Couch grass

Hi

Has anybody experienced real problems with couch grass taking over the garde. ?? I have left a patch of it a few years back and due to work commitments abroad , it’s literally taken over the garden ! I’ve removed what I can but the problem is it’s interwoven itself among the roots of other established plants in garden and the other problem is it looks so similar to bluebell leaves, Muscari , ornamental grasses, crocus, snowdrop etc that piling it out means pulling everything else along with it! I guess I just give up and leave it and manage/reduce it as & when I can ?

 

Once it gets entwined with other plants its basically dig it all out and start again, replant the stuff you want.
No quick fix that I can think of.

 

There used to be a weedkiller specifically for grasses - not sure if it's still available. And it might also take out other monocots ie your bulbs.
Looked it up - fluazifop is the chemical. Not sure if it's available in UK. And it would kill bulbs.

 

Couch grass is killed by glysophate, enabling you to treat areas .It will kill almost any green leaf plant if applied to the leaf area. Due to the problem of restricting it to 'weed' species physically, it would be best to lift treasured plants in to pots for further care* , then treat parcels of ground.
More than one treatment of the couch may be required. Spring is the prime time to apply, while growth is at it's greatest, with reapplication after 4 weeks to ensure no pockets remain. allow a clear period of 2-3 months to check for regrowth and, perhaps, for the glysophate to break down in the soil if susceptible plants are to be replanted. Any 'live' root spear left will rekindle the colony, taking you back to stage one!


*the potted plants need to have the soil removed, or at least a physical removal of the couch roots spears. They can then be repotted and grown on under supervision to ensure they are free and later, when the area is totally couch free, replanted.
Thoroughness is critical.
attend to 'reservoir' areas such as lawns, paths, and bordering areas to neighbours and around garden buildings etc. This is a daunting task but can be achieved given time and attention.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the tips - Too difficult to dig up most of the plabts as they’ve been established a long time - so might just live with it !