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Removing rough turf cooch grass with hand tools

alexgee40CyIcoFGwalexgee40CyIcoFGw Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi All
I've just moved into a doer up house and the garden, rough field grass, has been left to grow for a year or more! Whats the best way to remove the "Turf " Using hand tools? Photo attached! I want to grow vegetables mainly!
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Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    It may depend on whether you're an outgoing type, because probably one of the quickest ways would be to chat to a few locals and see if anyone has a couple of goats or pigs to reduce the length.  Once at a more manageable length, things get easier but, being a newbie, walking up to strangers might not be your forte.  A few pints in the pub could solicit the same result but, if time isn't a vital element, covering the whole plot with (black plastic) builders' membrane will reduce the area to bare earth eventually, at which point you simply dig it over, making sure you seek out every piece of root in the process.  As a 'half way house', you could use the membrane idea over 90% of it and attack the remaining 10% with spade or fork but, at that length, it'll be hard work I'm afraid.
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @alexgee40CyIcoFGw I'd stray by building a compost heap then I'd get out the mower and cut the grass as short as possible, you might need to do it in several goes (you might even need a good strimmer). All the waste goes into the compost (all good for the veggies). You could then cover some of the area with plastic to starve the plants and they die, then use a spade to undercut the turf giving a clean soil. Stack the turfs in heap and it will break down to lovely soil. Alternatively have a look at Charles Dowdings no dig website, you could start a no dig garden just by mowing then laying lots of cardboard and compost. Be warned it does need lots of compost 
  • delskidelski Posts: 274
    Welcome Alexgee! Looks like a nice spot you've got there.
    Agree with wilderbeast, I'd be cutting the grass and getting it in the compost, especially if I was planning on growing veg. Potentially you could cover with cardboard and get some free manure from a local farmer then leave it over winter to break down. I recently drove past a pile of steaming manure in a field so it's possible!
    Once I'd cut the grass though I'd sort out that ugly asbestos garage thing! Is it yours? Maybe you've already sorted it out, the photo looks old :)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Go carefully if you decide to use a strimmer. There could be hedgehogs or other wildlife hibernating in there.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @alexgee40CyIcoFGw   Hi - all sound advice  and yes, watch out for the creepies hibernating.  May I make a suggestion?  Can you hire a rotavator or tynes or something similar to break up the ground a bit?  Spade digging for the first year could be a back-breaker!  Keep us updated.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    tuikowhai34  The original post did stipulate 'using hand tools' but, in any case, rotavating couch grass will only multiply the problem.
  • alexgee40CyIcoFGwalexgee40CyIcoFGw Posts: 2
    Thanks For all your Comments! Going to go for mowing and strimming and a mix of digging and spuds, and no dig cardboard and compost!
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @alexgee40CyIcoFGw good luck it's all fun 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    alexgee40CyIcoFGw   Well, the spuds should certainly help starve the couch of moisture, and cardboard/compost in between rows?  Yeah. 
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @nick615   Yes, I see that now!  Thanks for pointing that out.  Cooch is such a nuisance and so hard to get rid of.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

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