Are There Sprays That Will Kill Weeds but not Flowering Plants?

Weed Preventers

• Use weed preventers before the start of the blooming season to prevent weeds from occurring in the first place. Preventers are mixed with plant food, mulch or landscape fabric. You can also find them in spray form. Preen, for example, has a weed preventer spray safe enough for flowering plants and garden beds before and during the blooming season. Use weed preventers in coordination with mulches and fertilizers to help prevent weed growth throughout the season. Note that most weed preventers have a lifespan of only a few months, so reapply them throughout the year to prevent growth.

Organic Sprays

• Some manufacturers offer organic sprays that contain no harmful chemicals and additives. Worry Free Weed and Grass Killer offers weed and grass removal in a spray formula safe enough for flowering plants and gardens. The organic formula, which dries out the weed itself, can work in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Iron X Selective Weed Killer for Lawns is another organic compound that is safe around humans and pets yet destroys weeds. You can purchase this brand in concentrated solution or premixed formula.

Grass and Weed Killers

• Grass and weeds can encroach on a flowering plant garden in a matter of days. Many chemically based sprays can harm flower beds in the process of killing weeds. Some products specifically target varieties of grass. Amaze Grass and Weed Preventer2, for example, target only crabgrass, lambs quarter, common purslane and other broadleaf and grassy weeds, reports the website Green Light. To avoid harming flowers in the area, look for brands specific to only certain types of grass and weeds.

Homemade Remedies

• You can make weed sprays at home, but they must be used correctly. Vinegar is a common homemade weed spray. Mix 1 tbsp. of vinegar in 1 gallon of water, then add to a sprayer. Spray this concoction only on weeds, as it can kill the leaves and blossoms of flowers instantly. It's best to use this homemade spray sparingly on weeds surrounding flower beds. Because soap can break down the waxy surface protecting weeds, according to Garden Counselor Lawn Care, mix liquid dish detergent with a homemade weedkiller such as vinegar.