The couch grass is a pesky weed that can invade your yard and ruin its appearance. In this article you will find out what is couch grass and how you can effectively remove it to keep your green space looking its best.
Follow our advice to have a shiny, pest-free garden!
Understanding Gramigna
The couch grass, scientifically known as Elymus repens, is one of the most annoying weeds to eliminate. Also known as foxtail o ponytailthis weed is famous for its invasive nature and is commonly found in flowerbeds, lawns, paths and driveways.
The couch grass it is widespread in much of Europe, Asia, the Arctic and north-west Africa. If you live in one of these regions and have decided to get rid of the weeds in your garden, eliminate the couch grass it will definitely be one of your priorities. Here are some helpful tips for dealing with this resistant intruder.
How to Recognize Gramigna
The couch grass resembles hardy varieties of lawn grass. Its leaves are green, flat, slightly hairy and rise upwards, with small flower spikes appearing during summer in the northern hemisphere.
However, the real problem lies below the ground: the couch grass it forms a dense network of light rhizomes that spread quickly, unlike lawn grass which has only a small tuft of roots. This vigorous lattice allows the couch grass to regenerate even from small broken rhizome fragments.
Remove Weeds Without Chemicals
I know it couch grass invades your flower beds, it can be really annoying, as the rhizomes become intertwined with the roots of your perennials.
Use a hand fork or edging fork to carefully pull out the roots of the couch grasstrying not to break them and not leave pieces that could regenerate.
This is an operation that requires time and patience, and you will probably have to repeat it often.
To clear a large area of couch grassa simpler option is to cover the soil with light-excluding fabric and apply a layer of heavy mulch on top of it, leaving it in place for a season.
Chopped wood can be a good aesthetic mulch. After a year, most of the couch grass it should be discarded and you can plant through the fabric, leaving it in place for a second year to be safe.
Dealing with Severe Gramigna Infestations in Lawns
I know it couch grass infests your lawn, it is difficult to eliminate it without also damaging the rest of the grass. In these cases, it is recommended to remove the infected root ball and dig to eliminate the roots couch grass. Once you are sure you have removed all the roots, you can re-sod or reseed the lawn.
Use of Chemical Products to Eliminate Weeds
Herbicides are generally not recommended in wildlife-friendly gardens, but they can provide a more efficient solution for dealing with particularly resistant weeds.
A disincentive based on glyphosate can be effective against couch grass, but apply it carefully. Don’t let the glyphosate you touch your plants, as it is non-selective.
Carefully remove the couch grass from the plants before applying the chemical.
For lawns, there are no selective herbicides that eliminate the couch grass without damaging the rest of the lawn. In these cases, the only option is to treat the entire area with glyphosatecompletely eliminate the weeds and then reseed or replant the lawn.
Ground Cover Plants to Prevent the Regrowth of Gramigna
No ground cover plant can completely prevent the growth of couch grassbut those that form a dense canopy and exclude light from the ground below may be the most effective.
However, keep in mind that you may want to do occasional weeding, and very dense cover may prevent access to the soil.
Here are some of the best ground cover plants to consider:
- Euonymus
- Cotoneaster horizontalis
- Erica
- Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Carpet’
- Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
- Herbaceous geraniums
- Magic herb (Alchemilla mollis)
