Grass weeds such as black-grass and ryegrass are spreading increasingly, particularly on arable land where repeated, one sided use of herbicides has led to resistance. Affected fields remain viable for crop production only if alternative control strategies are implemented. These alternative technologies are not new, however, much of the knowledge has been forgotten. A series of trials investigating the stale seedbed technique aims to revive this proven appproach. Using this method a field with a severe black-grass infestation was successfully remediated over a four-year period. A subsequent project is currently evaluating whether the technique is equally effective against ryegrass. The trial programme has been further expanded: ultra-shallow tillage systems are used to eliminate ryegrass that has emerged in the stale seedbed, without inducing additional flushes of weed emergence.