How to Choose the Right Weed Killer For The Job

Picking the right herbicide can be tricky, as there are so many different types. Here we hope to shine some light on this and help clear some things up. We will discuss the differences between selective and non-selective herbicides. We will discuss the differences between soil sterilants and weed killers as well.

Selective Herbicides

Selective herbicides are used on our lawns to kill weeds but not the grass. These weed killers are absorbed through the leaves themselves, therefore are to be applied to an uncut lawn. If you have cut the lawn then you need to wait a week or so for the weeds to grow back. You will need to put down these herbicides when low temperatures are consistently above 50° and high temperatures are below 85°. Many herbicides say rainproof in 3 to 12 hours but allowing it to sit 24 to 48 hours without being watered or rained in is ideal.

Weed B Gon

• Kills 250+ broadleaf weeds and crabgrass
• Ideal for northern and southern lawns
• Not for use on bent grass, St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, centipede grass or carpet grass.

Weed Stop

• Kills 250+ broadleaf weeds and crabgrass
• Ideal for northern and southern lawns
• Not for use on bent grass, St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, centipede grass or carpet grass.

Bayer Season Long

• Kills 200 broadleaf weeds and prevents new weeds for up to 6 months
• Ideal for northern and southern lawns
• Not for use on bent grass, St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, centipede grass or carpet grass.
• Do not use if you plan to overseed within 4 months after application

Roundup for Lawns

• Kills 253 different types of weeds including Yellow Nutsedge and Crabgrass.
• Ideal for Northern cool season grasses
• Ideal for Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Rye and Zoysia
• Can discolor Bermuda grass temporarily
• Not for use on Centipede or St, Augustine

Image

• Used to kill wild onion, nutsedge, Poa annua and Fescue out of warm season grasses.
• Do not use on northern cool season grasses
• Ideal for Bermuda, Centipede, Buffalograss, St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses

Image with Atrazine

• Ideal for Centipede and St. Augustine where other herbicides are not
• Kills hard to kill weeds like dollar-weed and Poa annua

Granular weed and feeds

Granular weed and feeds need to be put down on a wet yard. Early morning while there is still dew on the ground, as weed and feed sticks to a wet weed better than a dry one. Again, do not cut the grass before applying. Watch the forecast, as we do not want it to rain for 48 hours. You can water it in after 48 hours and cut the grass. Weed and feeds will kill over 200 broadleaf weeds but it does not kill crabgrass. 

Scotts Bonus S weed and feed

• Ideal for use on centipede, St Augustine (including Floratam) Zoysia and Carpet grass
• Contains Atrazine
• Kills Dollar-weed, Clover and other hard to kill weeds

• Do not use on Bermuda Grass

Granular Weed Stop + Crabgrass Preventer

• Kills over 200 broadleaf weeds and prevents crabgrass

• Ideal for northern and southern lawns
• Not for use on bent grass, St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, centipede grass or carpet grass.

• Prevents weeds for up to 5 months

Non-selective Herbicides

Non-selective herbicides are designed to kill anything it is sprayed on. These are labled as grass and weed killers, brush killers and soil sterilants.

Grass and Weed Killer

Round-up 

• Kills typical grass and weeds found around lawn
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer
• Use around shrubs, trees, flower beds, patios, sidewalks, driveways and fence lines

Round-up Extended Control

• Kills typical grass and weeds found around lawn and prevents new weeds for up to 4 months
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer
• Use around shrubs, trees, flower beds, patios, sidewalks, driveways, gravel areas and fence lines

• If you accidentally spray a desirable plant then rinse with water immediately

HDX Grass and Weed Killer

• Kills typical grass and weeds found around lawn
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer
• Use around shrubs, trees, flower beds, patios, sidewalks, driveways and fence lines

• If you accidentally spray a desirable plant then rinse with water immediately

• Kills typical grass and weeds found around lawn
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer
• Use around shrubs, trees, flower beds, patios, sidewalks, driveways and fence lines

• If you accidentally spray a desirable plant then rinse with water immediately

Brush Killers

Poison Ivy Tough Brush Killer

• Kills everything including hard to kill weeds like Poison ivy, Blackberries and Kudzu
• Kills woody plants including stumps and vines
• Rainproof in 2 hours
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer

Round-up Brush Killer

• Kills everything including hard to kill weeds like Poison ivy, Blackberries and Kudzu
• Kills woody plants including stumps and vines
• Rainproof in 30 minutes
• Typically applied with a tank sprayer
• Can be used as a stump killer when applied straight concentrate to a fresh cut stump

Bayer Advanced Brush Killer

• Kills everything including hard to kill weeds like Poison ivy, Blackberries and Kudzu
• Kills woody plants including stumps and vines
• Rainproof in 1 hours
• Hose end sprayer ideal for larger areas

Soil Sterilants

Soil sterilants are different than other grass and weed killers, as they are not absorbed through the leaf of the plant that they are killing. They bind to the soil to make the soil ungrowable for up to a year. Because it essentially contaminates the soil, do not put it under the canopy or drip line of desirable trees and plants.

Round-up 365

• Binds to soil to kill and prevent weeds
• Apply where there are existing weeds and areas where weeds are prone
• Ideal for use on driveways, sidewalks, patios, gravel paths and fence lines
• Be careful on hills, as chemicals can leach where you don't want it

Ortho Groundclear 

• Binds to soil to kill and prevent weeds
• Apply where there are existing weeds and areas where weeds are prone
• Ideal for use on driveways, sidewalks, patios, gravel paths and fence lines
• Be careful on hills, as chemicals can leach where you don't want it

Related Articles:

Lawn Weed Photo Library

Bugs and Insects of the Vegetable Garden

Vigoro Lawn Care Schedule

Scotts lawn care schedule