Remove deep rooted reed grass on overgrown allotment
samski
Posts: 4
I've just taken over an allotment in SE London and it's very overgrown with tall reed grass. Just spent a day digging down and roots go at least 2 foot down. Want to avoid using a pesticide. Current plan is to dig down a couple of feet, clear as many roots as possbile and use a mattock, but will still leave the deepest ones there.
All advice welcome!?..
Will the reeds just come back? I'm not sure how long I'll have the plot so more about getting a good crop this year and trying to help bring the plot back to use.
Pictures attached.
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Is it a very wet site?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Quite wet when you dig down a few feet but otherwise ok and all the other sites are alright. Thinking may have to use a herbicide of some kind once i've dug down a couple of feet, but would something like Roundup tree and root killer work this time of year?
Roundup works through the leaves, so would do nothing now.
I can't tell from the photo exactly what you've got there. Has it been used as an allotment previously or is it a new site
In the sticks near Peterborough
that's water reed, i would bet more than a bit wet at times, more pond i would bet,
i would advise raised beds with Terran underneath to stop the reeds rooting into the raised beds and Terran with wood chips or gravel on the paths to stop it regrowing, if you have a shed make sure its raised up a bit, old railway sleepers work best.
Thanks for responses - v helpful. Would you use the Terram at the base and sides? Kind of box it in? How deep - couple of feet?
Yes was used before and remaining shape is that it was raised beds and ditches.
Many thanks
Never used Terram before see there are lot of different types - is this the type you would recommend? https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/terram-minipack-geotextile-fabric-50sqm-pack-45mx111m-p-889?osCsid=vasuhm40drpkqar1e3ggqgv8s4