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

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.