Fighting couch grass: How to remove the stubborn weed from your lawn
If you have a garden, a wide variety of weeds can grow in it. Couch grass is particularly stubborn. It grows quickly and is difficult to control. If couch grass grows on your lawn, you should act as quickly as possible and remove the weeds.
In this article, you will learn what makes couch grass special and what conditions make it particularly comfortable in your garden. We will also show you how to combat and prevent couch grass. We will also give you valuable tips on how to care for your lawn optimally and keep it beautiful in the long term.
What are the characteristics of the weed couch grass?
Couch grass grows particularly quickly and spreads via its rhizomes in your garden.
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When does couch grass feel particularly comfortable in the garden?
The weed has few requirements regarding its location: That is why couch grass grows almost everywhere.
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Combating couch grass in the lawn:
It is best to remove the couch grass and all root runners mechanically - if couch grass is spreading heavily, cover affected areas.
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How can I prevent couch grass?
You can prevent couch grass by optimally caring for and strengthening your lawn.
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What are the characteristics of the weed couch grass?
Couch grass (Elymus repens) is also known as field bindweed or field windgrass. It is a wild grass that is particularly difficult to spot on the lawn. This is because the blades of grass initially look very similar to normal grass and are not initially perceived as weeds.
Couch grass is a shallow-rooted plant that spreads particularly quickly in the garden. It forms flat rhizomes, some of which grow underground. This makes it so difficult to completely remove couch grass: it is very difficult to get rid of all the runners.
You can recognize couch grass by its stalks. These form three to five nodes on which leaves grow. These can grow up to 120 centimeters long and thus tower well above your lawn. From June onwards, couch grass forms ears in which the plant's seeds are located. If these spread across your lawn, the couch grass will multiply quickly in the garden.
When does couch grass feel particularly comfortable in the garden?
Couch grass is an undemanding plant that can grow almost anywhere. It has no special requirements for its location or the nature of the soil.
Couch grass can cope well with both sun and shade. The weed can grow on both moist and dry soils. The type of soil is also irrelevant: Couch grass grows on both sandy and heavily compacted soils.
Only soils without sufficient nutrients pose a challenge for couch grass. However, it is very unlikely that the soil in your garden is so poor in nutrients that couch grass cannot establish itself there. In summary, couch grass can cope with a wide variety of conditions and can establish itself in almost all gardens.
Fighting couch grass in the lawn: root removal, herbicides & home remedies
If you want to combat couch grass, there is one extremely important point to consider: you should definitely remove the weed before it flowers. If the plant has already formed seeds, then removing them will spread them everywhere and cause them to spread even further.
If the couch grass is not yet flowering in your garden, you can combat it with the following tips:
Remove couch grass manually:
The most effective way to remove couch grass is to do it manually. This involves tearing not only the stalks but also the rhizomes out of the ground. Be careful not to tear the rhizomes, as a piece could then remain in the ground. This will then grow into new couch grass.
Remove roots:
Some of the weeds' roots may be deeper in the soil. The best way to remove these is with a digging fork, which you can also use to tackle ground elder and other weeds. Make sure to get all the roots to prevent the couch grass from growing back.
Cover area:
If your lawn is too heavily infested with couch grass, you can cover the area with a light and water-impermeable sheet. The lack of light and water will cause the couch grass to die. Unfortunately, this will also destroy your lawn and you will have to replant it.
Herbicides:
You have the option of removing couch grass with a chemical weed killer. However, keep in mind that your lawn and possibly other plants may also suffer. If you want to remove couch grass from a bed, herbicides are therefore not a good choice.
Home remedies:
If you read up on couch grass, you will come across many home remedies. A mixture of vinegar and water is often recommended. Such home remedies are not advisable, as the vinegar lowers the pH value of the soil, making it too acidic.
If you want to get rid of couch grass in your lawn, you will get the best results by removing it manually. If the spread is still moderate, you can then scarify your lawn and get rid of the couch grass permanently.
If you were unable to stop the growth in time, you will have to resort to harsher measures. This can lead to your lawn being destroyed. In this case, you can simply re-seed it with lawn seeds from RasenExpert.
How can I prevent couch grass?
As you now know, couch grass is a particularly stubborn root weed that is difficult to control. You should therefore look into how you can prevent couch grass. In this case, prevention is better than cure.
It's best to keep a close eye on your lawn and check it regularly for couch grass. If you discover the weed, you should remove it as quickly as possible, including all of the rhizomes. Regular fertilization and mowing will also strengthen your lawn, which is also good in the fight against couch grass.
If you sow new grass, you should only use high-quality grass seeds . Cheap mixtures can contain couch grass seeds. If you sow these, not only grass will grow, but weeds too.
Despite the best care, couch grass can still settle on your lawn with its underground runners. You should remove couch grass as soon as you discover it: the sooner you act, the faster you will remove the weed.
You can find suitable tips for lawn care in our knowledge library.
Frequently asked questions about couch grass in the lawn
Couch grass grows up to 25 centimeters deep into the soil. Its runners can also settle around the plant and cause the plant to spread further. If you want to combat couch grass, it is very important that you completely remove even the deepest roots.
Whether the couch grass in your garden is annual or perennial depends on the species. There are over 200 different types of couch grass. Couch grass is often an annual weed in German gardens.
Couch grass flowers between June and August. At this time, the spikes contain seeds that the plant uses to spread. In summer, you should be particularly careful not to spread the seeds all over your garden.
Conclusion: Fighting couch grass in the lawn is best done mechanically
Couch grass is one of the most robust weeds and is very difficult to control. If couch grass has established itself in your garden, the best way to control it is to manually remove all the roots. To prevent this from happening, you should take optimal care of your lawn and thereby encourage grass growth.