The Best Weed Killers for Your Lawn in 2023

If your lawn is getting out of control with weeds, hand pulling them just isn’t going to cut it. Sure, you can tug out a few by the root, but it may be difficult and time-consuming to do that for your entire yard. That’s where weed killers come in, often the best method for lawn weed control.

With so many lawn weed killers available, it can be challenging to find the right one for your needs. To help you make an informed decision, the This Old House Reviews Team has compiled a list of the top weed killers and how to select the best one. However, for the most comprehensive weed control and the best lawn care services, we suggest considering a lawn care company such as TruGreen.

Before you can choose the proper weed killer, you’ll have to determine exactly what type of weed you’re dealing with. Different weed types require different treatments—what’s effective for one may do little or no damage to another.

There are three main categories of weeds: broadleaf, grassy, and grass-like.

1. Broadleaf weeds

These weeds have broad, flat leaves, so it’s unlikely you’ll mistake them for grass. They thrive in soil that’s lacking key nutrients, and they come in different types—annual, biennial, and perennial, so different broadleaf weed varieties require different chemicals depending on their life cycle.

Examples of broadleaf weeds include dandelions, ground ivy, clover, chickweed, dollarweed, thistle, and oxalis.

2. Grassy weeds

Grassy weeds have leaves that look like grass blades, and they grow one at a time. Examples of grassy weeks include crabgrass, quackgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail.

3. Grass-like weeds

This weed type resembles grass, but its leaves are more tube-like and triangular than flat. Examples of grass-like weeks include garlic, nutsedge, and wild onion.

Weed killers work by using chemicals that kill the weed or prevent its growth. There are a variety of different herbicide types to treat weeds at different stages of their life cycle—or before they even sprout. Here are the main characteristics to consider when choosing your specific weed killer.

Pre- or post-emergent

Pre-emergent weed killers target weed seedlings before they get a chance to sprout. If weeds have already popped up, this type won’t help. Post-emergent weed killers are designed to eradicate weeds in their active growing season. You apply post-emergent weed killers directly to the plants’ leaves.

Selective or non-selective

This aspect is critical. Selective weed killers eliminate weeds without harming beneficial plants nearby, while non-selective herbicides will damage all nearby plants, even if they’re beneficial.

Systemic or topical

Systemic weed killers attack the entire plant, including the roots. Topical herbicides, on the other hand, only kill the areas where the weed killer is applied.

Persistent or non-persistent

Persistent weed killers stay active after you apply them to prevent future weeds. Non-persistent weed killers don’t offer ongoing weed control.

Even if you select the right weed killer, applying it incorrectly can make your efforts fruitless, and the wrong application can cause complications.

Many weed killers need to be diluted with water and put in a spray bottle. The product’s label will explain precisely how much water and weed killer you’ll need to combine. Some weed killers, however, come in granular form. Solid weed killers must be applied with a spreader.

When applying weed killer, timing is everything. You don’t want to apply weed killer immediately after mowing your lawn since that could harm your tender grass. The same goes for fertilizer. In both cases, wait several days before applying weed killer.

The weather also plays a role in when to apply weed killer. Applying weed killer when it’s too hot can stress your grass, and applying it right too soon before it rains means it can wash away before it gets absorbed.

When it comes to tackling weeds, the best defense is a good offense. You should always take these steps to keep your grass hardy and robust, reducing the chances of weeds taking over.

• Water deeply and infrequently—If you want your grass to have strong, deep roots, you need to water deeply and infrequently instead of choosing shallow, daily watering. With deep, sturdy roots, your grass can grow nice and thick and compete with weeds that may try to grow.
• Mow high—Weeds need sunlight to grow. If you let your grass blades grow taller by setting your lawn mower to the first or second highest setting, the grass will grow tall enough to cast shade on any weed seeds, preventing them from sprouting.
• Feed regularly—Stressed lawns are more susceptible to being crowded by weeds. Feeding regularly will keep your lawn lush and make it less hospitable to enterprising weeds.

Here are the top three best weed killers.

Compare-N-Save

This powerful, fast-acting weed killer battles the exterior part of the weeds it contacts as well as the root systems. It kills stubborn weeds very efficiently, and spraying weeds selectively will ensure your lawn stays intact.

Preen Garden Weed Preventer

This pre-emergent, selective weed killer offers residual effects, with ingredients remaining active in the soil for three months after application. Preen prevents nearly 30 broadleaf weed varieties without hurting nearby plants.

Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed

Scotts’ most powerful weed and feed thickens grass while crowding out weeds. It’s especially effective against dandelions and clover. The company offers a satisfaction guarantee, promising your money back if you aren’t satisfied with your results.

If you’re battling stubborn weeds or confused about what weed killer is best, it may be time to call in the experts. The This Old House Reviews Team’s top selection for lawn care, TruGreen, offers both pre and post-emergent weed control.

The specialists at TruGreen can create a custom-made plan to restore your lawn to its former health and make sure it can compete against future weeds. The lawn care company offers five annual plans with varying levels of coverage in every state except for Alaska and Hawaii.

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our lawn recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review lawn care plans and packages, navigate the provider website and speak with customer service representatives, request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plan options, additional benefits and customizability, availability, trustworthiness, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.