What can i use in my garden to kill weeds but not flowers?

Answer 1

To begin with, weed and feed will indeed kill off most flowers. Let's not even go down that road. DDT has to be a joke/abuse because it's an insecticide for killing off bugs rather than a herbicide and no longer legal to apply in North America.

The other question is whether you want an organic solution or a chemical solution.

Organic solutions involve the hand weeding that many on this list have suggested. Laying down newspaper works well particularly if you cover it with mulch. Or you can simply lay down the mulch itself. You'll need a lot of mulch to kill existing weeds but it can be done.

Organic pre-emergents include corn gluten (applied at 20 pounds per 1000 square feet) that acts as a pre-emergent weed killer. In other words, it kills germinating seedlings. But it will not kill existing weeds in a flower bed. There are also organic spot sprays such as "Sharpshooter" that include using soaps, and acetic acids (vinegar).

Chemical solutions suggested include Preen. Preen Pre-emergent works the same as the organic corn gluten but it contains Trifluralin. This chemical is a known carcinogen that is currently being banned in many countries. It is a pre-emergent weed control similar to the corn gluten above and is very persistent in the soil. This means it stays around a long time. It is not registered to kill existing weeds.

Preen weed and grass killer comes with an "acute" health warning according to the company msds sheet and is essentially glyphosate (The same chemical as the better known Roundup and kills everything it touches).

Dyclomec 5G is Dichlobenil, you can see the data in the resource section. It isn't overly friendly either if you want to believe some of the organic responses to this chemical.


In summary, if you want to kill existing weeds within your garden, you're somewhat limited to mulching, handweeding and creating great garden conditions - there are no organic or chemical sprays that will allow you to go in and kill off the weeds leaving only the flowers. You could spot spray with one of the organic options or a chemical containing glyphosate but don't miss any of the weeds or you'll do some damage to your flowers.;-)

If you want to prevent more grass and weeds in the future, then you have organic choices that are just as effective (and ecologically friendly) as the chemical ones.

Answer 2

That's difficult to do. Most of the "weed and feed" type products are meant to kill off slender bladed plants. This usually spares flowers and kills off grass. This is great for a lawn where you want to kill off dandelions and keep the grass, but not very good for a garden.

Your best defense against weeds in the garden it to hand weed, hoeing and mulch. Proper hoeing is using a hoe to keep the top layer slightly stirred up so the weeds don't root. Those newer, V-shaped hoes are great for that. One old farmer I know does this and calls it a "dust mulch". Mulching with straw, newspapers, or other plant materials will reduce weeds and also save water by keeping the soil from drying out as quickly.

If you need more information about mulching you can look in any good garden book or contact your county extension office. It'll be listed in the phone book. The county extension is a service of the USDA and they have master gardeners who volunteer to answer phones and do gardening demonstrations. Good luck.

Answer 3

Go with Grannygr. Preen is a great weed preventer that is best used after the bed is clear of weeds and then applied over mulch. To clear the existing weeds use regular (not quick action) round-up and wait a week before using the preen. Water the preen in immediately to activate.
The best solution is to mulch the bed, weeds and all, and use a granular chemical called Dyclomec 5G. This compound is a post and pre-emergent weed control that is active for an entire season. You do not have to spray or weed the garden before the application. Again, water it in.
It can be purchased as the sole chemical and that name at Nurseries that supply landscapers. Good Luck.

Answer 4

There do exist herbicides which will purely kill grass, as there are herbicides which will kill each little thing else yet grass (conventional as selective herbicides). while different herbi. make no huge distinction; killing all plant life they coming in touch wih. i take advantage of chemical herbicides very sparingly, who prefer to apply mechanical means. that could be a dutch hoe, or comparable strategies. As an Amenity Horticulturalist (Scotland) i'm totally conscious of weed displays and considered them in use. whether, I certainly have not at all used them and don't believe them. they'd help to suppress weed seed germination below. What the do no longer do is ward off weed seeds from germinating on the coolest. i might quicker lose artwork than set up them. remember many seeds purely want some millimetres of high-quality soils superior via daylight hours & moisture to germinate and that they wiil germinate on good.

Answer 5

Lay down 7 to 9 layers of newspaper around your flowers, mulch over the paper. smothers weeds, easy, quick facelift. Or you can spend hours pulling the weeds. Enjoy.

Answer 6

The problem that we all have is that flowers are weeds, and weeds are flowers! My solution is to pull the weeds by hand.

Answer 7

Weeds are simply flowers which have fallen out of favor.
Get down on hands and knees and remove the unwanted ones.

Answer 8

http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpreen/index.jsp
.............PREEN..............................
..Preen Garden Weed Preventer prevents summer and winter annual weeds from growing in...... flower and vegetable beds......... and around trees and shrubs for up to three months. For lawn weed control, see the products listed under Lawns. Without weeds competing for sunlight, nutrients, and space, your plants will grow larger and stronger.

Answer 9

Hi, i recommand you a good and basic tutorial for home and garden. it covers all Issues related to your home, garden and everything around it.

http://www.tutorialforyou.net/garden/

wish it will help you.

Good Luck , Best Wishes!

Answer 10

A good pair of garndening gloves and a hoe.