The Best Weed Killers for a Beautiful Yard

Weeds can turn beautiful outdoor spaces into an eyesore incredibly quickly and without forewarning. However, there are so many different kinds of weed killers on the market, each with its specialties and uses, that finding the right option for your unique needs can be just as hard as eliminating your weeds in the first place. We made this guide to showcase the best weed killers you can use to eradicate weeds in your lawn, gravel, gardens, and anywhere else the weeds are taking over.

Weeding Out Products to Find the Best Weed Killer for You

Here are some things to consider:

• Application: How and where you plan to use your weed killer is a huge factor in determining which product is right for you. If you will be using it on your lawn, be sure that it is safe for your region and type of grass. If you plan on planting something after killing weeds, look for a post-emergent option that allows you to do this. If you want to kill all vegetation in a certain area, find a weed killer that prevents weed growth after killing the weeds.
• Ingredients: It is always a good idea to do your research and make sure your weed killers will not harm the environment or your family and pets. This is especially important when you use a weed killer in your vegetable garden, but it is always good to think about it regardless of where it’s used. Thankfully, there are many great all-natural or organic garden-friendly weed killers and herbicides, as well as options with responsible ingredients that will not cause your family or the environment any harm.
• Ease of Use: While some weed killers arrive ready to use, complete with an application wand, some arrive in the form of concentrates that you will have to dilute yourself. Whatever your preference may be, make sure you have everything you need to apply your weed killer to weeds and undesirable vegetation while avoiding surrounding plant life.

Best for Lawns: Roundup for Lawns 1

If troublesome weeds are ruining your lawn, you don’t want to exacerbate the problem by using a weed killer that will do more harm than good. Luckily, for those with northern grass varieties (such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescue), Roundup for Lawns is a reliable weed killer that will minimize harm to the surrounding grass. While this weed killer isn’t the quickest acting (it may take weeks to see this product’s true power), it is a powerful solution to killing over 250 weeds and comes equipped with a handy wand for simple spot treatment. This weed killer is even ideal for hard-to-treat weeds such as crabgrass and nutsedge, making it a safe bet for lawns that are losing the war to invasive weed growth.

Best for Flower Beds: Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer

When treating weeds in your flower beds, you want a product that is fast-acting and safe like Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer. This weed killer is OMRI listed for organic gardening use and works on all types of weeds and grasses. You will want to be careful and deliberate when spraying this weed killer in order to avoid any damage to flowers or other desirable plant life. However, when used correctly, you will be able to see this product work its magic almost immediately. Additionally, this weed killer is very versatile, so it’s a reliable option for weeds in your vegetable garden, hardscaping, and other areas.

Best for Gravel: RM43 Total Vegetation Control

For those seeking a weed killer that both effectively kills weeds and prevents future growth for up to a year, RM43 Total Vegetation Control is for you. While you will want to keep this product away from your lawn, it is absolutely ideal for paved areas, gravel, and anywhere else where you don’t want plant life to flourish due to its combination of two herbicides and a surfactant. Although this weed killer isn’t fast-acting, it devastates weeds in the long term so that you don’t have to constantly reapply it every few weeks. This means that you will get a lot of use out of this 1-gallon bottle which is enough to treat 17,297 square feet.

Best Natural Weed Killer: Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer

If you’re looking for an all-natural solution that is every bit as good as your favorite chemical-based weed killers, Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer is as good as it gets. This product is made from ocean saltwater, food-grade vinegar, and soap, making it safe to use in vegetable gardens and areas where your pets and children play. Despite its natural ingredients, this weed killer is incredibly fast-acting and effective, with most weeds beginning to wither away within hours. If you are tired of weed killers that use hormone-disrupting chemicals or harm the environment, this one is definitely worth every penny.

Best for Large Areas: Compare-N-Save Herbicide

If you have weeds growing unfettered across large areas, Compare-N-Save Herbicide gives you the best bang for your buck without compromising in terms of performance. This concentrate makes up to 85 gallons of ready-to-use spray and is rainproof within 2 hours under normal conditions. Although you will want to wait a few days before expecting results, this herbicide reliably travels to the roots to kill grass and weeds where they run rampant. It’s also a post-emergent herbicide, meaning you can get right back to planting shortly after eliminating unsightly weed growth.