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Old 04-06-2006, 03:41 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
scorpy66
 
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Default Border full of couch grass!

I dug a border out a few years ago and thought I'd got rid of all of
the weeds, planted it up and the first year it was fine. The following
year it became clear that I hadn't got rid of everything and that
couch grass was coming though. I managed to keep partly on top of it
the next year but last Summer I was quite ill and couldn't do any
gardening at all. Sadly this means that the couch grass has now pretty
much taken over in some areas (those that I dug out the last - I must
have been getting too impatient to get all the little rooty bits out!)
It's growing up right through some of my beloved plants (mostly
perennials with a few shrubs, clematis and a couple of roses) while a
few seem to hae been smothered and haven't reappeared at all this
year.

I can't see any solution but dig them out, clean off the roots, pot
them up temporaily, use weed killer on the border and replant,
possibly laying some weed control fabric over the whole area too.

I know this probably isn't the ideal time of year to be doing this,
but I'm really only a June-August gardener as I'm a teacher and can't
find the time for big jobs like this at any other time of year, OH
isn't interested in gardening so it's all up to me. I admit to being
quite daunted by the whole thing, to be honest.

Any tips for the following would be hugely appreciated:

1. successfuly removing the twitch
2. what chemicals to use (we have cats)
3. whether more than one treatment would be necessary
4. advisability of weed control fabric to help prevent recurrence
5. care of existing plants while digging up, potting and replanting
6. anything else I've overlooked!

Very many thanks in advance,

scorpy
"You'll never get me up in one of those!" said the caterpillar to the butterfly ~ Timothy Leary
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Old 04-06-2006, 03:48 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Adagio
 
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Default Border full of couch grass!


"scorpy66" wrote in message
...
I dug a border out a few years ago and thought I'd got rid of all of
the weeds, planted it up and the first year it was fine. The following
year it became clear that I hadn't got rid of everything and that
couch grass was coming though. I managed to keep partly on top of it
the next year but last Summer I was quite ill and couldn't do any
gardening at all. Sadly this means that the couch grass has now pretty
much taken over in some areas (those that I dug out the last - I must
have been getting too impatient to get all the little rooty bits out!)
It's growing up right through some of my beloved plants (mostly
perennials with a few shrubs, clematis and a couple of roses) while a
few seem to hae been smothered and haven't reappeared at all this
year.

I can't see any solution but dig them out, clean off the roots, pot
them up temporaily, use weed killer on the border and replant,
possibly laying some weed control fabric over the whole area too.

I know this probably isn't the ideal time of year to be doing this,
but I'm really only a June-August gardener as I'm a teacher and can't
find the time for big jobs like this at any other time of year, OH
isn't interested in gardening so it's all up to me. I admit to being
quite daunted by the whole thing, to be honest.

Any tips for the following would be hugely appreciated:

1. successfuly removing the twitch
2. what chemicals to use (we have cats)
3. whether more than one treatment would be necessary
4. advisability of weed control fabric to help prevent recurrence
5. care of existing plants while digging up, potting and replanting
6. anything else I've overlooked!

Very many thanks in advance,

scorpy
"You'll never get me up in one of those!" said the caterpillar to the
butterfly ~ Timothy Leary


RoundUp will see to the couch - should not harm cats


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Old 04-06-2006, 07:59 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Mike Lyle
 
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Default Border full of couch grass!


scorpy66 wrote:
[...]
Any tips for the following would be hugely appreciated:

1. successfuly removing the twitch
2. what chemicals to use (we have cats)
3. whether more than one treatment would be necessary
4. advisability of weed control fabric to help prevent recurrence
5. care of existing plants while digging up, potting and replanting
6. anything else I've overlooked!


What they said. On (4) above, forget it. Couch spreads sideways, and
will just pop out at the edges and all the holes you make for your
plants. The stuff has its uses, but it doesn't replace gardening
operations -- in fact it can hinder them. Use Roundup, and when you're
sure it's all gone, use a conventional mulch as Janet suggests. You'll
still have to walk round every weekend to nip out any weeds that
appear, but it shouldn't be too much trouble if you've prepared
properly: you should be able to do it while Him Indoors does the
hoovering.

--
Mike.

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Old 05-06-2006, 06:53 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
scorpy66
 
Posts: n/a
Default Border full of couch grass!

On 4 Jun 2006 11:59:54 -0700, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:


scorpy66 wrote:
[...]
Any tips for the following would be hugely appreciated:

1. successfuly removing the twitch
2. what chemicals to use (we have cats)
3. whether more than one treatment would be necessary
4. advisability of weed control fabric to help prevent recurrence
5. care of existing plants while digging up, potting and replanting
6. anything else I've overlooked!


What they said. On (4) above, forget it. Couch spreads sideways, and
will just pop out at the edges and all the holes you make for your
plants. The stuff has its uses, but it doesn't replace gardening
operations -- in fact it can hinder them. Use Roundup, and when you're
sure it's all gone, use a conventional mulch as Janet suggests. You'll
still have to walk round every weekend to nip out any weeds that
appear, but it shouldn't be too much trouble if you've prepared
properly: you should be able to do it while Him Indoors does the
hoovering.


Cheers Mike, I've never tried the weed control fabric and, given that
two of the main problem areas are along the edges where there's fence
or a wall, from what you say I can see that it wouldn't help there
anyway. Off to buy some RoundUp....

scorpy
"You'll never get me up in one of those!" said the caterpillar to the butterfly ~ Timothy Leary
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Old 06-06-2006, 12:03 PM
Registered User
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Feb 2006
Location: Lincolnshire coast, UK
Posts: 15
Default

Hi! scorpy. Why not try out the RHS for best advice.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...asscontrol.asp

Round-up is very powerful stuff, do be careful. Trouble is it's not very
clever, - can't tell a weed from your treasured perennials. And of course
at half strength it will be only half as effective, so you will have to do it twice as many times. ( Of course you could try potato pealings, not kidding, it does
work, - just depends on how many years you want to wait to see the result. And just how many you can eat!!!.
All the very best of luck with your endevours
Heath
__________________
Dave


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