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I rotavated couchgrass!
Jordan Carter
Posts: 81
Hi everyone, I've had my allotment for just under a year and due to work commitments etc was unable to care for it as I should. It was completely overgrown from the start so was quite daunting. I was against rotavating due to chopping up all the couch grass on the plot. However, I received a 'dirty plot' letter from the council 4 weeks ago telling me I needed to get it in shape within a month or I'd lose it. So I sooner as much time as I could down there, but it wasn't enough. So I hired a rotovator. The allotment now looks fantastic and will pass the inspection, so I can keep it! But now what do I do? I've raked it all, but I'm sure I've missed quite a lot. Everyone who I've spoken to have just told me to keep on pulling it as soon as I see shoots and that because the ground is now so soft and powdery, the roots will come up easy. I ideally don't want to use black plastic or cardboard, but will if this is he only way. Any advice? I can't seem to attach photos?
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Speaking from the experience of my OH who rotavated a whole big new bed in my garden before the weedkiller had got all the roots of nettle, thistle, creeping buttercup and couch grass, black plastic or cardboard won't help anyway. The roots will just creep to a sunny bit.
However constant pulling and hoeing of new shoots will weaken the new plants and eventually defeat them and you would always concentrate on keeping one part clear and planted while letting the other grow big enough to be glyphosated till you can get to it.
Hi Jordan
To post photos on here you need to click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where your type your post. Hope that helps.
I think it will be a case of hand weeding as the couch grass reappears, and if necessary in the future then you can divide the allotment into sections and tackle it with glyphosate, area by area https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=283
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You will not have every bit of root out,no matter how hard you've tried.
You can either resign yourself to constantly removing them as they regrow, and they will, or let a decent bit of growth appear then spray with glyphosate.
At this time of year it'll be up in no time but you'll have to put planting plans on hold.
Snap Obelixx and Hosta
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Few of us want to, but sometimes needs must - glyphosate is often used initially prior to organic smallholdings/nurseries being established, in order to eradicate pernicious weeds such as couch.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Jordan, I agree with Dove , glyphosate has the benefit of leaving no residues in soil so it's about the only "chemical" I use.
You'll be picking out couchgrass for years, trust me, I've been there too.
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