Re: Crabgrass with photo

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Jan:

Looks like Bermuda grass to me.  I dug my front yard flower beds out of that stuff.  I know what you mean about the underground runners.  I dug out the soil in a 3 by 3 foot area into a wheel barrow and went through and pulled out those runners.  It was more comfortable working at the wheelbarrow height.  I buried all sorts of organic stuff when I replaced the soil.   It took a long time doing a 3 by 3 foot section at a time. 

I can't imagine doing that on 1/3 acre with irises already in place.  However, some types Bermuda grass is tough enough to beat Round-up.  It will come back eventually.  However, it will stop spreading until you are able to dig it out.

Good luck!

Scarlett

 

Francesca,  Yes, I do have over three acres but I only try to control the weeds in the iris and flower areas - about 1/3-1/2 acre.  I do try to pull the 2-3 in tall seedlings and they are not the problem.  It is the clumps which come from the underground runners.  They can travel over a foot and are frequently over 6-8 inches deep.  They go under and through the iris rhizomes.  As I dig and try to pull them out it disturbs the rhizomes.  Also, the runners break off and every node which escapes grows.  It is a tedious process to try to follow and get them out without digging up the rhizomes.  That is why I am seeking a method to kill the grass without disturbing the rhizomes.

I am attaching a picture to show everyone what I am dealing with.  Maybe you call it something else.  Here we call it crabgrass.

Thanks to you and to everyone else.

Jan in Chatsworth

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From: Francesca Thoolen <arilpums@comcast. net>
To: iris-photos@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:26:23 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen - Mike, Griff, Janet, Loic

 

Jan, We live in the SF East Bay Area, and for poison oak we cut them, very carefully, down to the ground, leaving a small stub and take weed killer and paint the tips, pure, right out of the bottle or can. They not only die but do not come back! This of course would be difficult to apply to crab grass which up scattering seeds covers all areas, even where irises grow. For them, we wait for their new 'seedlings', when they are about 2-3" tall,  wet the ground to soften it and then just patiently pull them out before they can grow any taller and reach seed scatter status. The roots are about only 1 inch or so long and they come out rather easily. Although tedious as it may sound it does protect the valuable plants we do not want to kill. However this would not be practical if you are talking acreage!

 

----- Original Message -----

From: g*@yahoo.com

To: i*@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:03 AM

Subject: Re: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen - Mike, Griff, Janet, Loic

 

 

I had a thought - have not tried it around irises.

We live in the mountains and have plenty of poison oak,

it can get very expensive to use round-up so we go to the

99 cents store and buy bleach.  100% in the sprayer and

coat the leaves top and bottom - from a distance!

In less than 24-hours they are shrivled and dead.

Nettles have leaves---??? ? 

 

Food for thought.

 

Janet

 

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From: Jan Lauritzen <janicelauritzen@ yahoo.com>
To: iris-photos@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 12:01:51 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen - Mike, Griff, Janet, Loic

 

Thank you to Mike, Griff, Janet, and Loic.  All of you made great suggestions. I was afraid to try roundup in any way.   I will definitely try some of these techniques this fall.  Maybe I can get rid of some of the crabgrass at least in the one iris area.  It won't so for the stinging nettles because they are just everywhere.  The crabgrass is in clumps but with those nasty underground runners.

Thank you all again,

Jan in Chatsworth

 

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From: J. Griffin Crump <jgcrump@cox. net>
To: iris-photos@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 7:15:23 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen

 

Jan  --  When weeds that can't be pulled --  i.e., certain ground covers that spread by underground runners, including, even, bamboo  --  invade an iris bed, I pour maximum strength Roundup into a small container like a baby food jar, then use an artist's paint brush to apply the Roundup directly to the plant leaves.  It works beautifully on the ground covers, but takes more than one application on the bamboo.  --  Griff

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: j*@yahoo.com

To: i*@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 2:05 PM

Subject: Re: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen

 

 

Linda, Going back to last week, you said  "With the magic of Roundup, a few rebloomers are appearing... "  How do you use Roundup around the irises without getting those strange flowers.  My neighbor used it a few years ago and I had some terrible blooms on the plants near his field. 

I ask because I have a terrible crabgrass problem in one of my iris beds.  No matter how much I dig, some still escapes me and it comes back in full attack.

Thanks, Jan in Chatsworth

 

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From: Linda Mann <lmann@lock-net. com>
To: iris-photos@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2009 12:55:50 PM
Subject: [iris-photos] REB: Belvi Queen

 

With the magic of Roundup, a few rebloomers are appearing...

This one is such a tough, reliable old thing, it surprises me no
descendants are registered. Not very fertile? Ugly ugly children?

Linda Mann
E. TN.

 

 

 

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