Couch grass/thistles/dock leaves

[Black Wolf]

Hiya

I recently got an allotment which was an old horse field so all the plots are new and certainly not established!! I have dug some area and have veg growing before tackling the rest of the plot (it's 9.5 rods!).

I just struggle to keep on top of the couch grass, thistles and dock leaves (tho these not so much!) - any advice at all on keeping on top of them? Just got back from a week's holiday and it's gone mad (as had the huge cucumber I picked!! )

Thanks in advance

BW

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi Black Wolf, welcome to the Vine.

I'd suggest that you mark out growing beds (no more that 4' wide unless you have unusually long arms!) so as to work out where your paths are going to be. You can edge the beds or not, as your preference.

The paths can be covered with weed suppressant and a layer of chippings/bark. The beds want covering over with cardboard which will suppress the weeds whilst you get round to getting each bed planted up. As soon as you weed a bed, have something ready to grow in it - this time of year you might be looking at green manure, then later into the autumn, overwintering onions and garlic.

At this time of year you probably won't get round to planting them all up this season (unless you are planting overwintering onions for the entire county), then leave the cardboard in situ, and stick on as much muck as you can lay your hands on. It's rot down over winter, and the worms will do the digging for you.

Oh - can you stick your approx location in your profile? It helps when people are giving advice.

[Black Wolf]

Hiya Hazel

Thank you for that! I have half the plot covered over with weed control sheeting before I even try to dig it, just so it keeps the weeds at bay until I get to that bit. If I cover over the plots I've dug will this even prevent root spread of the couch grass under that?

Think I'm gonna have to do some more serious digging to try and get the roots out!!

Location done

[veggiechicken]

Hi Black Wolf and welcome from me too. I've no real advice apart from what Hazel has said - keep everything covered until you're ready to work it. You won't kill off the couch grass but you'll weaken it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Defo cover the plots you've dug - nature hates bare soil and will do it's level best to grow weeds whilst your back is turned.

Covering weedy plots will help to weaken the weeds in general - the thistles you can fairly easily fork/pull out; couch is a bit of a beggar and just covering a bed will not prevent the spread of roots. it will need digging out fastidiously with a fork. I've done this and find it strangely therapeutic to shake the soil off a great spaghetti of roots and get rid of them. It's hard going at the start, but once you have a root-free area it's fairly easy to keep on top of it.

Haven't any experience of dock - but someone else will be able to help on that one.

[Black Wolf]

Okies cool thank you Getting some more weed control sheeting so that will help and I'll just keep on digging, hopefully I'll wind it down over time and when my veg is dug up, give it a good digging over.

Still the plot is being good atm, starting to pick cucumbers and runner beans - given these are all just plants I've acquired off family as they've had too many - for my first year, I'm happy

[veggiechicken]

If you're happy, Black Wolf, I'm happy Your first crops are the sweetest - a sign of what's to come.
Re Docks, I have lots in my garden. They have very very deep roots They also self seed freely. So, first line of attack is to pick off the seed head as soon as you spot it and dispose of it - not in the compost. That gives you time to dig out the roots.

[cherry b]

Hi, I am in the same situation with the thistles and have been doing exactly as advised by Hazel, I am getting reasonable crops for my first season but have to keep pulling out the thistles every time I visit my plot! I just wonder if they ever give up or if it is a permanent job, can't seem to get to the bottom of the roots!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi Cherry b - welcome to the Vine! Croeso, as I believe they say in your neck of the woods.

Yes - you WILL get there in the end, keep digging 'em up an they will weaken! It's just a case of who's got more patience, you or the thistles!

[Paulieb]

Sounds like all is going well.

As the others have said, thistles and docks are relatively easier to keep under control, just by digging out.

However, couch grass!! I can't stress how eagle eyed you need to be to remove those roots. When digging over the bed, be really careful to remove EVERY mm of root, as much as you can!

Thereafter the next stage is to try to keep an eye on any bare ground, and watch for little green shoots of grass and whip them out with the attached bit of root before they take hold again.

More easily said than done, and I'm still removing couch grass a year on (though only rarely) from the first stage.

Good luck - and remember 'little and often'!