice above, except to say that if you need to lie down on the couch after digging it, it's couch grass. *

More seriously, we allow it on our paths between raised beds, and it's fine. Strim it and/or use a glyphosate weedkiller occasionally to keep it under control, and obviously dig it out of the beds themselves.

* Yes, I know some people pronounce it kooch. ;)

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: jennym on April 18, 2008, 11:02:54

This is a reasonable picture of a small bit of couch grass:
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/jennympics/Couchgrassroots.jpg)

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: Old bird on April 18, 2008, 11:23:08

Hi Anemone

The best way to tell if it is couch is to see if the pointy white roots are quite sharp and very pointy!

Good luck with it

Old Bird

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: anemone on April 21, 2008, 18:52:10

Thanks for the replies. It does look like the pictures but not so much the longer roots. I do feel like lying down after all day digging and weeding loads out though :)

Title: Re: How do I know it's couch grass?
Post by: saddad on April 21, 2008, 18:56:34

Also known in some areas as Twich.. :-\

Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: anemone on April 17, 2008, 22:44:50