If I spray grass and weed killer around the base of my plants and bushes,
Will it kill the plants and bushes too?

Yes most products are broad range and unless it specifically says kills grass only it will kill everything... some even last for years and you won't be able to plant something else to replace it. Be safe go organic... a good supply of mulch around your plants will discourage grass or make it easier to pull out or try any of those fancy edgings on the market that you just push in... most grass roots grow horizontally and can't get past edging

Most likely it will kill the other plants as well. Read the warning label on the container. Also, keep in mind the other environmental and pet dangers when using chemicals.

Actually it depends on the type of weed and grass killer. Contact killers like Roundup only kill what they touch when wet. They do not leach into the soil so they are safe for most trees and bushes. They do not sterilize the soil. Roundup brand and several others also make a killer that kills for up to an entire year. This kind not only will kill a tree or bush but it gets into the soil and can migrate through the soil during heavy rains and kill stuff 40-50 ' away. Like Mowerman says, got to read those little fold out warning labels to be safe.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Actually it depends on the type of weed and grass killer. Contact killers like Roundup only kill what they touch when wet. They do not leach into the soil so they are safe for most trees and bushes. They do not sterilize the soil. Roundup brand and several others also make a killer that kills for up to an entire year. This kind not only will kill a tree or bush but it gets into the soil and can migrate through the soil during heavy rains and kill stuff 40-50 ' away. Like Mowerman says, got to read those little fold out warning labels to be safe.

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Roundup works by creating hydrochloric acid which burns down weeds also lowers pH in the critical top few inches of soil to kill weeds. Weeds that are burned down by weed killer contact and are dry and dead can be carried away by birds to build nests in trees and kill the tree. I lost several big beautiful evergreen trees this way years ago until I figured out what was happening. The trees affected lost their leaves suddenly and it also killed the baby birds since their nest was now in hot sun instead of a shady tree. Each dead tree had a bird's nest... live trees did not. I'm positive that over use of herbicides affects everyone... that lower pH in treated soils leads to lower calcium in harvested foods leads to osteoporosis! Just how important is that nice looking lawn to you?

Wildandblue, I have a question for and its not inteneded to be a deabate or to lessen your post. Is this your theory or conclusion or do you have some literature that backs this up with scientific research? I had always read , backed by experience, that Roundup becomes inert when it drys. You can reseed in the same soil in 48 hours. I do it all of the time.

I forgot to mention one thing in this discussion. Roundup is a brand name but they have several different products and its important to not assume all Roundup is safe for replanting in 48 hours. You really do need to read the labels. Original Roundup is safe for trees and bushes you want to keep but they do make a version that sterilizes the soil for up tp one year. That stuff will kill anythnig in its path including plants that get runoff from the sprayed area.

After reading all the labels, I have noticed that there are
A lot of different weed and grass killers used for different purposes.
Thanks for the advice.

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Originally Posted by AKaeTrue

If I spray grass and weed killer around the base of my plants and bushes,
will it kill the plants and bushes too?

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If you make sure not to get any of the spray on the plants and bushes, you are OK. But you have to be very careful.

Re: hand pull or dig the weeds around your plants and apply mulch, but along with the mulch as long as you don't plan to also plant annual seeds, try using Preen type product (preemergent weed killer) which will stop weed seeds from germinating. Does not affect bulbs.

There is a definite chance that it will damage, if not kill, your adjacent plants and shrubs. If you absolutely want to apply an herbicide use a contact one. Use one that allows you to spread the herbicide by an applicator. Spread it by covering all leaf surfaces of each weed, and always follow the directions on the label closely.