[barremic]

Hi All

I am relatively new to grass, as we paved over it all in the family home.

I have got two medium sized lawns, one which i spent a bit more time on last year, and its looking ok. the other is still full of dandis, but im getting there

my question is, how do identify couch grass. I have a bird feeder near where some really tough grass has sprung up, and it cuts differently to the rest of the lawn.

I tend not to use chemicals as i have 3 dogs. We have scarified the lawn, and put down some seed on the bare patches. but the grass i am talking about is very strong.

Any ideas

[verge]

Post up a few pics and we should be able to tell you sharpish. Then there will be pics available to help other gardeners with your predicament in the future barremic.

[barremic]

It isnt a great picture, as all the other grass had grown up around it, but here goes, it seems to be more strap like, and grows faster than the other grass?

[Liparis]

It could be couch, but again the pic isn't made for my eyes. Having said that, it could be a multitude of different grasses coming from whatever seed mix you put on the bird table/feeder. I often get millet etc growing under my feeders, but they never cause problems.
Bill.

[michael brenock]

scutch grass is a rough leaved creeping grass easily identified by the tough underground creeping roots. try and pull up some roots and if you find a long white root about one eight of an inch diameter with nodes every 2-3 inches, then it is probably scutch. it is a very tough grass and tough to cut and not very attractive when cut. The picture you show is more like Cocksfoot, a tough unattractive grass that tends to form a clump, this is best dug out with a sharp spade.
michael brenock horticultural advisor(retired)