The 10 Best Weed Killers for Lawns

Who doesn’t love a perfectly manicured lawn? It’s such a pleasure to watch your kids playing on the grass or throwing a ball for your dog, especially in the summertime when the weather’s warm and the sun is shining. But nothing can spoil the look and enjoyment of your lawn more than if it’s covered in unsightly weeds. So, what can you do if weeds are invading your lawn? You can try pulling them out by hand, but that might take a long time if there are a lot of weeds. Not to mention, you might not get all the roots, so they’ll just keep coming back.

The best solution is to apply a systemic weed killer that kills weeds and prevents them from recurring. However, you also need to ensure that you select the best weed killer for your garden. Not all types of weed killers are designed to get rid of weeds in your lawn. A systemic weed killer has specific ingredients to only target certain plants. For example, a herbicide designed for broadleaf plants will not affect grass or even grass-like plants.

It’s also important to determine what types of weeds are proliferating in your lawn. This will make choosing the best weed killer much easier. You see, many weed killers are designed just for broadleaf weeds. But, if you have grass-like weeds in your lawn, such as crabgrass, these won’t help.

To make things a little easier for you, we’ve researched a number of products and come up with the 10 best weed killers for lawns. Check out our top recommendations below.

View the Best Weed killer for Lawns, Below.

• Roundup For Lawns All-in-One Lawn Weed Killer
• Scotts 25006A 5M Turf Builder Weed Feed
• BioAdvanced All-in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer
• Andersons Barricade Professional Weed Control
• Southern Ag Amine 2,4-D Weed Killer Concentrate
• Scotts 32367F Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer
• Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer
• Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed And Grass Killer
• Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer
• Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer

1. Roundup For Lawns All-in-One Lawn Weed Killer

The Best All Round Easy Applicator

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This is the best weed killer if you want to kill stubborn weeds, such as crabgrass and dandelion. This post-emergent product will kill over 250 different types of weeds, even nutsedge. The handy wand applicator means that you can apply it directly to the offending weeds, and it will start working immediately. It's effective no matter what type of weed you have.

Roundup for Lawns is a good all-around selective weed killer that won't harm your lawn. It can kill over 250 different types of weeds. Plus, the handy wand applicator means you can apply it directly to the weeds and kill them instantly.

2. Scotts 25006A 5M Turf Builder Weed Feed

The Best Weed and Feed Granular Fertilizer

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Scotts Turf Builder not only kills the weeds in your lawn but also feeds the grass at the same time. This means that it's a herbicide and a fertilizer in one. The benefit of feeding your lawn while also killing weeds is that the grass will grow thicker and crowd out any other emerging weeds. In fact, it's guaranteed to rid your lawn of both dandelion and clover. Plus, it can be used on St Augustine grass, commonly found in the Southern States of America, South Africa, and Australia.

The dual action weed and feed are beneficial for any lawn, especially in spring and summer when both grass and weeds are actively growing.

3. BioAdvanced All-in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer

The Best Value for Money

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BioAdvanced is an all-in-one post-emergent lawn weed killer that will get rid of over 200 broad-leaf weeds as well as crabgrass. It's the best weed killer for perennial weeds as it kills weeds right down to the roots. This means they won't keep coming back. It's a systemic herbicide that becomes rainproof in just 1 hour. So, if you happen to spray your lawn just before it starts to rain, this selective herbicide will have already started to kill your weeds without you having to reapply it.

This systemic herbicide is designed to kill over 200 weeds, including crabgrass. It will start working immediately and become rainproof in just 1 hour. BioAdvanced kills both the weeds and the roots to stop them from coming back.

4. Andersons Barricade Professional Weed Control

The Best No Frills Granular Weed Controller

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Andersons Barricade is a pre-emergent herbicide. In short, it's a weed preventer. This means that it stops the weeds from growing in the first place, but it won't kill existing weeds. This product is ideal to use in early spring and fall before the weeds have time to grow. It helps to prevent over 30 broadleaf and grass-type weeds from growing in your lawn. This includes perennial weeds like crabgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, henbit, and lambs quarter.

Preventing the weed problem in the first place is always the best solution. If you apply this weed control product in early spring and fall, the weeds are unable to germinate and grow. Plus, it's easy to apply; just use a spreader after you've mown the lawn. Remember to water it in thoroughly, though.

5. Southern Ag Amine 2,4-D Weed Killer Concentrate

The Best for Industrial Use

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This is an agricultural strength post-emergent herbicide designed to kill both broadleaf and woody weeds without harming your lawn. It's commonly used on golf courses and other large turfed areas to kill invading weeds economically. You only need to use 1 to 4 pints per acre. This means that a 1-quart bottle will last for many applications.

This broad-leaf weed killer is extremely good value for money. For the best results, you only need to use 1 to 4 pints per acre of lawn. It's mostly suited for broadleaf weeds, such as clover and dandelion.

6. Scotts 32367F Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer

Early Weed Prevention for Your Lawn

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Scotts Turf Builder is a pre-emergent weed killer and fertilizer in one. It's best applied in early spring and fall. Similar to other weed preventers, this product is specifically designed to prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating, but it also prevents weeds like foxtail, barnyard grass, oxalis, and chickweed. At the same time, it feeds your lawn to promote strong, healthy growth. This has the added benefit of crowding out any weeds that might want to grow. Plus, you can use it on St Augustine grass.

Treating your lawn just before the growing season is one of the best things you can do. This product will not only prevent weed seeds from germinating but will also fertilize your growing lawn. Plus, a lush, thick lawn discourages weeds from taking hold during the growing season.

7. Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer

All Round and Easy Application

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Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer is a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer designed to kill all the way down to the root without harming your grass. It's particularly useful for controlling dandelion, clover, chickweed, dollarweed, and even thistle. It's easy to apply straight from the bottle using the comfort wand. It's suitable for both northern and southern grasses, such as St Augustine.

This is one of the easiest weed killers to apply for post-emergent weeds. Using the handy comfort wand, you can apply it straight to your lawn whenever you need to. It becomes rainproof in just an hour, so there's no need to reapply if you receive some unexpected showers.

8. Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed And Grass Killer

The Best Organic Formula

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Do you prefer a natural and organic weed killer? Then this weed grass killer is the one for you. However, this is a non-selective weed killer, so avoid using it on your lawn because it will kill the grass as well. The vinegar in this weed killer dries out and kills any plants it comes into contact with. It's great for driveways, paths, and to use around pools.

This is a natural and organic product that's safe to spray in any area you want to be weed-free. You can use it undiluted straight from your sprayer bottle. Plus, it's 4 times stronger than normal vinegar, which means it has super-strength weed killing powers. Just don't use it on your lawn as it will kill the grass as well.

9. Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer

The Best Weed Killer for Weed-Areas Only

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This product is another herbicide that will kill weeds and grass, so you don't want to use it on your lawn. It contains glyphosate, which is a common ingredient in non-selective weed killers. It's ideal for killing weeds on driveways, paths, paved outdoor areas, and around pools. Just be careful not to get any on the plants you want to keep.

Products containing glyphosate are known to be one of the most effective non-selective herbicides on the market. This product is excellent value for money as it covers over 25,000 square feet. Plus, the Compare n Save formula is easy to mix with water and use as you need it.

10. Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer

The Best Off-Season Weed Preventer

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This is one of the best pre-emergent weed killers that's especially potent on crabgrass and other grassy weeds. You'll want to apply it in the spring and fall. It will prevent the weed seeds from germinating to allow your grass to grow lush and thick. It's also useful for preventing the growth of moss during winter.

Everyone knows how hard it is to get rid of crabgrass completely, especially once it's established in your lawn. Preventing its growth in the first place is the perfect solution. This product is super easy to apply and will stop grassy weeds from invading your lawn all through the summer.

Best Weed Killer For Lawns Buyers Guide

We’ve recommended both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed killers. We’ve also included a couple of non-selective weed killers for areas where you want to eradicate all weeds, including poison ivy. So, how do you choose the best weed killer for your situation?

Firstly, you need to decide what types of weeds you want to eradicate. Make a note of what season you’re currently in, and take a look at which weed killer would be best for you.

What Type of Weed Do You Have?

There are two general categories of weeds that can invade your lawn – broadleaf weeds and grass-like weeds. First, you need to inspect your lawn and see what types of weeds are predominantly growing in your grass. Some weed killers are designed only to treat broadleaf weeds, but other weed killers will treat grass-type weeds as well.

Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds have leaves that are broader than blades of grass. Weeds in this category are generally annual weeds. They include:

• Dandelion, clover, thistle, nettle, oxalis, marshmallow, and chickweed.
• Cat’s tongue, lamb’s tongue, plantain, dock, poison ivy, and many more.

The best broadleaf weed control method is to use a post-emergent weed killer in a liquid form. You can easily mix this with water and spray the affected areas.

Grassy-Type Weeds

The leaves on these types of weeds closely resemble blades of grass. Weeds in this category are generally more difficult to control. Weed types include:

• Crabgrass, nutsedge or nutgrass, onion grass, quick grass, and more.

The best weed control killers for this type of invasion are all-purpose ones that target a large number of weeds.

What’s the Season?

For optimum weed control, it’s important to note the current season you’re in. This will determine your best course of action and the type of weed killers to consider. Grass and weeds are far more active and likely to grow in the warmer months than in winter.

So, let’s look at what you should be doing in each season.

Spring

Spring is a great time to treat your lawn with pre-emergent weed killers. These weed killers will stop weed seeds from germinating. This means the weeds won’t be able to grow and invade your lawn.

During this time, you also want to give your lawn a boost to promote strong, lush, and healthy growth. Remember that the more vigorously your lawn grows, the less the weeds are able to penetrate the grass and establish themselves. Using a dual-action weed killer and fertilizer is ideal for springtime.

Summer

Summer is the most active growing season for both your lawn and the weeds. For this reason, you need to hit existing weeds with a post-emergent weed killer. These products can easily be sprayed over your entire lawn area and are fast-acting.

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Fall

Weed preventers that stop weed seeds from germinating are also ideal to use in the fall to get ready for the dormant winter season. Most lawns won’t actively grow in winter, even in areas that don’t receive frost or snow. This gives weeds space to invade your lawn as most are active all year round.

Consider using an all-purpose weed killer to kill weeds as they emerge. You can also use a dual-action weed killer and fertilizer during this time. This will strengthen your lawn so that it can better survive the winter months.

Winter

As your grass is not actively growing during this season, it’s a good time to spot-kill any weeds that emerge with a selective herbicide. You might consider selecting one that has a handy wand applicator. This allows you to treat the weeds only and leave the rest of the lawn alone.

Liquid or Granules: Which is Best?

Whether you use liquid weed killer or granules really depends on your preference, as well as the season. Generally, you should consider using weed killers of the granular type in the spring and fall. These will penetrate into the soil and stop weed seeds from germinating.

There is a selection of granular products that not only get rid of weeds but will also fertilize your lawn. You should use one of these to give your grass a boost before the growing season.

Liquid weed killers are best to use during the growing season. Generally, these types of weed killers are fast-acting and will get rid of your weeds quickly. They’re also very effective on annual weeds that keep coming up year after year.

The Best Way to Use Weed Killer on Your Lawn

The best way of using weed killers on your lawn depends on whether you use a liquid or granules. For granular weed killers, it’s best to apply them evenly over the lawn area using a fertilizer spreader. This will give you a nice, even spread and make sure you don’t miss any spots.

Liquid weed killers are best mixed with water and applied using a liquid sprayer. Sprayers come in many different sizes, so it’s best to choose one that allows you to do your whole lawn at once but is not too heavy to handle.

Some weed killers come in a handy bottle that you can attach to your garden hose. This makes spraying your lawn super fast and easy. As you use this weed killer, it mixes with water from the hose to give you nice, even coverage.

About Non-Selective Herbicides

There are only a few non-selective herbicides that won’t harm your grass. These will kill most broadleaf and woody weeds, and they’re often good value for money. Other non-selective weed and grass killers should only be used on driveways, paths, and around swimming pools. They will kill any plants they come into contact with, including crabgrass and poison ivy.

However, if you have a steady hand, you can spot-treat really stubborn weeds in your lawn by applying one of these weed killers with a paintbrush. Just be careful not to get any of the weed killers onto the surrounding grass.

FAQs

Q. What are the active ingredients in the best weed and crabgrass killer for lawns?

Manufacturers indicate the content of their products. The information is found on the package or in the user manual. If the composition is not shown, you can contact the manufacturer for clarification.

Q. How do I get rid of weeds without interrupting the growth of my lawn grass?

You should use selective herbicides. These are products that only inhibit weeds’ growth without interfering with desirable crop growth.

Q. how long should I wait to top-dress after turf herbicide application?

A. Most herbicides do not affect fertilizer application. You can do it on the same day unless the manufacturer indicates otherwise.

Conclusion

Optimum lawn care involves fertilizing, mowing, watering, and getting rid of weeds. If you get all of these things right, you’ll have a beautiful, lush lawn to enjoy all summer long. When choosing the best weed killer for your lawn, you have to determine what type of weeds you need to treat. Your choice of weed killer also depends on the season.

Remember that pre-emergent weed killers are best used in the spring and fall. Some of these also contain fertilizers, which is ideal as you’re doing two tasks in one – feeding your grass and killing weed seeds simultaneously.

On the other hand, liquid weed killers are fast-acting and should be applied during the growing season. Generally, they will kill weeds on contact. These weed killers can be applied any time during the growing season.

We hope that this guide to the best weed killers for lawn care has been useful. If you use our guide, you should end up with a healthy, strong lawn that will be the envy of all your neighbors.

Expert’s Tip

Most herbicides should be applied when it is calm. The weather condition prevents detrimental effects on desirable crops.

Did you know?

There are over 8,000 species of weeds in the world.