How to Remove Couch Grass
without Weed Killers

Let's make our position clear at the outset. We are fully aware that the quickest and easiest way to clear an area of couch grass (Elymus repens) is to strim the grass to a height of about 2cm (1 inch) and then spray with the weed killer glycophosphate or similar. It will kill the grass stone dead in two weeks and if it doesn't, a second spraying certainly will. If you believe the manufacturer's claims that glycophosphate is safe then by all means use it.

But maybe, like us, you have doubts over the environmental safety of a chemical that can kill a virulent weed like couch grass stone dead. Maybe you don't have 100% confidence in the manufacturer's claims or those of governmental agencies. Maybe you remember those reassuring claims that beef was safe around the time of the BSE outbreak and the subsequent findings on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

These pages are for those who want to clear couch grass without using chemicals or at least using them very sparingly.

Is It Couch Grass?

Click picture to enlarge

The picture on the right (click to enlarge) shows the roots of couch grass. They are very dense in the soil and go down about 15cm (6in). The other key identifier is that couch grass will not be killed by burying it under ground as happens with normal grass.

Grass roots through the soil. Click to enlarge picture.

Click picture to enlarge

Strong Points of Couch Grass

1.	Burying or turning couch grass will not kill it. The roots will spread and shoots will reappear.
2.	Digging the roots of couch grass is hard work, they are dense and bind even the lightest soil.
3.	Couch grass grows extremely quickly.

Weak Points of couch Grass

1.	Couch grass is shallow rooted, no long taper like roots going deep into the ground. The roots of couch grass typically go down about 10cm (4in) and rarely more than 15cm (6in).
2.	If the soil is well-dug, the roots of couch grass can be pulled out with relative ease.
3.	Digging of the soil weakens couch grass.
4.	Couch grass produces less seed than most grasses

Our Non-Chemical Clearance Strategy for Couch Grass

1.	Cut the couch grass to about 2cm (1in) high with a strimmer. Alternatives are to burn it off with a flame thrower or cut it down with a scythe.
2.	Rake up the cut grass, don't use it on the compost heap unless you plan not to use the heap fro 9 months.
3.	Rotovate then dig the soil or simply dig the soil. Use a fork not a spade to dig, this will keep the non-rotovated lower roots of the couch grass uncut and easier to remove in long strips.
4.	Whilst digging, remove as many of the couch grass roots as possible. A sieve will make a thorough job and give you the crumbliest soil ever.
5.	Dig a trench at least 15cm (6in) deep around the cultivated bed. This will stop the couch grass re-infesting the cleared area.
6.	Over the next few months, weed out any couch grass which reappears from roots left in the ground. This is an easier task than most think because digging the soil will have opened the structure of the soil. We reckon about half an hour a week for the next 4 months will be enough to remove the remaining couch grass on a half allotment.
7.	Once step 5 has been completed, any soil which is not to be used immediately can be covered in mulch (black plastic, carpet etc). This will clear any remaining couch grass in six months and will seriously weaken the grass after only one month.

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How to Remove Couch Grass without Weed Killers

How to Remove Couch Grass
without Weed Killers