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Scutch Grass

Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
in Problem solving
Hi folks - I have skutch grass on my lawn and I am wondering what people think of my approach.

My lawn is 10m x 10m and I have about 20-30 patches of scutch grass. Each patch is no more than 5cm diameter.

I read somewhere that the only way to deal with it is to apply glyphosate. What I did was mix glyphosate with washing up liquid, and I then painted it on all the patches of skutch grass.

I read that I should wait 6 weeks and reapply my mixture of glyphosate and washing up liquid to the scutch grass again. So this is my plan.

After this, I understand I need to wait 3 months before attempting to grow new grass seed on the areas where the scutch grass was. Is this correct? So I would need to leave these bare patches until next spring before attempting to re-seed?
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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hi Martin. I have never heard of scutch grass but am assuming you mean couch grass? Depending where you are in the UK I would definitely wait for re-seeding until next year because of present weather conditions.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
    Thanks for the reply! Yes, I mean couch grass (there seems to be different terms!). I am actually based in Ireland so the weather conditions are not that bad.

    After putting down glyphosate, how long do you have to wait before attempting to grow seed in that same spot? Is it really 3 months?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No but grass seed germinates best in September and April.  Question of temperatures and moisture levels.

    Give you plenty of time to ensure the couch grass is all dead and then rake over and improve the texture of your soil for sowing.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Glyphosate is usually broken down at the most in two weeks and if you follow Obelixx' advice and clear the dead couch grass and water the cleared area copiously you should be able to re-seed then.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Martin GardenerMartin Gardener Posts: 70
    Great. Thanks! So I will try to reseed in September then.

    My plans was to rack the entire lawn. Aerate with a fork. Then spread a mixture of compost and grass seed all over the lawn. I did this last year and it thickened up the lawn nicely. So hopefully this second go will improve the lawn further whilst also filling in gaps from left by scutch grass I killed off.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Good luck Martin and let us know how you get on.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Good plan and yes, let us know how it goes.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • [Glen][Glen] Posts: 76
    edited August 2018
    As the roots are shallow, why would digging up and burning a large sod of couch not eradicate the specimen?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's hard to get every last bit of the roots - they tend to break and bits get left behind.  It'll grow back from the tiniest little bit.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Couch grass can spread by runners and if the digging up of a large sod snaps off even the smallest bit and leaves it behind unnoticed, then the couch grass will just re-grow.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
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