No one? All right, if I try it I'll let you know.

I doubt you will get very happy results :-( Iris are monocotyledons, just as are grasses and herbicides - with the exception of the nonspecific, broad spectrum potions like RoundUP - target either the monocots OR the dicots. Herbicides can't tell the difference between what we consider a weed or a valuable plant. Their only ability to differentiate is based on plant type - broadleaved plants (dicotyledons) or grassy, blade type plants (monocotyledons). Grass -B-Gone targets monocots.......and that would include iris.

I've heard of something called "Over The Top". It comes up on Google.

I remember seeing or hearing that that can be used directly 'over the top' of iris plants.

Please don't take my word for it. Do research.... But it seems I heard of it on "Victory Garden" or maybe in this forum.....It's been a few years back..

I'm getting back into iris again (was frustrated by all of the weeds, grasses, etc.) so I need to give this OTT a try myself.

Another very strong example of that is Sedgehammer/Halosulferon-methyl. I had weedy sedges growing right in the middle of some Fargesia 'Green Screen' divisions. There would have been no mechanical way to get them out without destroying the divisions. Sedgehammer completely killed the sedges (monocots) without bothering the bamboo at all.

This post was edited by davidrt28 on Sat, Apr 26, 14 at 14:25

Gardengal and David, thanks for your replies. I appreciate the logical approach and admit I don't know much about these chemicals. You're both talking over my head a bit, but I'm always glad to learn new things when it comes to my plants and gardens. I have anxiety over using any herbicides, but I'm that overwhelmed with grass to consider this.

The label on Grass b Gon lists "iris" as being safe to use around, and I was hoping someone might have tried it already. I sprayed some of my variegated iris the other day, so we'll see how that goes.

jmc, thanks for the suggestion of Over the Top. I've never heard of that one before, and I did find it on google. I haven't noticed it in any stores near me, but now that I know there's another option, I'll keep an eye out. I wonder if either one of them is considered safer than the other when it comes to birds, insects, and nature in general.

I know there are iris lovers who are cringing at the thought of an herbicide near any iris. So I want to let you know that I did successfully free one patch of bearded iris from catnip, motherwort, and lemon balm. I do my best to weed it out by hand, it's just that this grass....ugh!

I have used it the last two years with some success.

I'm not even sure which weedy grass I am treating. Maybe Bermuda grass? Its got long runners beneath the soil which are impossible to pull out. The coarse grass is visible in March and can be sprayed before desired plants have leafed out.

It takes a few weeks, but the grass eventually fades away.

Thanks, harryshoe! That's what I wanted to know. The grass grows underneath and in every little crevice, so that's why I'm resorting to this method. Glad to hear it hasn't hurt your iris. I just sprayed so haven't seen any results yet. "grass eventually fades away." ....That is music to my ears!

I used it but don't really have a comment on how well it did...It was such an odd summer, but I THINK it worked on the edges of my flower beds.
My comment really is about how it evaporates out of the container! So then I wonder about the concentration of the remaining product! I had a brand new bottle and it lost at least a third into the air of my garage!! The first bottle was really down too, anybody else have this issue??
I know my garage is hot, but yikes!