Killing Grass but Not Plants

Question

How do I kill grass that has crept into my plant and ground cover area? I don’t want to kill the plants, but it’s overtaking that area. Is there a product I can use?

Answer 1

Most grass in garden beds can be easily pulled up (though it may be time consuming) and followed with the addition of a 1/2″ thick layer of (moist) newspaper topped with 2″ mulch. You can also use a non-selective herbicide, such as glyphosate (Round-up), which has the potential to kill any plant on contact. However, with care this can be used as a spot spray in flower beds, avoiding contact with desirable plants. Don’t do this on a windy day. If feasible, you might want to cover your plants with trash bags while you spray, and for about half-an-hour after. It will dry rather quickly, kill the grass, and will not stay in the soil.