The Best Weed Killers to Keep Your Yard Healthy

What To Look for In Weed Killers

Weeds are pesky little rascals that simply won’t go away. If you want the perfect weed killer for your lawn, you must know a few tricks to find one that effectively kills weeds. Let’s go over some things to consider below.

Powerful chemicals

To determine how effective a herbicide will be, buyers should look out for certain chemicals. Imazapyr and Glyphosate are two of the most common and effective weed-killer ingredients you will find, and there is a good reason for this. According to  Dan Bailey, President, WikiLawn, “It’s [Glyphosate] effective when it comes to not only killing weeds, but ensuring the area remains weed free in the future, as well.” Formulations will also have other ingredients that focus more on long-term weed prevention, but those two are the key ones to look for. They are effective and, for the most part, safe. Speaking of which…

Safety features

Even if you have the most amazing herbicide that can kill every weed, you have to ensure that it also values your safety. Bailey comments, “Glyphosate is an irritant for skin as well as your throat and stomach, so you can expect some discomfort if you accidentally ingest some or spray yourself with it. When in doubt, it’s always best to contact poison control for specific instructions on handling the situation.” Remember, it is important that whatever chemical the weed killer has, the product should have some means to prevent overexposure. Be sure to look for backpacks, nozzles, and other safety features. You may want to consider a “weaker” weed killer if you’re very concerned about exposure.

I don’t think you should forget to account for the safety features of whatever weed killer you buy. A lawn is more aesthetically pleasing with no weeds, but having one is not worth risking your health. I always research more about chemicals when buying home products to know which are right for my needs and health profile when shopping.

Water-resistance

Another thing you should look out for is a water-resistant and quick-drying product. You want a weed killer that will dry quickly because water and rain may affect where weed killer targets and decrease its effectiveness. Additionally, a non-waterproof weed killer means you must wait for your lawn to dry fully to apply weed killer. I would thus avoid morning dew or any other water that might concentrate.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing Weed Killer

The best weed killer does two things: eliminates the existing weeds in your lawn and decreases the chance of future weed growth. Expensive formulas may do more than just those two things, but it is important to know that more does not always mean better. You can always buy another product besides weed killer if needed.

Like with all products, I’d ask myself a few questions before saying “Yes” to a particular weed killer. Am I treating a small area or a big one? The size of the treatment area correlates to how much weed killer a person needs. Is there any desirable vegetation nearby? If there is, opt for a slightly weaker formula to protect your plants. Am I looking for a weed killer that is “easy-to-use,” “all-in-one,” a “grass killer,” or maybe a “weed-and-feed” product? Different labels have different names for a reason.

Use these questions as a guide to finding the right weed killer because there is a high chance that these questions provide the answers to what you need. The “best” weed killer for you will adhere to those needs.

What Are the Benefits of Weed Killer?

Quick and easy results

The number one benefit of using a weed killer is its ease of use compared to pulling weeds. Physically removing weeds is very strenuous; you’ll need to get down on both knees and get your hands dirty. Weed killer provides an easy-to-apply chemical that eliminates weeds and kills unwanted vegetation.

Focused removal

There will be unavoidable instances where you will unintentionally spray some herbicide on your desirable vegetation. Weeds grow wherever they like, and that includes in your gorgeous flowerbed. Luckily, with today’s technology, you don’t have to worry too much about accidentally killing plants caught in the crossfire. Good week-killing products have nozzles to aim at weeds and formulations that physically target them. That means even if you spray some of your grass, it should be fine.

Root growth prevention 

A long-term benefit of weed killers is their targeting of roots to stop future growth. Weed killers can prevent growth from between one month to a year. The longer they prevent growth, the better. Check your weed killer product’s fact sheet to determine how often you need to spray your yard to avoid weed root growth.

Saves time and money 

Lastly, a weed killer opens doors to so many economic benefits, especially for farmers. When herbicides effectively kill off weeds, it dramatically decreases weed control costs. In addition, a struggling economy will find that the use of weed killers can boost economic status.

With a weed killer, I can easily enjoy an aesthetically pleasing lawn without any worry that weeds may pop up anytime. I no longer have to constantly check if there are growing weeds in my backyard because, with herbicides, I can eliminate this chore without sacrificing much. 

If you’re looking for more information on how to spray weed killer on those annoying weeds, check out The Lawn Care Nut’s video.