" Jeanne Stockdale" wrote
One of our flower beds is a complete mess!!

Our garden was originally a field/paddock and we always have problems with
grass coming through in the beds but this particular bed has (IMO) got out
of hand. There are a lot of hardy geraniums in the bed and the grass comes
up through the centre and is impossible to dig out. In addition, in about
half the bed, the soil is rock hard (probably clay) and impossible to dig.

My thoughts are to start from scratch with at least half of the bed - i.e.
spray everything 2 or 3 times over the summer, then when everything has
(hopefully) died down rotavate the bed with a Mantis and leave bare over
winter with a view to starting afresh next year.

Am I doing the right rhing???

It's what the Savill Garden are doing with their beds due to the dreaded
Bindweed so yes you are doing it right. There are other things you could try
but none will be so effective.
How about taking some offshoots of the Geraniums, after a thorough search
for grass roots, to pot up to replant when you have got rid of the grass
etc.
If it's Couch grass be careful it won't just come in again from your grass
area, we fought a constant battle against it's encroachment on our old
allotment because of grass roadways/paths.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK