There are actually two different active ingredients used in "over the top" type grass killers......both seem to "work" the same way, and equally well. The "brand" I have been using is "Fertilome" "Over The Top". It's not a "fast action" killer...it takes a few weeks to actually kill the grass......but it does seem to stop the grass from growing, almost immediately . Using a "real" sticker-spreader, rather than a "home grown" one, like dish soap ,seems to improve action, as does watering the grassy area the day before.....this causes a "growth spurt" in the grass, which helps with absorbsion, and also "cleans" the leaves of any dust, or dirt...which would tend to block absorbsion.
Depending on where I buy it , the "Over The Top" costs from$18-$22 for a small bottle...but you only use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, so it goes quite a ways.

I use Grass-B-Gon straight from the bottle. It takes awhile to work. Works on grass, not broadleaf weeds & does not harm irises at all.

Yes -- I've been looking for Arlyn's Fertilome Over-the-Top product too -- also unavailable.

But since learning that Grass B Gon is only available in ready-to-spray bottles, I did find a couple of those today and I'm probably set for this season, anyway. Next year I'll start looking earlier -- most of the stores are getting low on lawn supplies, or are out altogether.

"Bonide" also makes a concentrate (same "active" as the Fertilome, sethoxydim ), and there is also one called "Ornamec"....which has the same "active"(flurazifop-P-butyl) as "Grass-B-Gone".
The 'ready to use" sprays are usually found at home stores, or hardware stores, but, the concentrates will be at regular "nurseries", or "on line".
The Fertilome ( or, "HI-Yield"....same stuff, same company, different packaging ) is available, for me, at several 'local" nurseries / greenhouses. I did buy the Ornamec, on line, a few years ago, but only found it in 1 quart bottles (about $80), and, as is true for many "on line " things....shipping was high. If Amazon has the product you want, they *sometimes* have a 'free ship" offer going ( that might depend on how much you spend , not sure ).

Thank you Arlyn -- I have starred your post for reference next spring when I start the battle again.

Here are pics of my 'Final Frontier' from last year. After my iris bloomed and my hub and I were finished oohing over them, he, surprisingly, said, "We should put some iris against the back rock border." Knowing I had a friend who had promised me some of her NOIDS, and not having any more room, I jumped at the idea.

I had to remove the mosaic of flat rocks and pea gravel, peel back the weed barrier and dig. Each shovelful of dirt went into a wheelbarrow with a rock screen on it. I screened the dirt and kept at it until I had the area 2/3 dug out, filling both wheelbarrows. The next 1/3 went into the garden trailer for the next section with the screening, etc. (We live on the edge of a glacial moraine and actually grow rocks in our yard.) Then I added steer manure, potting soil and peat moss to the sieved dirt, mixed it with my hoe and readied it to fill in the hole. Rocks and extra dirt were dumped on a back hill for future use. Using black rubber border material, I edged each of the nine sections, pounding stakes in each corner. Then I filled the hole with my mixture, laid the weed barrier back in place, stacked the rocks on it and went on to the next section. One section a day, over three weeks. I had to take off Wednesday for the sake of my body, and the weekend to play with my hub. But, finally, the Final Frontier, and a task accomplished. In September I planted 20 clumps of iris and various plants as fillers.

Now I just have to wait for blooms. Only two of the noids bloomed this spring, but all of the fans look large and healthy.

That A LOT of work, congrats and it looks wonderful!

Big job, Cleta. We'll be waiting for those blooms too!

I agree. It is alot of work. But when its done I bet it will be beautiful.

You gals are hard workers!!

Love the rock garden! ....and your green lawn nearly brought a tear to my eye.

Great job well done, Cleta! You will enjoy it for years to come.

Amazing!

Cleta, very impressive. I thought I was the only one who would sift rocks out of my beds, but that was years ago and in this bed I am taking out the biggest and trying to ignore the others.

Cleta,

Impressive amount of work. And I thought I was the only one who sifted out rocks. That was years ago. The bed I'm working on now, I'm just taking out the biggest and trying to ignore the rest.

I will be sure to post pics next spring. Most of the clumps are NOIDs so I am going to want all of the iris-o-phile's knowledge out there to help with the identifications. I love my iris, but I almost love them more when there is a name attached. (Even if I label them 'like' a named iris. Each one needs a handle of some kind.) And thanks for the kind words. I know you all appreciate the work it takes to create new beds, something I think will happen more and more since I have met ATP. I have a 10 ft. wide swath of river rocks along the side of our property that is slowing going to succumb to iris--as long as I can lift a shovel. Heal Shoulder, Heal!

Cleta, I'm a little late chiming in but your rock garden is beautiful (I'm also a closet rockaholic) and your irises will be gorgeous with such a lovely backdrop! It was a lot of hard work but you will enjoy it for years to come!

I would like to see a picture of your rock garden.

Wow!