Weeds in flower beds

Teresa C
by Teresa C
Does anyone know what kind of weed this is and how to get rid of it in an iris bed? There are more weeds than iris's every year! Thanks in advance for your help!
  11 answers
  • The most effective way to get rid of weed in your flower garden, is the use of a herbicides. But, if you can avoid it, don't ever use chemicals to control weeds.
  • Dottie Dottie on Apr 21, 2015
    May be Smart weed, or loosestrife? Can't really tell from the pic. If it's either, very invasive. Pull it up aggressively and continuously. Never let it flower. I've had both and it took several years to get rid of and I occasionally still get some growth. Once you recognize what it looks like in the seedling stage it's much easier to remove early in the spring.
  • Willa desousa Willa desousa on Apr 21, 2015
    I did what you can do . I described it in words on Google images. I think it was in a photo from a site called "The Weed Lady". It's hard to tell from your photo. Better to take out on plant and photograph that against a plain background. Put some think in picture to show its size (like a coin). I think it is Smart weed . Sometimes called Pennsylvania Smartweed. xoxo You have to pull it all up to get rid of it.
  • Patti @Hearth and Vine Patti @Hearth and Vine on Apr 21, 2015
    If it is smart weed it is usually easy to pull out. Still a pain..
  • Arminda Feldkamp Arminda Feldkamp on Apr 21, 2015
    I poured boiling water on a weed like this when I was using my tomatoe canner. It died everyplace I poured the water. Becareful. These type of weeds sometimes have underground runners. The hot water will also kill any good plants you might want to keep
  • Michelle Eliker Michelle Eliker on Apr 21, 2015
    You need to pull the weeds before they seed. This year your only option is to keep pulling as herbicides will also kill your iris, but next year put down a preemergent (you can find these at any garden center) which will prevent new seeds from sprouting but won't hurt already established plants. Then keep pulling the ones that do sprout. Good luck!
  • Han1525777 Han1525777 on Apr 21, 2015
    Perhaps it is millet. Do you have a bird feeder nearby. If so you may want to make sure you have heat treated seed that won't sprout . If you're not sure you can toast it on a baking sheet for a few minutes at 350*.
    • Jane Jane on Apr 21, 2015
      @Hansent MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY. I ONLY FEED CRACKED CORN "CHICKEN SCRATCH" TO MY BACKYARD FRIENDS. NO SEEDS TO SPROUT AND THEY LOVE IT.
  • Darlette Berry Enders Darlette Berry Enders on Apr 21, 2015
    I get weeds in my iris bed also. I think the best way to get rid of them is to dig the iris up at the end of the summer - toward fall when it's cool. Iris don't grow very deep, so it's not too difficult. Use a pitch fork because it won't damage them. It 's also a very good time to thin them out a little and get rid of any that have gotten old. If you have a little tiller, after you have all of the weeds pulled, run the tiller through and replant. It know it sounds like a lot of work, but it won't take too long. How about a little help from the husband or a child? You can call it together time.
  • Sha1530835 Sha1530835 on Apr 21, 2015
    If you really want to get rid of weeds then some salty water will remove them... you need to be careful that you are not pouring it on healthy grass and other plants as it will also kill them too... weeds are actually quite good for your garden as they give the soil stability and provide nutrients that are not present in other plants but yes if the weeds is noxious do remove it..
  • Marla Marla on Apr 23, 2015
    This August or September, dig up the entire area. Trim your iris leaves to about 2" and lay them aside. Till the area and remove any weed pieces, roots, etc. Replant your iris and maintain control again! The iris will be happy campers come spring!
  • Linda Sheltz Linda Sheltz on Apr 26, 2015
    My suggestion would be to take up all your irises, lay down 2-3 sheets of newspaper. Cover with mulch. Will kill out all weeds. The paper will rot. Replant irises. Never have to worry about weeds again. I do this to all my new flower beds that I want to rid of weeds.