Bulbs - Weeds
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  What can I spray in my iris bed to get the grass out? What can I use in other flower beds to control grass and/or weeds ? How do I determine what it can't be sprayed on?

  You can spray a grass specific herbicide such as Vantage, Grass-b-gone, Ornamec or etc. This should be used earlier in the season as the grasses begin establishing themselves. While these products do come with a list of plants that have been tested for their use, there is no way they could test the product on every ornamental plant available. therefore, for any plants not listed on the label, do a small test plot first, before randomly applying it.

  I would like to know if feed and weed fertilizer can be used on Iris and all other types of bulbs. If so, can any type of feed and weed fertilizer be used, or must a certain kind be used?

  There are a few formulations of weed and feed for flower beds, but they are not typically the same ones we use on lawns. Read the label to make sure of what you are using is labeled for use in flower beds. Most herbicides that are safe to use in flower beds are tested on a wide range of plants, but there is no way they can be tested for every plant out there. Keep in mind, most weed and feeds are pre-emergent herbicides that prevent annual weeds. They do not work on perennials like Bermuda grass and nutgrass which are often the most common weed problems in flower beds. I would suggest a grass specific herbicide for grass problems, and hoeing for the other weeds you have. A good mulch works wonders, but you are limited on how much mulch can be applied to iris.

  Help!! Bermuda grass has taken over my iris bed. What can I spray that will kill all this grass, yet not hurt my iris?

  There are several grass specific herbicides on the market, including Grass-b-gone, Vantage, Poast, and Ornamec. They should kill the grass, without harming your iris. The problem is, that this late in the season, if grass is a major problem, you will kill the grass, but be left with a lot of dead grass. This isn’t very attractive either. Two options, pull out or clip as much of the grass as possible before spraying, or kill the grass, then pull it out. Next year, try to address the grass situation earlier.

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