The Best Weed Killers
Whether they crop up on your lawn, in a flower bed, in gravel areas, or between cracks in paved pathways, weeds are the gardener’s age-old enemy. They make the yard and walkway look unkempt, and they compete with desirable plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Some weed species can even spread to the point of disrupting natural habitats. Weed killers can suppress the invaders and keep them from overrunning the lawn, garden, and landscape.
But banishing weeds needn’t harm the environment. Generations of chemical researchers have developed numerous powerful herbicides for home use that are highly effective, relatively cheap, and easy to apply. When used sparingly and as directed, these products can help eliminate the toughest weed problems while minimizing risk to adjacent desirable plants. Unfortunately, frequent use and improper application of chemical herbicides leads to water pollution, acute and chronic health problems, collateral damage to desirable plants, and other negative effects.
Natural and organic weed killers make the best choice for everyday lawn, garden, and landscape maintenance because the active ingredients are far less risky to human health, waterways, and wildlife. We tested the following products, and they proved to be highly effective. Along with insight on weed killers, this guide offers our top recommendations backed by our test results of these products and the reasons why we consider these some of the best weed-killer options available.
- BEST OVERALL: Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Calyptus 45% Pure Concentrated Vinegar
- BEST FOR LAWN WEEDS: Sunday Weed Warrior Herbicide
- BEST FOR DANDELIONS: Sunday Dandelion Doom Herbicide
- BEST FOR GRAVEL AREAS: Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadweed Brew Concentrate
- BEST PRE-EMERGENT: Woodstream Concern Weed Prevention Plus
Before You Buy Weed Killer
Weed killer is an easy, one-step option for removing wild, unwanted grasses, but some of these products may not provide the results required by certain users. Some weed killers have the capability of killing all plant types, making them hard to use in close-quarter gardens, vegetable gardens, or grassy areas.
Bob Vila always recommends the traditional hands-on approach, pulling pesky weeds by hand or using a weeder to ensure that the only plants affected are the ones users want gone. Later in this article, we offer a DIY alternative to store-bought weed killers.
How We Tested the Best Weed Killers
Retailers offer a broad selection of chemical, natural, and organic weed killers, but many herbicides are linked to such unintended consequences as toxicity to nontargeted plants and animals, water pollution, and human health risks. We recommend avoiding applications of most synthetic chemicals during routine maintenance—after researching 43 popular lawn and garden herbicides, we selected and tested seven low-toxicity weed killers. We were confident that they would prove to be highly effective when used as directed and safer for regular use based on their human and environmental impacts.
We timed the application of weed killers to avoid inclement weather and tested each on a minimum of 100 square feet, according to the instructions on the labels. All liquid products were applied using a backpack sprayer, or the applicator included with the product when provided, with the spray nozzle adjusted to a coarse pattern to avoid spray drift. We inspected application areas 2, 4, 8, 18, and 24 hours after spraying and noted the patterns of dieback. Then we waited 7 days and began inspecting daily for signs of regrowth.
With each of the weed killers we tested, dieback occurred within 3 days or less of the initial treatment, with no signs of regrowth for 2 weeks or more. When regrowth of perennial or woody-stemmed weeds did occur, it was significantly diminished compared to the pretreatment appearance. Secondary applications of the same products on regrowth in each area led to similar dieback patterns along with even slower, less vigorous regrowth.
Our Top Picks
We tested a variety of highly effective weed killers with low environmental toxicity that are safe for regular yard and garden maintenance. Not all weed killers are the same. For that reason, our lineup includes both pre- and post-emergent options to stop annual pesky weeds from sprouting and to knock out tough perennial grasses throughout the landscape. Here’s how our choices performed in our tests, and why we think they are some of the best weed killers around.
Best Overall
Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Product Specs
- Type: Contact
- Formula: Liquid, ready to spray
- Active ingredient: Vinegar
What We Like
- No mixing required; weed and grass killer is ready right out of the box
- Handy trigger-spray bottle is easy to use; targets only undesirable weeds
- Compact and lightweight; can be used for long periods without causing fatigue
- Fast-acting ingredients kill weeds within hours of initial spray-on contact
What We Don’t Like
- Frequent applications on concrete may cause etching, fading, or other marks
- Fine spray mist easily becomes airborne; may reach some desirable plants
Green Gobbler makes grab-and-go weed control easy with no mixing required. This quart-size trigger-spray bottle is ready to use with 20 percent vinegar and water solution. Just twist the on/spray switch and target grassy and broadleaf weeds.
We tested Green Gobbler vinegar grass and weed killer at the edges of landscape beds where creeping grasses had begun to encroach and among veggie plants within raised garden beds, and it worked within hours. The Green Gobbler’s compact package and ready-to-spray bottle were convenient, but to avoid damage from overspray, we had to hold the trigger sprayer within about 12 inches of targeted weeds, which increased stooping and bending compared to tank sprayers with long spray wands. The fine mist of this weed and grass killer coated weed foliage well but with more spray mist drift than our coarse spray wand emitted. We also had to exit the area at intervals due to the overwhelming smell.
Get the Green Gobbler weed and grass killer at Amazon (2-pack), The Home Depot, or Green Gobbler.
Best Bang for the Buck
Calyptus 45% Pure Concentrated Vinegar
Product Specs
- Type: Contact
- Formula: Liquid, concentrate
- Active ingredient: Vinegar
What We Like
- Clean ingredients only; contains only acetic acid (vinegar) and distilled water
- 45 percent weed-killer concentrate makes up to 9 gallons of weed killer
- Fast-acting formula; weeds die within a few hours of application
- Can be used for household cleaning as well as a weed killer
What We Don’t Like
- Frequent applications on concrete cause etching, fading, and other marks
- Intense vinegar smell may become overpowering; may not be suitable near porches or open windows
- May require additional personal protective equipment while mixing and spraying
Banishing weeds needn’t negatively impact the environment or the pocketbook thanks to this Calyptus product. To use this cost-effective biodegradable product to defoliate and kill weeds quickly, dilute one part of this pure, highly concentrated vinegar with up to eight parts water and apply with a sprayer. The high acid content erodes leaf cells and dries out foliage within 2 to 24 hours. This weed killer is best used in mulched beds and other planted areas but is not ideal for patios, sidewalks, or driveways. Repeated contact with concrete, natural stone, mortar, and some other hardscape surfaces may cause etching.
We were extremely careful when diluting this concentrated Calyptus vinegar and recommend that all users follow suit, working outdoors for better ventilation and wearing goggles and rubber gloves to protect against eye and skin irritation. We also double-checked to ensure all of the sprayer’s interior parts were made of plastic, since this acid could damage rubber and metal. We adjusted the sprayer nozzle to a coarse pattern and applied the weed killer on herbaceous weeds in garden pathways and vacant garden beds. All of the smallest weeds died within a few hours. Established, undesirable Bermuda grass runners browned out in 5 to 6 hours, but where the grass was the thickest, only the exterior portions turned brown.
This weed killer smelled so intensely of vinegar that we had to walk away from the area during treatment several times. The strong odor remained in the yard for about 24 hours. Calyptus killed more weeds for less money than the other weed killers we tested.
Get the Calyptus weed killer at Amazon.
Best for Lawn Weeds
Sunday Weed Warrior Herbicide
Product Specs
- Type: Contact
- Formula: Liquid, ready to spray
- Active ingredient: Ammoniated soap of fatty acids
What We Like
- Noncorrosive soap-based formula dehydrates plants like weeds, grass, and moss
- Convenient, built-in sprayer makes application of this weed killer easy
- Fast-acting formula kills weeds, grasses, and other undesired vegetation on contact
- Reliable ingredient list; more effective on grassy weeds than vinegar
What We Don’t Like
- Nonselective formula may kill desirable plants in gardens and flower beds as well as weeds
This gallon-size Sunday Weed Warrior is premixed and comes with its own battery-powered spray pump/wand. Its ammoniated soap formula adheres well to leaf surfaces and begins killing weeds and grass on contact. As a nonselective weed killer, it’s intended for targeted spot treatment only—overspray will damage or kill lawn grass. To use, give the jug a good shake, install the sprayer adapter into the cap, and start spraying.
We tested Sunday Weed Warrior on crabgrass, clover, plantain, and wild violet in several lawn areas as well as on crack weeds on the driveway and sidewalk. It worked faster than vinegar-based products, with noticeable dieback in less than 2 hours and thorough brownout in about 18 hours. This weed killer for lawns also penetrated and killed Bermuda grass shoots more thoroughly than the vinegar products: Near total dieback occurred after one application, whereas vinegar killed off only the surface leaves and left green blades beneath.
The battery-operated sprayer was easy to use and worked well, extracting almost every drop of liquid from the jug. Plus, a concentrated refill container is available to order directly from the manufacturer. Sunday Weed Warrior was an excellent all-around weed killer for lawns, as long as users take precautions to protect against overspray.
Get the Sunday Weed Warrior weed killer at Lowe’s, Target (32-ounce spot treatment), or Sunday (32-ounce spot treatment, 2-pack).
Best for Dandelions
Sunday Dandelion Doom Herbicide
Product Specs
- Type: Contact
- Formula: Liquid, ready to spray
- Active ingredient: Iron HEDTA
What We Like
- Selectively (and conveniently) kills broadleaf weeds within a few hours
- Safe for use on lawn grass without causing patches or brownness
- Convenient, built-in sprayer head attachment makes application of this dandelion killer easy
- Runoff will not harm adjacent plant roots; safe to use around desirable plants
What We Don’t Like
- Not a fast-acting formula; may take a few days to see results
- Should be applied 3 hours before rainfall; may not suit homes in very wet areas
- Effectiveness depends on weather and weed maturity; may not suit some users’ preferences
Selective herbicides that are safe for lawns and derived from natural ingredients are rare, but Sunday Dandelion Doom fits the bill. The active ingredient, iron HEDTA, is bad news for broadleaf weeds but safe to use on grass. This 1-gallon package is ready to spray and comes with its own battery-powered sprayer attachment. Shake well, plug in the spray adapter, and spot spray dandelions, clover, thistle, and other weeds without damaging the lawn.
We tested Dandelion Doom in an out-of-the-way lawn area that was moderately infested with clover, dandelion, wild violet, crabgrass, and a few other weeds. After marking a small test plot, we sprayed the weeds individually, without being especially careful about overspray. After 24 hours, we noticed discoloration of the dandelion, clover, and violets. After the third day, most of the broadleaf weeds appeared dead.
Unlike other weed killers that cause weeds to dry out and turn brown, this product made the leaves turn black. The lawn grass and crabgrass appeared unaffected. Because of our curiosity about iron staining, we also sprayed a few weeds in cracks on the concrete driveway. The weeds died there in about 2 days, but the concrete did not stain. Sunday Dandelion Doom is an excellent choice to keep broadleaf weeds out of lawn areas.
Get the Sunday Dandelion Doom weed killer at Lowe’s,Target (32-ounce spot treatment), or Sunday (32-ounce spot treatment, 2-pack).
Best for Gravel Areas
Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadweed Brew Concentrate
Product Specs
- Type: Contact
- Formula: Liquid, concentrate
- Active ingredient: Capric acid and caprylic acid
What We Like
- Safe weed killer; plant-derived active ingredients are suitable for homes with children and pets
- Provides fast-acting control of weeds, grass, mosses, and algae within hours
- Concentrate makes up to 32 gallons of weed killer; suitable for large lawns and gardens
- Gentle enough to be used with sprayers; noncorrosive to metal sprayer parts
What We Don’t Like
- Requires mixing with water before use; may not be ideal for some users’ preferences
The active ingredient capric acid, a saturated fat that comes from coconut and palm kernel oils, kills broadleaf and grassy weeds by drying out the foliage. It makes Captain Jack’s Deadweed Brew an effective desiccant for gravel areas prone to weeds. The concentrate comes in a quart-size package with a dedicated measuring cup. Mix it with water to make up to 8 gallons of spray-on contact weed killer.
We tested Deadweed Brew on a secondary gravel driveway that was essentially two graveled tire tracks with a ridge of green weeds down the middle. Because of the tall, dense weed cover, we prepared the site by first mowing it down with a string trimmer and removing the clippings. Then we waited 3 days for some foliage regrowth to occur before broadcasting the spray over the entire weed zone with a backpack sprayer, having set the nozzle on a coarse spray pattern.
Within 4 hours after the midmorning spray application, the weed zone had turned a pale greenish brown. By the next morning, all the weeds were completely brown. We appreciated that this concentrate was odor-free, even at full strength. Captain Jack’s concentrate kills lots of weeds over large areas without noxious odors.
Get the Bonide weed killer at Amazon,