Dandelions vs couch grass

I thought I’d taken a photo of the pesky couch grass that’s been inhabiting the corner by the patio/pond but it seems not to be in the album. Anyway, I’m sure you know what it looks like as well as its general habit.

As of about an hour ago, however, it is no more. In its place is more newspaper topped with compost. Part of me thinks this is a bit of a waste, considering in this spot I’m going to plant hardy orchids my dad gave me at least a year ago. But then flowers are good, too – and I can’t grow anything which needs planting annually or picking in the most awkward piece of ground in the garden.

Undoubtedly at some point a dandelion will invite itself into the area, at which point there may be an attempt to dig it up to make ‘coffee’. In the meantime, having used up just about all the current roots available, I took the perhaps absurd decision to buy some from Caley’s Apothecary.

This 50g bag of dandelion root cost me £5.50. Admittedly, it cost nothing for me to dry it and it made up the order so that I didn’t have to pay for postage and packaging.

The purchase has just been roasted and ground in the coffee bean grinder. This made the process eminently easier than using a pestle and mortar and will be my future method of choice.