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Glyphosate and other non-selective herbicides can kill orchard grass, but they will also kill the surrounding plants. Also, not all areas allow the use of glyphosate due to its environmental impact—which the EPA describes as a "potential risk to terrestrial and aquatic plants and birds, and low toxicity to honeybees." Consider mechanical removal to target the plants specifically.

There are many options to eradicate weeds right down to the roots. Vinegar works, but it takes a week or so to do its thing, and the same goes for many commercially available herbicides. Boiled water is a quick way to kill off roots, or you can pull up weeds at the root.

All herbicides come with risks, but you can control and mitigate risks by discussing your options with your weed service company before application. Some companies use milder or sustainable herbicides more times per season to control weeds rather than one to two herbicide sprayings annually. You can also ask your professional about pet-friendly and kid-friendly services. In most cases, though, you can wait a few days after the application for the herbicides to soak into the ground, at that point they shouldn’t pose a risk to you or your family.

It’s not legal to intentionally damage a neighbor’s tree. Even if the roots of a tree encroach into your yard, if you damage or kill a tree that belongs to your neighbor, you can be held liable for the damage in most cases. Since herbicides can spread through the tree, causing damage to the whole tree and not just the roots that are on your side of the property line, you shouldn’t poison your neighbor’s tree. The other downside to this method is that if the tree dies, it can fall onto your property and cause more damage, so herbicides are best avoided in this circumstance.