[Shell1318]

Hi All

I'm new to the allotment scene, and have loads of reeds in mine Without digging does anyone have any good ideas how to get rid of them that would be safe to later grow fruit and veg?!!

Any ideas would be greatley appreciated!!

Thanks

Shelley

[Walewein]

Get someone else to dig them out? Without digging I cannot see an answer. However, once you have dug them out which you will need to do I would suggest looking at the conditions that have been made for them to grow. What is the drainage like? What sort of soil is it? is it at the bottom of a site near a ditch.

[Salmo]

Roundup does a good job on reeds. Best time to apply is July/August before they start to die back. It may be still OK now  if the leaves are all green depending on the type of reed. Put a photo on if you can. Roundup breaks down in the soil so you can plant immediately. You should wait 2 weeks after appying before cutting down or disturbing the roots to allow the chemical to get right into the roots.

Where are you? If you put roughly where you are on your profile you will get better answers to your queries.

[Yorkie]

I assumed (probably incorrectly), from the word reeds, that they were in a watercourse / stream / pond etc.

Salmo's advice is always good, but if the reeds are in water etc then roundup must be avoided - it is highly toxic to organisms there and the blurb on the back of the bottle will say not to use it in such a setting.

[Salmo]

Not correct Yorkie. Roundup has approval for aquatic use. It is on the bottle. The Environment Agency allows it to be used to kill emerged weeds such as reeds and water lilies on rivers and lakes. If you are using it on weeds in water you need their permission. It is not toxic to organisms, just plants.

Alternative cheap glyphosates are cheaper because the wetters in them are less refined and more toxic. They are not approved for aquatic use.

[yorky]

I wonderd if reeds was a typo, and should actualy be weeds.

[noshed]

Or rampant irises?

[Yorkie]

Not correct Yorkie. Roundup has approval for aquatic use. It is on the bottle. The Environment Agency allows it to be used to kill emerged weeds such as reeds and water lilies on rivers and lakes. If you are using it on weeds in water you need their permission. It is not toxic to organisms, just plants.

Alternative cheap glyphosates are cheaper because the wetters in them are less refined and more toxic. They are not approved for aquatic use.

Fair enough - I was referring to two different glyphosate based weedkillers in my possession, both of which said the product was harmful / toxic to aquatic organisms.  If Roundup is licensed differently, I stand corrected.

I guess the safest thing is always to follow the label 

[Shell1318]

Thanks all!   Someone told me i could use roundup but they use it in their garden, as i want to probably next year grow some things was unsure about doing it first!  Will give roundup ago, again thanks, i will put more on my profile!  This is a field that the owner hasnt done anything with in 3 years, so had my work cut out, my allotment is 16x24 m. I think i need to get some books to research on what to do next!!!   Is the advice still correct as it is reeds and not weeds, and there isn't just one or two hence not wanting to dig!!