Try something like Grass-B-Gone instead, but make sure the bulb foliage has fully died back first. This is a targeted herbicide, affecting only grasses in active growth. Even though bulbs are monocots (like grasses), the active ingredient is registered safe for other bulb crops, specifically alliums of all sorts.

Thanks Gardengal, I'll look into getting Grass-B-Gone, I try not to use Herbicides but have had to on some occasions, many are off the market here in B.C. that's why I mentioned Roundup, it's still available.

A......

Or, you can kill the grass by burying it in compost or mulch or newspaper or black plastic. It takes about 3 weeks to kill it. I am reluctant to use Roundup near dormant bulbs. I'm pretty sure it has killed some, especially in cold weather.

Thanks lilydude, that gives me another option to try, I don't know if this will work on couch grass though, and if it's like other places in my garden that
@#!$%!@ grass is there too. Thanks again, I might try your suggestion first. In either case I'll be waiting until the bulbs have completed their growth cycle.

A......

My solution for couch grass growing in plants, and other similar weeds too, is to love them and caress them. I put on some plastic gloves or latex, then cotton gloves. I then dip my hands in the Glyphosate/ Roundup and then caress the plant and tell it how much I love it.... works everytime. Just make sure your glove isn't dripping but still wet with the weedkiller. Easiest with just one hand soaked, the other just in the plastic glove guiding the tender foliage to your loving caress.

...Don

Don, thanks for the great tip, I laughed so hard I almost choked. I will definately try this when the weather warms up. Loving caresses, don't know if I have enough will power for that, but will try very hard to practise self-control.

A......

haha! the tender touch. i will try it. sadly, i have dozens of clumps and shoots of bermuda grass growing in a large area i painstakingly dug up for a garden this year. i will try the deadly caress...it wont hurt the soil for seeds?

HAHA, I solved the problem, those that know me KNOW what I do best, it's called constructive staring, don't laugh it works. I have come up with some of my best ideas while standing holding up a shovel and staring into space.
While standing looking at the mess under the Dogwood tree I came up with this idea. Since there was nothing but masses of specie crocus and snowdrops in this spot and I didn't plan to change or add to this bed I cut a circle of very heavy landscape cloth to cover the bed, when the foliage died down I placed it around the tree covering the bed and then covered it with wood shavings. I removed the wood shavings and cloth in December to find no weeds or grass just bare earth. I top dressed with a bit of Sea Soil, the snowdrops and crocus came up minus all the weeds and grass :o).
Did you know that twine and crazy glue makes a great temporary trellis, especially on trees LOL.

A......

Watering cans are not suitable for applying herbicides.

You need a sprayer. The chemical needs to be broken up into tiny tiny droplets, under pressure, to get the appropriate coverage on the target. Watering cans don't do that. No pressure for one, and they simply divide the water into small streams to reduce its force; they don't create droplets or mist. Although painting and sponging work with Roundup.

Watering cans would work for soil drench insecticides, but most everything else requires a pressure sprayer to work. Read the labels and follow the directions.

Something else to keep in mind: anything you use to apply herbicides with, should never again be used for anything other than herbicides. You don't want to count on having gotten every last little molecule of Roundup out of your watering can before you go and water your prize winning bonsai, after all.

In the end I didn't use roundup or any Herbicide. I do have a separate watering can and a sprayer for Herbicides (most of which are no longer available in B.C.) they are marked as such so they don't get used for anything else. When I was thinking of using Roundup (which we can still get) for this job I was worried about the drift from the sprayer getting on the grass and thought I might have better control with a fine spray watering can. I have another shrub I plan on using the landscape cloth and shaving method to kill the grass and weeds over the summer so I can plant more crocus in the fall. I have to say this method worked really well for me.

A......

AM, what a great idea! I have so many problem weeds that I will be really happy to try this idea!
Dorothy