Killing tulips in yard... how to do it without digging everything up?

[Dadnatron]

About 9 years ago, I had the bright idea to plant about 200 tulip bulbs in the grass, along my walkway, thinking they would be beautiful every year from then on.

Well, the first year they were spectacular. Won 'best yard' for the summer, in my neighborhood.

The next year, they bloomed at about 50%, then down every year since then. Now, they leaf out, but rarely are there any flowers. I was uneducated, and thought that 'bulbs' spread and only grew better each year. Little did I know they would do worse and worse each year in the location I put them.

Regardless, I am selling my house to downsize, and want to kill them so they don't look bad. The grass in the strip tends to be a little poorer than the rest of the yard because of the tulips. I know, I can just mow them, and later in the year, they disappear. However, I want to kill them now, so the lawn doesn't have that 'odd look' if possible.

Is there anything I can spray/apply that will kill the tulips without killing the grass?

 

[jeff9366]

Roundup/Glycophosphat will kill the Tulips AND THE GRASS. Do not use.



A lawn herbicide containing 2,4-D is what you need. Formula is always on the front label. Often marketed as KILLS THE WEEDS, NOT THE LAWN.

Herbicides are most effective when target plants are growing rapidly, which is NOW in Florida. Mix and spray 2,4-D per directions. Water in 10 hours to 24 hours later to get 2,4-D to the bulb corms. Wait two weeks for result. May or may not require second application to kill all the Tulips.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep, broadleaf killer is needed.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Well, you could Roundup, kill everything and then 10 days later plant grass seed and start over. I’m not sure that 2 4 D will kill the tulips.

 

[4get gto]

Well, you could Roundup, kill everything and then 10 days later plant grass seed and start over. I’m not sure that 2 4 D will kill the tulips.

Unfortunately it does. Even on a windy day when you don't intend to do it....!

 

[two_bit_score]

Well, you could Roundup, kill everything and then 10 days later plant grass seed and start over. I’m not sure that 2 4 D will kill the tulips.

It will.

 

[KennyG]

With a little care, I think Roundup would work. If you spray only on the leaves of the plant you want to get rid of, you can control the kill. I've done this successfully for spot kills in the yard.

 

[SandburRanch]

As a Glyphosate experiment I put one drop of mixed solution on 1 leaf of each Petiole of this first year walnut tree. The mix concentration was 1.5 oz. Round-up to 32 oz. water. About 10 days later it looked a little sick. With the tulips pictured, I'm thinking 3-4 tablespoons of mixture will keep a sponge on a stick moist enough to swab a leaf on each plant in the picture and never touch any other desired plants.

Round-Up isn't for impatient people.