What can be a negative effect of using non-selective herbicides?

The choice highlighting that non-selective herbicides can damage desirable plants is accurate because these herbicides are designed to kill or control all vegetation they come into contact with. This characteristic makes them highly effective for controlling unwanted weeds, but it also poses a significant risk to any nearby desirable plants, such as flowers, shrubs, or grasses. This indiscriminate action can lead to unintended consequences in landscape management, where maintaining the health and appearance of desirable plants is crucial.

The other aspects, while they might also be true, do not capture the primary concern with non-selective herbicides. For instance, while it is possible that some non-selective herbicides may take longer to act or may be more expensive or even require specialized application equipment, these factors are secondary to the potential damage these herbicides can inflict on desirable plant species. Understanding this risk is vital for effective weed management without compromising the integrity of the desired landscape.