heather and grass

back in april this year, i very successfully transplanted around 150 sq.ft of heather to the bank in my garden where it's now flowering with a bed of purple. should look even better next year!
however, there is a considerable amount of grass growing amongst it which, at the moment, i have to remove by hand. getting the roots out isn't too much of a problem but the whole exercise does still take some time.
it there a weedkiller that i can use to eradicate the grass and the other few weeds but that leaves the heather alone? i don't want THAT to die after all my hard efforts!
if anyone can help or has ideas about this, i would love to hear from you please. it would be much appreciated.
thank you in advance.
michael.

 

Hi Michael and welcome, I`m afraid you are going to have to keep hand weeding. Any weedkiller you use on the grass will also damage or kill the Heather. David.

 

thanks david ... not exactly what i wanted to hear but i wasn't really holding my breath for a good solution.
when i dug the heather up in clumps of around 9 x 9" with a good 8" or so of peat under it, it was like having to do a giant jigsaw when i re-planted so there are a fair few spaces in-between them in the bank. i've been told by more than one that it will sooner rather than later spread out and cover the gaps which will ... or should ... then drown out its opposition! maybe this will solve the problem!
up here in the hebrides, it shouldn't be too long before fresh growth stops for the winter months so at least i shouldn't need to do much more weeding this year.
a great pity someone can't invent something that will only kill grass.
again, thanks for your thoughts on this.
michael.

 

Can I suggest you lay landscape matting between the heathers and cover over with bark or peat or a mixtrue of both to supress the grass. You may know that landscape matting comes in a roll usually black and thin melded fabric. A bit like a stronger tissue.

 

not a prayer next door has just tried the weed killer and now the heathers are screaming murderer