No names no pack drill, I guess. Still, it's a bad day when one wishes ill health on those who take a different view. Go ahead and 'destroy your health'. I could save you but I won't ! God bless us every one.
I have been successful with killing couch grass without weedkiller. but it takes over a year of black plastic. And I do use roundup round the edges to stop it creeping back in.
On reflection I'll just add this .............. there are always going to be differing points of view about various gardening practices, and there's no harm, as far as I can see, in discussing them politely and pleasantly.
Unkindness is unkindness whatever coat it's wearing.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have been successful with killing couch grass without weedkiller. but it takes over a year of black plastic. And I do use roundup round the edges to stop it creeping back in.
Thanks Skandi. That is what I thought, and I am prepared to wait over a year for it to be dead, I just didn't know how long it would take. That's why I am doing both forking out and smothering. It is quite a big plot so I'm forking some of it out so I can plant this Spring, and hoping I can work on the 'smothered' bits next Spring. But I think it might be a good idea to treat the bits I am going to smother with gloyphsate before smothering, just to be doubly sure.
BTW, I did not mean to be offensive, just observing that some people get rather unpleasant themselves when glyphosate is mentioned. Having read a lot of scientific papers on the subject I have concluded that limited and responsible use is not harmful to health or to the soil foodweb, or to my crops as I will ensure there is time for it to degrade before planting. The biggest problem seems to be the misuse of it in agriculture to 'dry out' wheat before harvesting. Shockingly this grain is then routinely used to make bread.
..... The biggest problem seems to be the misuse of it in agriculture to 'dry out' wheat before harvesting. Shockingly this grain is then routinely used to make bread.
Yes, that's of concern to me too ....... and I come from a family of farmers ........
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Plot 52, As a lifelong Alotmenteer welcome to the club. Ah yes the dreaded G word it always provokes a lot of robust discussion lets say. I think your approach is about right you will have to accept it's going to be a permanent battle to keep it in check. Some will say that weakening with mulch then CONSTANT hoeing will work eventually. Unlike meadow grass couch cannot cope with being cut frequently BUT you have to be as persistent as the couch. The moment it appears hoe it off again, if it can't make food eventually it must die. As others have said though it creeps back in from the sides so if you have grass paths keep them mown very often. Good luck!
Posts
No names no pack drill, I guess. Still, it's a bad day when one wishes ill health on those who take a different view. Go ahead and 'destroy your health'. I could save you but I won't ! God bless us every one.
Off on a tangent I know, but I'm famous for it .... did anyone hear this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09qcybq
Well worth listening to
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have been successful with killing couch grass without weedkiller. but it takes over a year of black plastic. And I do use roundup round the edges to stop it creeping back in.
On reflection I'll just add this .............. there are always going to be differing points of view about various gardening practices, and there's no harm, as far as I can see, in discussing them politely and pleasantly.
Unkindness is unkindness whatever coat it's wearing.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That's the problem with couch grass Skandi ........ it creeps back in ............. I've even known it pierce quite robust physical barriers.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Personally, I've never seen any empirical evidence to suggest that anyone's health has been "destroyed" by glyphosate use as directed by manufacturer.
Alcohol and tobacco yes, but not glyphosate.
Last edited: 06 February 2018 14:38:38
Thanks Skandi. That is what I thought, and I am prepared to wait over a year for it to be dead, I just didn't know how long it would take. That's why I am doing both forking out and smothering. It is quite a big plot so I'm forking some of it out so I can plant this Spring, and hoping I can work on the 'smothered' bits next Spring. But I think it might be a good idea to treat the bits I am going to smother with gloyphsate before smothering, just to be doubly sure.
BTW, I did not mean to be offensive, just observing that some people get rather unpleasant themselves when glyphosate is mentioned. Having read a lot of scientific papers on the subject I have concluded that limited and responsible use is not harmful to health or to the soil foodweb, or to my crops as I will ensure there is time for it to degrade before planting. The biggest problem seems to be the misuse of it in agriculture to 'dry out' wheat before harvesting. Shockingly this grain is then routinely used to make bread.
Yes, that's of concern to me too ....... and I come from a family of farmers ........
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Plot 52, As a lifelong Alotmenteer welcome to the club. Ah yes the dreaded G word it always provokes a lot of robust discussion lets say. I think your approach is about right you will have to accept it's going to be a permanent battle to keep it in check. Some will say that weakening with mulch then CONSTANT hoeing will work eventually. Unlike meadow grass couch cannot cope with being cut frequently BUT you have to be as persistent as the couch. The moment it appears hoe it off again, if it can't make food eventually it must die. As others have said though it creeps back in from the sides so if you have grass paths keep them mown very often. Good luck!