[Dick]

Hello all,
I'm a new starter so please bear with me!
I have just aqquired an allotment, a half plot (150sq yards) 85% grass! Half of which I have turned over by spade, having jumped back to the start and breaking up the lumps of grass/soil (which are like blocks of concrete) it has couch grass in the soil (as little as 3% of the grass). Can I rotavate it after using a glyphosate based weed killer or will it harm any seeds / plants that I sew.
Regards
Dick

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

A glyphosate based weedkiller will take a couple of weeks to work on the plants / couch grass which you spray - so don't rotavate for at least that period after spraying.  However, I'd still be nervous about chopping residual bits up even after that time.

It is not persistent in the soil so will not prevent you planting other stuff after application.

[Paul Plots]

Welcome Dick!   

Trying to clear a new plot at this time of year with dry clay soil is hard going so I can see why you would want to use a weed-killer and then rotovate.

As Yorkie says it's safe to grow on the land afterwards providing you follow the weed-killer's instructions carefully.

Digging and forking through is, in my opinion, by far the best way to clear those white string like grass roots that just keep on growing even from the smallest of pieces but if the ground is like concrete.......

Maybe a thorough autumn dig will help clear the weeds you miss if you rotovate for speed this time?

Best of luck. 

[Kristen]

Cover the plot with weed suppressing fabric and plant through it perhaps?

Making planting holes for Squash (and adding plenty of manure / compost to them) is common advice to first year plot owners, as Winter Squash trail over a large area, so you don't need many plants

[doubledug]

If you rotovate land with couch grass growing on it all you will do is produce lots of minced couch grass root which will then turn into lots more couch grass, not recomended.

[jimthejimjim]

I have found digging couch grass out is the best way to get rid of it.

It does seem to be a never ending job though!

[Dominic]

You can treat with glyphosate, but you must then leave it for a couple of week, you can then rotovate and plant.

[DD.]

I do believe that's what Yorkie said in the first reply to the post! 

[Paul Plots]

I do believe that's what Yorkie said in the first reply to the post!  

Yep he she did.


(Edited whilst hanging head)

[peapod]

Yorkie's a she 

[Paul Plots]

Yorkie's a she 

Whoops........ I knew that!!

Sorry.     

[Yorkie]

 

[Dick]

Thank you ALL,

I think that I will carry on with the spade, (head down and dont moan)! Wish me Luck.

Regards

Dick 

[vic]

lots of good advice there.I had this proplem many times.spraying  often needes repeating a couple of times very lucky to get it in one go. i would advise wait 3 or for weeks after spraying to make sure you got it all.there is nothing worse than finding bindweed cumming up again  after you have re planted..best  of luck i'll watch your space vic

[Yorkie]

I'd suggest a fork rather than spade - less chance of it getting dug into lots of pieces, and it's easier to shake the soil off the roots (assuming you haven't got hard clay on your lotty at present).