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The Best Weed Killers for a Beautiful Yard

Man spraying weed with weed killer using long applicator wand attached to the bottle
Roundup

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

1.33 gal bottle of Roundup weed killer meant for on-lawn use on northern grasses
Roundup

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 Lawns

Roundup For Lawns1 Ready to Use - All-in-One Weed Killer for Lawns, Kills Weeds - Not the Lawn, One Solution for Crabgrass, Dandelions, Clover and Nutsedge, For Use on Northern Grasses, 1.33 gal.

This weed killer is made for northern grass varieties such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, bermudagrass, and others. It comes with an extended wand for easy spot-treatment.

Best for Flower Beds: Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer

1-gal bottle of weed and grass killer with trigger spraying system
Ortho

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 Flower Beds

Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer Ready-to-Use - Grass Weed Killer Spray, Use in Landscape Beds, Around Vegetable Gardens, on Patios & More, Broadleaf Weed Killer, See Results in 15 Minutes, 1 gal

This weed killer is rainproof within two hours and is OMRI listed for organic gardens. It's also one of the fastest working weed killers you can buy.

Best for Gravel: RM43 Total Vegetation Control

1 gal bottle of total vegetation control weed killer that treats 17,297 square feet
RM43

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 for Gravel

RM43 43-Percent Glyphosate Plus Weed Preventer Total Vegetation Control, 1-Gallon

This 1-gallon bottle of weed killer can treat up to 17,297 square feet. Not only does it effectively kill weeds, it prevents them from coming back for up to a year.

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

1 qt. bottle of natural weed and grass killer made of salt water, vinegar, and soap
Doctor Kirchner

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 Natural Weed Killer

Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer (Quart) No Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

This all-natural weed killer is made from ocean saltwater, commercial strength food-grade vinegar, and soap. It contains no hormone-disrupting chemicals but is absolutely devastating to weeds.

Best for Large Areas: Compare-N-Save Herbicide

1-gal jug of weed and grass killing concentrate that treats up to 25,000 square feet
Compare-N-Save

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.

Best for Large Areas

Compare-N-Save 75324 Herbicide, 1-gallon, white

This 41% glyphosate weed killing concentrate can be diluted to make up to 85 gallons of spray solution. While it's not the quickest weed killer, it's very effective in the long term.

Zachary McCarthy Zachary McCarthy
Zachary McCarthy is a freelance contributor to LifeSavvy. He has a bachelor's degree in English from James Madison University and experience in blogging, copywriting, and WordPress design and development. In his free time, he can be found frying up Tangsuyuk or watching Korean films and MMA events. Read Full Bio »
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