"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Mel" wrote
Hi all, can you please help with my dilemma?

I have to choose between 2 allotments, both of which are in abandoned
states. One site absolutely full of horsetail, and I mean so
chock-a-block
that in some places I can hardly get a fork in for the roots. The other
site is full of couch grass and is very wet (I can hear the soil
squelching
when I walk on it).

It's between a rock and a hard place! Do I choose soggy couch grass or
a
zillion horsetail?

The Horsetail you can't do anything much about, the couch is easily killed
permanently with glyphosate (Roundup) as that's what it's designed for.
The
alternative is digging it out every year because you won't get it all.
:-(
The soggy soil may be just a winter thing, you will have to ask
neighbours,
but the soil is something you can change over time by using compost, muck,
mushroom compost.....etc.
Our last allotment had Horsetail and being someone who doesn't like weeds
on
his plot I wouldn't want another with it as it never goes away.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London
~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree with Bob totally. Roundup is first class against couch[
'twitch' locally]. Another point ,missed, is that couch is not a grass of
marshes or wetlands but does form a mat and hold water. Hence, it is
probably wet due to the couch. Try not to disturb before application of
roundup and do give at least three weeks to work. Do wait till quite a lot
of new growth is showing. Make it a late year for sowing.
Good Luck Brian.