We are fully aware that the quickest easiest way to clear couch grass elymus repens is to strim the grass to a height of about 2cm 1 in and then spray with the weed killer glycophosphate.
How to get rid of couch grass in borders.
Don t trim the grass before you put the newspapers down since cut grass might push through the paper.
Dig out all the roots and underground stems of this grass especially at the edge of infested lawns.
There are no selective lawn weedkillers that will kill couch grass while leaving the rest of the grass unharmed.
Here s grant demonstrating in this short video how best to remove unwanted grass in boarders flower beds.
Cover the ground with a thick layer of newspapers or cardboard.
Water to moisten it well and top with a thick layer of compost and several inches 5 to 7 6 cm of bark mulch.
Unwanted grass in your borders is very unsightly.
Gardening magazine trialled different methods for controlling couch grass we found that glyphosate sprays wins hands down.
Infested lawns should therefore be sprayed off with glyphosate until the grasses are fully killed.
One of the best natural ways to kill grass is with lasagna gardening or sheet composting.
As you dig break up the soil and the roots of couch grass and most other weeds can be removed.
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to get rid of unwanted grass is to pour boiling hot water over them.
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Mow or weed wack the area and then cover with cardboard or several layers of newspaper both are readily available at little or even no cost.
It will kill the grass stone dead in 2 weeks and if it doesn t a 2nd spraying certainly will.
Where couch grass is growing in permanently planted borders it s easier to lift all the plants and tease out the weed from the rootballs.
You can soak the newspapers or cardboard before you put them down this will help the layer stick to the ground.
Let s make our position clear at the outset.
Digging out couch grass this is the most labour intensive way to clear a medium to large sized area of couch grass and or other weeds.
This is a simple choice but you must take special care every step of the way.
Regular slashing of the grass with a sharp knife will further weaken and loosen the plant.
It involves digging the area to a depth of about 15cm to 20cm 6in to 8in deep with a fork.
