What is a non-selective herbicide?

A non-selective herbicide is defined as a type of herbicide that does not differentiate between plant species when applied, meaning it controls all plants in the treated area. This characteristic makes non-selective herbicides particularly useful for clearing out unwanted vegetation in areas like driveways, sidewalks, or large plots of land where the goal is to eliminate all plant life, rather than just specific weeds or plants.

Given that non-selective herbicides work broadly across different types of plants, they can be very effective for certain tasks, but they also carry the risk of harming desirable plants in the vicinity if not carefully applied. This is why it's crucial to use them in contexts where complete vegetation removal is intended.

In contrast, options that suggest targeting specific species or leaving non-target plants unharmed reflect characteristics of selective herbicides, which are designed to affect only particular types of plants while allowing others to thrive. The note about requiring multiple applications pertains to the effectiveness of some herbicides, but does not specifically define non-selective herbicides.