5 best weed and grass killers: top picks and ultimate buying tips
Weed can grow almost anywhere, especially if you live in a wet region that sees rain often. This is not only detrimental to the health of your vegetation but can also make the place look ugly.
With the best weed and grass killer, you can nip this problem in the bud. Rather than going through the painstaking task of removing weed manually, you can get rid of it by simply spraying a chemical concentrate.
These concentrates kill the weed and unwanted grass from its root. In fact, some go even further to prevent more weed from growing in the future.
What is the best weed and grass killer?
You can find dozens of products for this purpose, which makes choosing all the more difficult. Here are the top five weed and grass killers:
- Roundup 5705010 Weed and Grass Killer
- Compare N Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer
- Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate
- Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer
- RM43 Total Vegetation Control
The 5 best weed and grass killers you can buy in 2020
1. Roundup 5705010 Weed and Grass Killer
The Roundup Extended Control Weed and Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer Concentrate not only kills the weed but also prevents more weed from growing. With just a single-use, this concentrate can prevent the growth of weed for up to four months, and you can see results in just hours.
This product is recommended for use on patios, driveways, sidewalks, and gravel. You can also use it to kill weed around tree rings, fence lines, and mulch.
However, it may be a bit harsh for your lawn with grass or a vegetable garden.
The concentrate comes in a variety of sizes, including a 32-ounce large concentrate bottle that will last you a long time. This 32-ounce bottle features a measuring cup on top of the cap that you can use to pour the concentrate into a spray bottle.
You can also find gallon bottles with wands. This solution can rainproof the area you spray it on in just 30 minutes.
The main active ingredients in this solution are Glyphosate and isopropylamine salt. Other active ingredients include Imazapic, ammonium salt, and Diquat dibromide.
The best results come out on sunny days, with temperatures ideally above 60 degrees.
You can easily cover a large area with just a small amount of the concentrate. Just 16-ounce of this weed killer can cover up to 800 sq. ft.
reasons to buy:
- Works quickly
- Rain proofing
- Economical
- Prevents future weed growth
- Easy to use
reasons to avoid:
- Not for vegetable or flower gardens
- Have to get the sprayer separately
2. Compare N Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer
The Compare N Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer stand out from other such concentrates because of its efficacy in different areas and different kinds of weed. This is one product that can come pretty close to killing 100% of the weed wherever you apply.
This contains a whopping 41% glyphosate, the main active ingredient in weed killer solutions.
As a result, it’s pretty effective and shows results in just a few days. As far as rain proofing is concerned, this can get it done in two hours.
The simple and ready-to-use one-gallon bottle can give you up to 85 gallons of sprayable solution.
In terms of area, this amount of solution can cover 25,000 sq. ft. Therefore, it’s great for very large areas like a park or playground.
Another great thing about this concentrate is that it’s effective but still mild enough to be applied to a variety of areas. You can use it on your lawn, driveways, patio, flower gardens, fruit/vegetable gardens, and fence foundations.
However, you should avoid spot spraying on healthy areas of your lawn.
This concentrate only kills existing weed and does not prevent any future growth. Therefore, you can replant the very next day.
Also, it works best in sunny conditions with no rain.
reasons to buy:
- Great value for money
- Works on different kinds of weed
- Kills to the root
- Covers large areas
- Easily mixes with water
reasons to avoid:
- Not quite quick
- Does not prevent future weed growth
3. Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate
The Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate is a non-selective weed killer, which means it will basically kill all weed and grass. It’s better suited for use when you’re going for a new lawn altogether, so you can remove everything before starting over.
This is pretty potent and fast-acting, as you will see results in just three hours. In addition, it’s pretty quick at rain proofing and takes just 15 minutes.
You can visibly see the concentrate in action as the leaves and shrubs would turn yellowish-brown and start curling. What makes it efficient is that it can target a wide range of weed, including the nasty poison ivy around fences and trees.
A little concentrate goes a long way and kills the weed and grass at the very root of it. You just need seven ounces of this concentrate for one gallon of water.
There’s ample variety in terms of size and volume. The concentrate comes in 16, 32, 40, and 64-ounce bottles.
You can use it virtually anywhere you want the weed and grass completely gone. That also means it’s not great for gardens as it will completely eradicate all the vegetation.
The active ingredients of the Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer include diquat dibromide, fluazifop-p-butyl, dicamba, and dimethylene salt.
reasons to buy:
- Non-selective weed killer
- Available in different volumes
- Covers a wide area
- Very quick results
- Strong ingredients
reasons to avoid:
- Only for completely eliminating grass and weed
4. Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer
Green Gobble Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer is an organic alternative to potent chemical-based weed killers. It’s the best weed and grass killer if you want something natural.
You can use it in virtually any area with any kind of weed, including dandelions, white clover, moss, and crabgrass.
Since it’s made of vinegar, the main active ingredient is acetic acid, which makes about 20% of the composition.
That’s pretty higher than what you would find in the vinegar in your kitchen. This acid is pretty effective at killing weed and destroying it from the root without bringing much harm to the soil or other vegetation.
The solution works in a couple of hours, and you will see the weed gone in less than a day. Made from ethanol obtained from corn, this is a completely organic product, even OMRI listed.
This product does not require dilution, so you can use it right out of the bottle.
Since it does not use water, you will be using more of this solution. Therefore, it might not cover as much area as other chemical concentrates do.
However, the company makes this in large volume containers as well. The smallest is a one-gallon bottle, whereas the largest is a 275-gallon tote.
You also get a sprayer nozzle top to use directly with the bottle. As a result, it’s pretty easy to use as you do not have to pour the solution out in another bottle or container.
Much like other weed killers, this also works optimally in sunny conditions.
reasons to buy:
- Completely organic
- Effective on a variety of areas
- Quick results
- No harmful chemicals
- Ready to use
reasons to avoid:
- Does not last very long
5. RM43 Total Vegetation Control
RM43 Total Vegetation is a pre-emergent weed and grass killer, which targets the weed at its very root to kill it and prevent future growth. This incredibly potent concentrate can prevent weed for up to one year, giving you complete satisfaction and comfort round the year.
Again, this is a non-selective weed killer, so it will kill all types of vegetation that comes in its way. Therefore, it’s best for areas where you want no vegetation at all.
This could be fence foundations, gravel paths, driveways, parking lots, and areas around buildings or barns. And because of the effective ingredients, you would see visible results pretty quickly.
The main active ingredient is a solution of glyphosate and isopropylamine salt, which makes about 44% of the composition. This goes to show how strong the RM43 Total Vegetation Control really is.
One gallon of this concentrate can make five gallons of spray solution. The manufacturer claims this amount can cover 17,297 sq. ft.
This product also comes in a larger 2.5-gallon volume and smaller quarter gallon volume.
reasons to buy:
- Long-lasting effects
- Covers a large area
- Very powerful
- Non-selective
reasons to avoid:
- Very strong for vegetation
- A bit pricey
How to select the best weed and grass killer
Before getting into which weed killer is most suitable for your needs, it’s important to learn why you need one in the first place. You should also know what to look for in these products and what to avoid.
Selectivity
You will often see the term non-selective when shopping for weed killers. This basically indicates that the product in question would kill any kind of vegetation it is applied to.
As a result, this type of weed killer should be used when you want to completely remove vegetation from space, for instance, your driveway.
On the other hand, a selective weed killer might just target certain types of weed. Most chemical-based weed and grass killers are, to some extent, non-selective.
They will have an adverse effect on other vegetations. However, you can avoid this problem by carefully spraying on the weed directly.
If you have a weed problem in your flower or vegetable garden, make sure the weed killer is appropriate for that. Alternatively, you can go for something mild or natural to avoid killing your real plants in the process.
Composition
Even the most experienced lawn enthusiasts are not quite familiar with the chemicals that go into the weed killers. That makes selecting the right product a bit tricky.
The one ingredient you should know about is glyphosate, which is very common in weed and grass killers. Glyphosate is a phosphonate herbicide that actively kills the unwanted weed. It’s supposedly a strong chemical that’s also controversial.
Studies indicate that overexposure to this chemical can be harmful to your health. However, it continues to be used on farms and vegetations as it’s very effective and fast.
If you want to avoid any form of chemical for killing weed or grass, there are natural alternatives.
Acetic acid, found in vinegar, is a natural herbicide that can do a similar job to glyphosate. However, too much of that can also have negative environmental effects.
There are pros and cons to both chemicals and natural agents that kill the weed. So the best thing to do is use it in moderation and with care like wearing gloves and masks.
Time
Every product works differently, but some kill weed faster than the others. It’s usually the concentrates with higher saturation of active ingredients that can get the job done in a few hours.
The speed with which a herbicide kills weed may not be such an important factor if you’re just using it at home.
You can wait a day or two for the weed to die. However, if you need an area clean in hours, you should go for a strong concentrate.
There are other factors at play, too, when it comes to seeing visible results of weed and grass dying. The growth stage of the weed, the weather conditions, and of course, the weed killer itself determine how long it takes for the weed to die.
Coverage
Coverage shows you how much of a concentrate you need for a particular area. Most weed killers need to be diluted with water, so a small quantity would make for gallons of spray solution.
Nevertheless, make sure you follow the correct measurements. You do not want to have too little or too much of the weed killer.
You’ll need a spray hose to spray the solution properly on the grass and weed, especially in a lawn or garden where you have to be extra careful. If you’re new at this, here’s a video for you to learn how to spray weed killer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What time is the best for spraying weed killer?
You can improve the effectiveness of the weed killer by spraying it at the time of the day that’s most optimal.
For weed killers, that’s usually when it’s sunny and warm. You should spray the weed killer in the early morning or late afternoon when it’s sunny but not too hot.
If you’re doing that in the winters, you should do it in the early afternoon when it’s supposedly the warmest time of the day. Avoid spraying weed and grass killer when it’s drizzling or raining as the rain would wash away the solution.
Q. Are weed killers safe for pets?
You should refrain from allowing your pets on the grass or any area where you’ve just sprayed a weed and grass killer. These concentrates contain chemicals that might not be suitable for your pet. You should keep the pets away until the spray has dried.
The time it takes for the weed killer to dry varies. You can find this information on the label of the product you’re using.
Keep a backup area where your pet can relieve themself and play.
Q. Can I use a weed killer on the flower bed?
Flowers and plants, in general, are susceptible to withering if they come in contact with a weed killer. This usually applies to chemical weed killers, especially glyphosate, which can travel from the stem to the roots.
If you must spray a weed killer on your flower bed, you should go for a product with a very small amount of glyphosate or perhaps a natural alternative. You can also spray before fall when the flowers might die eventually.
Wrap Up
The Roundup Extended Control Concentrate is the best weed and grass killer on account of its efficiency and coverage. While it’s a strong concentrate, the amount of glyphosate is still low compared to other such concentrates like Compare N Save concentrate.
Just a little bit of this weed killer would go a long way in giving you a weed-free aesthetic for a long time. You do not have to repeat the process at least for a few months.