Dealing with couch grass
Find out how to remove couch grass from your garden.
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Couch grass is a clump-forming perennial grass that is common in cultivated garden areas, because of its vigorous growth. Couch grass spreads through the soil via underground stems and is easily spread by cultivation because it regrows from even tiny pieces of root left in the soil. Couch grass is a foodplant for several species of butterfly and moth.
Identifying couch grass
Couch grass is best identified by digging it up and looking at its roots. While growth above ground often looks innocuous, digging up the plant reveals an extensive root system beneath. Roots are extensive, each with a pointed, white-tipped end.
Why is couch grass a problem?
Couch grass is only a problem in cultivated places like garden borders and vegetable plots. Not only does couch grass spread rapidly to form dense mats of underground stems, but the major problem occurs when it grows through the root systems of garden plants, as it becomes very difficult to eradicate. When couch grass grows into the root systems of vegetable plants it can reduce crop yields as it competes with them for water and nutrients.
In a lawn, couch grass is less of a problem because regular mowing keeps its growth in check. However, be aware that the roots will spread into adjacent beds and borders.
Frequently asked questions
What is another name for couch grass?
The botanical name of couch grass is Elymus repens. Other common names for couch grass are twitch grass, scutch, wickens, and grandmother grass.
How can I prevent couch grass?
Tackling couch grass at an early stage is ideal, before it becomes established and far more difficult to eradicate. Watch out for couch grass spreading into your garden from neighbouring plots or wild land. If this is the case, dig a trench in the ground along your boundary, at least 30cm deep, and line with a tough material such as special root barrier membrane (as the sharp tips of couch grass roots pierce plastic or thin membrane). Help prevent couch grass spreading from a lawn into an adjacent flower bed by installing a lawn edging strip. The seeds produced by couch grass are relatively few and only a small proportion are likely to germinate, but it’s still a wise precaution to remove and bin any that appear.
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