I have a ton of monkey grass I'd like to pull. However, embedded with are irises that I love. Is there a way to get that monkey grass out without destroying the flowers at the same time?

I would wait until after the iris have bloomed then start digging. As you pull the monkey grass, replant the iris.

I agree, too. Your iris actually go dormant for a time, a few weeks after they've finished blooming. That would be an excellent time to just dig up the whole area, pick out the monkey grass, and plant your iris back where they were. Try not to let the iris roots dry out as you are weeding. Maybe do a small section at a time, so the iris plants aren't out of the ground for too long. Or keep an old, wet towel near where you're working, and wrap the iris roots in that while they're waiting to go back where they belong.

I'm not sure what Monkey grass is, does it spread by rhizome? If so you will have a challenge getting all of the rots out. If your are not averse to using chemicals, there is a product called Grass B Gon that will kill grass and not bother the irises. I couldn't grow irises here without it due to what we call quack grass. Just spray it on, the grass dies slowly the irises are unharmed. Won't bother day lilies, lilies, or peonies either.

Beware ! Read entire lable !
Some/all of that grass killer, will kill anything with elongated cells. Which iris are.
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Thanks for the help everyone!

I don't even try to keep it off the irises, and haven't had any show any affect from it.

If your iris are bearded iris they can withstand being out of the ground for awhile. So if you dig them up and then remove the grass, they will be fine until you replant them. It is only non-bearded iris such as Japanese iris and Louisiana iris that need to be kept wet.

I would carefully pull out the grass with your bare hands. Or wait until the irises are done blooming. I have an iris bed that is full of grass and I have to weed it every two weeks. I might just get rid of the ones in that bed. They are common purples and yellow NOIDS that I dislike and I don't really care too much about them either. It's just too much work and is a waste of my time to take care of.

I'm not sure, but I don't think "monkey grass" is REALLY a grass .....I *believe* it's a narrow leafed "broadleaf" plant..........I'd google it, read up on it, and go from there. If it IS a broadleaf, grass be gone won't kill it.

In the South, monkey grass is Liriope. My guess is the iris will need to be dug out and the rest dug separately.