How to Clear Couch Grass

Eradicate Perennial Weed Spear Grass, Twitch, Quack or Dog Grass

Feb 22, 2009

A range of effective techniques for clearing this persistent weed, using both organic and chemical based methods.

A garden infested with Elymus repens can be a real challenge to the gardener. With common names including couch grass, spear grass, quack grass, dog grass or twitch, this invasive weed is widely distributed in North America, Europe, North Africa and North Asia.

Digging or rotavating the soil simply chops the long, spear like, white roots into shorter sections, each of which will tenaciously spread new roots and shoots in all but the worst growing conditions. It is essential to clear couch grass from a vegetable or flower border before establishing your chosen plants.

If couch grass persists around a vegetable or flower bed, then it will invade the borders of the plot. Regular clearing of the roots from around the edges of the bed is essential to keep the invading couch grass under control.

Labor Saving Organic Method for Clearing Couch Grass

A simple and effective way to clear couch grass is to fix down overlapping sheets of woven polypropylene and to plant vigorous, spreading plants such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes next to and through the gaps in, the weed control fabric. After a full calendar year the plot will be cleared of couch grass, except for the edges of the border adjoining couch grass infested ground.

Labor Intensive Way to Clear Couch Grass Organically

If you wish to use a plot currently infested with couch grass and wish to grow crops into open soil in the current growing season, then the only effective organic technique that will eradicate the weed is to remove every last trace of the white spear like root before sowing or planting out your crop.

Use a garden fork to gently loosen the soil, taking care to avoid breaking up the roots more than is necessary. Pull out the roots as you work. Once the soil is loosened, use a hand hoe, ideally a kirpi, to sift through the soil, pulling out every last trace of couch grass root.

To kill the roots and to prevent them re-rooting, either dry them out on a surface away from direct contact with soil, or put them in a container of water to rot. Be warned, this second method is smelly!

Inorganic Method for Clearing Couch Grass

Glyphosate, one of the active weed killing ingredients in the product Roundup, is an effective, non organic, method for eliminating couch grass. Glyphosate is considered to be one of the less aggressive weedkillers as it breaks down rapidly in the soil; its weed killing effects are achieved through direct contact with the leaves, causing the entire plant to die, root system included. Glyphosate is far less effective against couch grass in dry conditions.

Other weedkillers, including some stores' own brand products, may contain glyphosate as the key weed killing agent. These are often considerably cheaper than branded products, but do read the labels carefully to understand whether a product contains other, more aggressive, weed killer agents as well. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions carefully when using garden chemicals.

The copyright of the article How to Clear Couch Grass in Gardening Techniques is owned by Joanne E. Brannan. Permission to republish How to Clear Couch Grass in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.