Grassy Weeds Advice

Mohammed.khonat

Hi - I have a load of grass looking weeds growing through my flower beds and in between the tulips that are coming up. It looks like grass and more are sprouting daily. I did dig the bed out previously in autumn and hoped I cleared out the grass before replanting.

What is the best way to deal with this. Is there a selective weed killer that I could use that wouldn’t harm the tulips? I was thinking of putting a membrane down later around summer, would that do it? 

It’s pretty time consuming and difficult removing the thin blades of grass coming through. 

Pretty fed up of it coming back. 

Any advise would be appreciated.

K67

Depends on what it is. A photo would help but its possible that it is couch grass which is very hard to get rid of as it grows from the slightest bit of root  left so it's possible by digging over the bed in autumn you have chopped through the roots and spread them about.

JennyJ

Does the foliage smell if you crush it? And if you dig some out does it have little bulbs? I'm thinking maybe that weedy allium whose name I forget but no matter how much I dig out, it always comes back at this time of year.

K67

I thought about alliums as well as mine are just starting to pop up but muscari do this as well so really do need a photo

Mohammed.khonat

Hi, thanks. Some photos. 

K67

Not easy to make out but I'm still thinking couch grass rather then bulblets, if you dig a piece up couch  grass will have roots that spread to other grass clumps if it's just got a clump of roots it's more likely to be ordinary grass. 
There really isn't a short cut to getting rid of it other than on your knees with a trowel.
On a lovely day it's quite therapeutic!

Mohammed.khonat

Thanks - that is today’s task. Will have to dodge the tulips coming up as best I can.

BobTheGardener

If it is couch grass, the most effective way in my experience is to let it grow until it is about a foot tall then spray with glyphosate and wait until it has died completely before removing, so that this systemic weedkiller will be taken right down into the roots, which are the real issue with this weed.  You could hand-pull until the tulip leaves have died back and can be removed, then spray the area, being careful not to let the spray drift onto anything you want to keep.

K67

Just put a flower pot over the tulips while you are working, stops you kneeling on them. If you don't have pots use some mugs but obviously not the best ones!