[mkhenry]

If wish to clear Couch Grass from your plot completly, plant the troubled area with turnip seed.................The two will not mix and the couch will wither back and die. Even if you have cleared the grass it may come back if you have not removed every single root.So to keep it at bay give this a try.I promise you it will work. A lot of lottie holders know this trick, but a great many others may not have heard of it.

[richyrich7]

Cheers that's a good tip I've not heard before, I'll try sowing some everywhere    

[flowerlady]

I'm intrigued mkhenry!!  Please would you elaborate a bit further ...

... some thoughts ... how much seed per square yard ... do you sow this in a trench all around your plot?? ... if you broadcast it once you have a turnip 'field' obviously too dense to leave do you dig it all in

[mkhenry]

I'm intrigued mkhenry!!  Please would you elaborate a bit further ...

It all depends on how much grass you need to get rid of.In the past when I have needed to clear a large area I have indeed broardcast the seed and just trod it in.If you have less of a problem A formal arrangement will work.Its all about Companion Planting. Nature allows some plants exclusivity in an area,or will let others of a certain type share. It allows some plants to send out friendly chemicals and some more dangerous .Then lets some plants tolerate and thrive next to them,and others to die. Nature is great

[WG.]

Aidy reported earlier that a row of chard had stopped the couch grass at the edge of his plot.   I wonder if you are simply seeing that couch does not like the competition for light and nutrients from rapid-growing companions?

[mkhenry]

Aidy reported earlier that a row of chard had stopped the couch grass at the edge of his plot.   I wonder if you are simply seeing that couch does not like the competition for light and nutrients from rapid-growing companions?

Turnips do a little more than that.Chard or any fast growing plant taking the nutrients from the ground will stop Couch for a while but turnip withers and kills it above and more importanty below ground. Even the smallest pieces. Thus getting rid of the plant completely...........By the way if the couch is growing into your other non veg plants you can get the same killing effect by planting tomatoe seeds.Just scatter them around the other plants where it is a problem.In summer you will get toms popping up in unusual places,but in autumn both toms and couch will die.

[Ginger chris]

Does turnip kill other plants too?

[mumofstig]

Hi there, mkhenry  hasn't posted on the forum since 2014, so I don't think you'll get an answer from him 

Perhaps someone else will know....

[Goosegirl]

It would be great to find a natural killer for mare's tail! 

[Leanne Boon]

Would love to know if turnip (or any other vegetable) would kill couch grass as well.

Took on a VERY overgrown plot last May, dug over, rotovated, pulled out roots, covered area over winter months, so it would be great to know if nature could gave me a helping hand to clear some of the couch grass!