Quackgrass Growing Among Iris

My iris planting is filled with quackgrass. Is there anything I can spray the planting with to kill the quack without harming the iris?

Unfortunately anything that will kill the quackgrass will also injure or kill your iris. You have a couple of options. Carefully paint a total vegetation killer on the grass blades. These products will kill the leaves and roots of the grass. Do not let the chemicals touch the iris. Several treatments may be needed. Or you can dig out the iris. Remove any quackgrass rhizomes (white root-like structures) that may be intertwined with these plants.  Plant the iris in a vacant garden space or container until the bed is weed free and ready to plant. Then treat the bed. Several applications of a total vegetation killer, repeated cultivation throughout a season or two, or a summer of solarization (covering the edged bed with clear plastic) will be needed to get the weeds under control.  Whether using traditional or new environmentally friendly products read and follow label directions carefully. All these products are plant killers and can injure or kill your desirable plants as well as the weeds.

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