Weed Control, Couch Grass

We have one patch where due to the wet weather last summer and this, Couch Grass has established. It has become apparent recently just to what extent it has established. The runner Beans have been swamped despite planting through a maize mulch. As seen above


A close up of the rotovated patch of Couch Grass


Couch has running roots which are able to puncture the thin material, I have seen them grow right through a potato tuber. The main method of organic control is to rotovate the area several times in dry weather. This prevents growth and dries and kills out the roots ...eventually.The down side of this is that rotovating several times drys the soil and rapidly breaks down the organic matter in the soil. still no point having high organic matter if the crop plants are being strangled by Couch Grass.

As seen below we have cultivated this patch and will sow a summer green manure once the couch has been reduced. Long shot of the weedy plot now rotovated, to the left is the row of runner beans swamped by couch grass.