Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Lawn Hell

steven.x.huntersteven.x.hunter Posts: 1
edited July 2020 in Problem solving
Hello, could anyone help me identify what this is that has almost completely taken over my lawn, and how to deal with it please?  (South-west UK)
Any advice greatly appreciated!!!

Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Welcome to the forum, your first rather useless advice is as follows
    Don't know what it's called, someone will but it's a coarse grass. 
    Many years ago the advice was to slash it through with a sharp knife what that achieved I have no idea but I just lived with it, once the clover and dandelions took over it didn't really matter much.
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    It’s couch grass. You can’t use a selective weed killer so the only real option is to dig it out. You need to get all the rhizomes out or it will return and outcompete the lawn grass you want to keep. 
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    Not sure it is couch it looks too soft could it be yorkshire fog?
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I think it's couch grass, we have it in our lawn and yes, it's taking over.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think Yorkshire Fog too.  I find that a vigorous slashing/scraping at it with one of those hook-shaped weeding tools that's meant for cracks in paving, rather than cutting through with a sharp knife, pulls up quite a lot of the rhizomes/roots without having to dig. Not all by any means, but it helps a bit. If it was couch I think it would get stronger not weaker from slashing.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    I have it too and it's not couch, it doesn't spread like couch. I don't bother fighting it. I feel like struggling for a perfect lawn is too perfectionist, maybe almost childish (comparing lawns with neighbours etc.). I am naturally competitive and trying for perfection but I feel like extending this to my lawn is not good for my mental health. There are better hills to die on.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Isn't "hell" a bit strong?
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Another vote for Yorkshire Fog. Various ways of dealing with it as mentioned above 
    https://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/topic/lawn-weed-control/weed-grasses-in-lawns


  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    The principle is the same whatever you want to name it. Dig it out. Selective lawn weedkillers won't work and slashing is ineffective so you either put up with it as it takes over and out competes the lawn grass you desire or dig it out and reseed / returf.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fire said:
    Isn't "hell" a bit strong?
    Depends on your idea of Heaven I expect 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.