A good weed killer can beautify your yard and make your landscaping chores much easier and more enjoyable. But getting the wrong one can be a major headache. You need the weed killer that will work for you and your property. We analyzed all of the most popular products and researched hundreds of customer reviews to find the ones that work.
Then we reviewed them with descriptions so we can give you the recommended weed killer for your particular needs and situation. There’s a good one for everyone somewhere on our list.
We have natural products that have ingredients you may find in your kitchen pantry, organic-approved herbicides, and incredibly strong weed and grass killers that will turn any plant it touches into a brown and crispy mess within hours.
Best Weed Killers:
1. Southern Ag Surfactant for Herbicides Non-Ionic
This isn’t a weed killer in and of itself. It’s an additive that will make most herbicides more effective. You can use it to give your weed killer more potency, or you can use it so you don’t have to apply so much weed killer at once. You’ll save money that way.
So, what is this stuff? It’s a wetting agent. It breaks the surface tension of liquids. Have you ever noticed your weed killer sitting on weeds’ leaves after you spray? That’s caused by surface tension. You want those droplets to run all over the leaves. That’s what this product does.
All it takes is one teaspoon per gallon of herbicide. Some weed killers, like Roundup, need a tablespoon.
Once you mix it with your herbicide, you just apply it like you normally do.
Does it work? Yes, it does! Adding this can turn your average weed killer into the weed and grass killer on the market.
People who use this for the first time are usually surprised that it works so well. Many of them used to use dish detergent to make their herbicides more effective, and they didn’t think anything else could work as well as that. But they soon learned that this is a much better wetting agent and gives superior results.
This is a great additive that can make your herbicide work much better. You can also use it to stretch your weed killer by having to use less. Even a top-rated weed killer can benefit from a bit of this stuff mixed into it.
Pros
- Works better than detergents
- Can be used with almost all herbicides
Cons
- Rather expensive
2. Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer
We think this is the ready-to-use weed and grass-killer spray for people who want to go the natural route. Its active ingredient is vinegar!
It works by drying the leaves of the weed. You’ll see it start to work within 24 hours.
The bad thing is how it rinses off so easily. It’s also easily diluted. So you have to apply it when the weeds are very dry and there is no chance of rain for at least a day.
The manufacturer recommends adding a surfactant for the best results. Dish detergent or orange oil will work, but we recommend the Southern Ag additive that we reviewed above.
A trigger sprayer is included, which is great because you have to be careful not to spray anything you don’t want to die.
It is very effective on broadleaf weeds, as long as it doesn’t get diluted or washed off. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you aren’t risking much if you want to try to kill weeds and grass the organic way.
Those who like to take care of their lawns and gardens organically love this product. They like that they can see fast results without harsh and potentially harmful chemicals.
Pet owners like it too. They don’t have to worry about keeping their animals away from the treated area.
Here’s the weed and grass killer spray for anyone who wants a natural herbicide that won’t harm children or animals.
It’s non-selective, so you have to be careful with overspray.
Pros
- Organic
- Safe for kids and pets
Cons
- Washes off easily in rain
3. Gordon’s SpeedZone Lawn Weed Killer
We recommend this as the weed killer for large areas. It is a lawn weed killer. Most grasses won’t be harmed by it, but they can be burned if you treat them with this when the weather is too hot. It’s best to treat your lawn with this in the spring when it is cool and weeds are just starting to pop up.
It works very well for almost all types of weeds, even big ones that have been growing for a while. It’ll even take out woody weeds.
Customers talk about how quickly they see results. Some have said that by the time they finished spraying, the part of their lawn they started with already had some dead weeds in it!
A few have remarked that this herbicide has worked where others have failed. That is a testament to its effectiveness.
This is the great lawn weed killer concentrate. A little goes a long way. It’ll take care of even established weeds. Just be careful and read the directions, especially where it warns about using in hot temperatures.
Pros
- Works fast
- Very effective
- Kills fully grown weeds
Cons
- May burn grass when applied in hot weather
4. Round Up Pro Concentrate 50.2% Glyphosate 2.5 Gallon Jug Systemic Herbicide
Be careful: This is not a selective weed killer concentrate. This will kill almost any plant it touches. And it’s good at it! That’s what Round-Up is famous for.
Use it in your garden to kill weeds, but protect your desirable plants. You can keep fencelines and underneath decks clear of weeds with regular applications.
Make sure you read the label and use adequate protection. We recommend a mask, long pants, goggles, and gloves that cover anything your shirt sleeves don’t. There have been reports of people breaking out in rashes and hives after getting too much of this stuff on their skin.
Round-Up is a household name. But it is kind of fun to see what people who have never used it before say. They are truly amazed by its effectiveness.
One customer commented that he uses it to control vegetation growth along almost two miles of fenceline. It saves him many hours of weed-eating every week.
This is the garden weed killer, but you have to be careful to protect your good plants from overspray. They will die if they get some of this on them.
It’s also great for controlling growth of all types outside of the garden. Just be sure to use proper protection for safety.
Pros
- From a well-known and trusted company
- Very effective on all types of vegetation
Cons
- Can be very toxic
5. Compare-N-Save 75324 Herbicide
What a great price!
This herbicide has the same active ingredient as Round-Up, but it has a lower concentration. That doesn’t necessarily make it less effective. You may have to use a little extra, but you’ll probably still come out ahead on cost.
You’ll see results in about two to four days anywhere you spray it. And we mean anywhere. It’s non-selective; It’ll kill anything it touches.
The really good thing, besides the price, is that it’s rain-proof for about two hours.
Some people have complained that it takes too long for this to work. It could be that they didn’t mix it correctly. Its active ingredient is glyphosate, and that takes a few days to work.
Everyone is happy with the results, though. They like how it kills even the toughest weeds.
We think this is an inexpensive weed killer. It works almost as well as Round-Up, although it does take a day or two longer. But when you compare the price to any other weed killer, you may decide that the extra day you have to wait to see results isn’t that bad!
Pros
- Highly effective
- Very affordable
- Rain-proof quickly
- Great coverage area
Cons
- Takes a bit longer to work than similar products
- Can be dangerous if used carelessly
6. Roundup Concentrate Max Control 365 Vegetation Killer
Are you willing to spend extra money on a very effective non-selective weed killer if it prevents the weeds from coming back until the following year?
This herbicide has all the killing power of RoundUp, and it acts as a chemical barrier in the soil to prevent the germination of weed seeds.
It comes in a jug with an adjustable sprayer. You can use it as a point sprayer for precise application, or a high or low-volume fan sprayer.
It is fully rain-proof in about 30 minutes. And you can see the first signs of wilting in about 12 hours. That’s even better than regular RoundUp!
Keep in mind that this is a glyphosphate herbicide, so it will kill any plants that get a dose of it.
Some have complained that the wand stopped working, usually by getting clogged, after a couple of uses. But others have said that they are still using the wand after over a year.
As far as the product goes, it has all the effectiveness you’d expect from RoundUp. Reports are that it does work in less than one day.
This is the weed killer and prevention. It works quickly, is rain-proof in less than an hour, and prevents regrowth for up to a year.
Pros
- Fast acting
- Quickly becomes rain-proof
- Comes with an adjustable sprayer wand
Cons
- Although very effective, it is somewhat expensive for what it is
7. Ortho Nutsedge Killer for Lawns Ready-To-Spray
Do weeds pop up in your lawn seemingly all spring and summer lawn? That means you need to apply herbicide pretty frequently anyway, so why not save some money?
This is a good weed-killer spray for large areas. The bottle says it will cover over 3,500 square feet, but many people who use it say it will do up to 6,000!
It lists well over 50 broadleaf weed varieties as victims, but it’s safe for almost all lawn grasses. You can reseed or overseed just four weeks after treatment.
This particular Ortho weed killer is top for treating moderate weed problems over a large area of lawn. Think of it as a whole-lawn weed killer. If you have only a few weeds popping up here and there, you may want to get a more concentrated Ortho lawn weed killer.
There are a ton of great reviews about this weed killer! Many people rave about how it kills even the toughest weeds in their lawns.
If you want an economical way to control most kinds of weeds, but don’t mind having to repeat applications throughout the growing season, this may be a good choice for you.
Pros
- Effective
- Kills a wide variety of broadleafs
- Nice coverage for the money
Cons
- May require a few applications for complete control of some types of weeds
8. Southern Ag Amine 2,4-D WEED KILLER
Ranchers love this one. They often have to treat dozens or even hundreds of acres of pasture to get rid of weeds and improve the quality of the forage for their livestock. This saves them a lot of money.
You’ll like it for the cash you’ll save as well. You use about two tablespoons per three gallons of water for a effective mix. A quarter-acre lawn would take about a pint of this concentrate at the most. Apply with a fan-type sprayer, and mix in some surfactant for best results in a big area.
It takes about two weeks to work, but it works well on most broadleaf weeds. Be sure to check and make sure your type of grass is listed as safe because this will kill some types.
Even farmers and ranchers, who have to treat large areas of grassland at a time, are impressed with the coverage they get. Suburban homeowners are especially impressed with the savings they see because they have to use so little.
Just about everyone is happy with the results, although some people are impatient if they are used to quicker herbicides.
Here you have a fantastic selective grass weed killer for large areas. It takes a while to work, but you’ll end up saving a ton of money if you can be patient.
Pros
- Great coverage
- Selective
- Economical
Cons
- Takes a couple of weeks to work
9. Preen 2464083 Garden Weed Preventer
How can a product that doesn’t kill weeds be considered the most powerful weed killer on the market? Well, I guess you can make that claim when it keeps weeds from germinating in the first place!
Preventing weeds is the way to go. Of course, you’d have to pull or use an herbicide to kill existing weeds before using this, but you won’t have to worry about them coming back into your garden or landscaping. Sorry, this isn’t for use on lawns. It won’t necessarily kill your grass, but it isn’t very effective when used like that.
Once you apply it, it becomes effective shortly after the first rain. It keeps on preventing weeds from germinating for about three months. You’ll probably only have to use it twice per year in most areas.
Gardeners are really happy with how easy it is to apply. They like that they don’t have to mess with sprayers and wands and that they don’t have to worry about overspray.
Most everyone who uses it once says they will buy it again.
Preventing weeds is so much easier than trying to fight them. That’s why a good weed preventer like this one can be such a great investment for the avid gardener.
Pros
- Great at preventing weeds
- Pretty good coverage area
Cons
- Doesn’t kill weeds
10. RM43 43-Percent Glyphosate Plus Weed Preventer Total Vegetation Control
What’s better than a strong glyphosphate weed killer? How about a glyphosphate weed killer that has an extra herbicide, a surfactant, and a weed preventer? All that in the same jug!
This will treat over 4,000 square feet. You, your kids, and your pets can enter the area treated as soon as it’s dry, and it’ll be rainfast in about two hours.
It will take about a week before you start to see the weeds dying off, but they will all die and they won’t come back for around a year or so.
Users talk about how they can completely wipe out all of the vegetation in a given area. They say that it turns even the largest and brushiest growth brown and crispy.
Many people use this to keep lots and fencerows clear. One even told a story about how he sprayed his entire lawn to kill it. He then tilled the ground up that fall and laid sod the following spring. He had a beautiful lawn by that summer!
Even though it takes about a week to start killing after application, this is the fast weed killer because it is very efficient and prevents weeds from coming back.
Pros
- Very effective
- Prevents regrowth for about a year
- Contains a surfactant for added efficiency
- Rainfast within a couple of hours
Cons
- Takes about a week or more to begin working
11. Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer With Extended Control Concentrate
Is four better than one? Spectracide thinks so. This weed killer is a combination of four unique weed killers. It starts to kill usually in about three hours.
It also keeps the weeds and grass from coming back. It can keep them away for an entire season. You can spray in the spring, when the weeds first start to emerge, and not have to reapply until the middle of summer.
Here’s something you don’t see in many other weed and grass killers: It’s rain-proof in about 15 minutes. You can spot-treat problem areas in your garden and water them less than half an hour later!
Most reviewers say that it works well and it works fast. There are very few people who say they would try something else next time they need a herbicide. It is so impressive that almost everyone comments they will buy more when they run out.
If you need a good quality weed killer that works fast, can be applied right before it rains, and prevents regrowth for most of the rest of the growing season, you should consider this awesome herbicide.
Pros
- Takes effect quickly
- Rainfast in less than half an hour
- Prevents weeds for half a year
Cons
- Truly nauseating odor
12. Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer
Now, this is interesting. Regular strength cooking vinegar, soap, and water from the ocean combine to make one awesome weed killer. It works the same way other vinegar-based weed and grass killers work, by drying the weed out much faster than it can replenish its moisture.
It kills fast, often within a few hours, but it doesn’t keep the weeds from coming back. You’ll have to keep reapplying to keep them away. But you’ll be maintaining a safer environment for your family and keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment.
This is a non-selective killer. It will kill your garden plants and grass just as quickly as it will get rid of weeds. Protect from overspray.
People who prefer a natural approach to weed control love this herbicide. Even those who don’t particularly care about being organic like the results.
The only people who find it lacking are those who want weed prevention or rain fastness.
This herbicide may surprise you. It’s made from regular household items and seawater, but it works!
We believe it’s a fast-acting weed killer for anyone who wants a safer alternative to poisonous herbicides.
Pros
- Much safer than chemical herbicides
- Safe around kids and animals
- Quick-acting
Cons
- Non-selective
13. Hi-Yield (33693) Super Concentrate Killzall Weed & Grass Killer
A glyphosphate content of 41 percent isn’t exactly remarkable among chemical herbicides. It’s the other side of the equation that makes this one special.
It has two different surfactants. That makes it very efficient at killing weeds and grass. The glyphosphate enters the leaves quickly, then it gets to work destroying the plant from the inside out.
It does take a bit, though. It could take up to three weeks to kill the weed. But it definitely will kill anything it’s applied to.
Of course, it is non-selective. You’ll want to be careful when treating areas of your garden or lawn. But as far as effectiveness goes, it would be tough to beat this one!
Those who’ve used it say that it lives up to its name. It kills all. A few have remarked that it takes a while to work, but no one complained about it. It still worked for them, even though it took a week or three, so they were happy with the results on even the hardiest weeds and grasses.
If you’re in the market for a really good weed killer, this may be the one for you. It will kill everything that it touches, even though it may take a few weeks.
Pros
- Incredible surfactant activity
- Very effective
- Economical
Cons
- Takes up to three weeks to show results
14. Preen 2464161 Extended Control Weed Preventer
The herbicides for weeds usually contain some kind of germination inhibitor to prevent reinfestation. Well, sometimes you don’t have a bunch of weeds to kill, but you don’t want them to get a foothold around your shrubs and other landscaping features.
That’s where this cool product comes in. You just pull or kill all of the existing weeds and grass in the area you want to treat and shake some of these granules over the area, up to 800 square feet for this nearly five-pound jug. Then water to activate. That’s it!
You’ll stay weed-free for about six months.
A bunch of people have remarked on how easy it is to use this weed preventer. They also like how long it lasts. Many reviews mention how nice it is to only have to worry about applications twice per year.
If you currently use a weed preventer, or you have been thinking about using one, consider this. You’ll only have to apply it twice per year to control and stop weeds from sprouting in your landscaping. And it’s really easy to use!
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Super easy to use
- Safe for use around over 600 kinds of plants
Cons
- Can’t be used in food gardens
Tips For Choosing
Here are some notions you should keep in mind to ensure you get the kind of weed killer you need.
How Big Of An Area Do You Need To Treat?
If you just have some grass and plantains that pop up in your driveway or under your deck from time to time, you can likely get away with buying a small 32 oz. ready-to-use bottle of weed killer with an attached sprayer, like a Windex bottle.
If you have to clear large areas, like lots or long fencelines, you may want to get the strongest weed killer to concentrate you can find. Concentrates save you money because you’re not paying for the shipping costs of a bunch of water.
Anything in between these two scenarios requires a bit of thought. It’s a good idea to buy all of the weed killers you’ll need to last you for an entire year.
Are You Treating Your Lawn?
If so, you should check the label or description very carefully. Make sure that the herbicide will kill the types of weeds you want to kill, and be sure that it’s safe for your kind of grass!
Will You Be Planting In The Area Any Time Soon?
If you’re clearing an area that you want to remain bare for as long as possible like along a fence or foundation, get something with a germination inhibitor added to it. These products are advertised as preventing weeds.
But if you plan on seeding the area with grass or flower seeds within the following year or so, make sure the product doesn’t claim to prevent regrowth.
Use In Vegetable Gardens
If you want to use an herbicide to keep your veggie patch free of weeds, you have to be careful to choose a non-toxic product. Furthermore, you can consider battery-operated weed eaters to keep your garden in the best conditions.
Being safe doesn’t mean you can’t have a really good weed killer. We reviewed a couple of vinegar-based ones above. They work great, even though they aren’t rainfast.
Factors To Consider
Keep these things in mind to get the most out of the weed killer you get.
Remember Many Herbicides Are Toxic
You have to protect yourself with the right gear and common sense.
The number one weed killer in the world, glyphosphate, can be poisonous to people and animals. It can’t be allowed to get into your body by any route. Use gloves and clothing to keep it off your skin, goggles to prevent it from entering through your eyes, and a mask to be sure you don’t inhale any spray droplets.
Some natural herbicides, like vinegar and surfactant combos, require just minimal protection. You probably won’t want to get it in your eyes, even though it won’t cause any permanent damage.
Watch Out For Runoff
Do you have a pond or stream on your property? Contaminated water can retain its toxicity for hundreds of miles and harm or kill aquatic life far away. It is illegal in some places to use certain weed killers near bodies of water.
Check Local Laws
Some weed and grass killers that were once common and used widely are now banned. Some are legal in some places, but not in others. The label or description of weed killers will tell you if it is legal in your state or province, but you should always double-check to make sure it is legal in your local area before buying.
Be Aware Of Germination Inhibitors
Some herbicides, including the most effective grass and weed killers, contain germination inhibitors to prevent new weeds from sprouting from seed. That’s great, but they will prevent all seeds from germinating, even the ones you want to grow.
Weed preventers can keep seeds from sprouting for anywhere from six months to about a year. Check the labels carefully!
Conclusion
Now you know that the most effective weed killer for you may not be what’s best for your neighbor. There are so many different kinds and brands available. But that’s a good thing: More variety means a better chance of finding that perfect product that will make your chores easier and less time-consuming.
The time to order is now, while it’s fresh on your mind. If you still aren’t quite sure what you need, go ahead and read the tips and factors to consider again. Then browse the reviews.
