Best Weed Killer 2024: Get Weed-Free Lawns and Pathways
Destroy weeds without killing plants and wildlife with the top weed killers for every situation
The best weed killers do one thing, and one thing only: kill your backyard’s weeds. This might seem obvious, but it’s harder than you think to develop a weed-killing product that destroys weeds on a pathway without polishing off the plants in your borders, or that can remove dandelions and creeping thistle from your lawn without turning your green grass brown.
Luckily, today’s top weed killers are up to the job, and they’re a whole lot easier on the lawn – and on the local wildlife – than some of the more brutal options landscapers used to employ. What’s more, they don’t have to cost the earth, either literally or figuratively.
Best weed killer: At a glance
| Best jack-of-all-trades weed killer | Roundup Fast Action Weedkiller (~$30) | Check price at Garden Magic |
| Best natural weed killer | Roundup Naturals (~$15) | Check price at Garden Magic |
| Best weed killer for lawns | Weedol Lawn Weedkiller (~$22) | Check price at Garden Magic |
How we test weed killers
We test weed killers in several unruly areas of a backyard. These include patches of paving and an asphalt driveway, where weeds grow into or through cracks or gaps. We also test weed killers in overgrown banks and borders where nettles, brambles, ground elder, ivy, and heavy or woody weeds tend to be a problem.
We also run tests on small patches of lawn where dandelions, bittercress, and clover have been allowed to run rampant. We spray these areas, leave them for a day or more (as directed) before checking the results.
We run cross-comparisons against new weed killers and existing favorites in the same test areas, to see which are the fastest and most effective, and look for any adverse effects on nearby plants or the lawn.
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The best weed killer you can buy in 2024
1. Roundup Fast Action Weedkiller: Best jack-of-all-trades weed killer
Price when reviewed: $30 | Check price at Gardens Magic
Roundup’s Total Weedkiller is a popular do-it-all weed killer. It will kill most garden weeds after a single application, with visible results showing in one to two days.
It leaves no harmful residue and it’s very easy to deploy. It should kill the weeds in your yard and their roots, before degrading in the soil without leaving any damaging substances in its wake.
Key specs – Type: Contact/non-selective; Volume: 1.3 gallons; Deployment method: Pump and spray; Visible results in: 1-2 days
2. Neudorff Weedfree Plus: Best weed killer for problem weeds
Price when reviewed: $21 | Check price at Gardens Magic
WeedFree Plus is another good jack-of-all-trades that you can buy as a ready-to-spray 0.2 gallons trigger bottle or as a 0.13 or 0.32 gallon concentrate. Spray it on most weeds and grasses and they will be curling up and looking sickly within the first day, as it goes to work on the foliage before busting up the roots. It’s based on Pelargonic acid and Maleic Hydrazide (a growth regulator), and while you will need to respray to keep heavier weeds under control, it’s effective and biodegrades naturally in the soil.
Its real strength, though, is that it can control weeds that other weed killers tend to struggle with, including horsetail/mare’s tail and ground elder. It also worked on an overgrown bank and a disused vegetable patch where other weed killers had failed miserably. It’s a good bet if you need a powerful weed killer but you don’t want to spray something really nasty on your plot.
Key specs – Type: Contact/non-selective; Volume: 0.32 gallons; Deployment method: None provided; Visible results in: 1 day
3. Roundup Naturals: Best natural weed killer
Price when reviewed: $15 | Check price at Gardens Magic
Recent health scares over Glyphosate-based weed killers have sent a lot of people looking for more natural products, some of which are excellent, some of which are ineffective or hugely overpriced. Roundup Naturals is one of the better options. It’s not the most organic or eco-conscious option, but it’s based on 100% natural ingredients and it’s powerful enough to get weeds wilting within three hours of application. It then breaks down in the soil within three days of use, leaving you free to replant.
We found it worked well on pathways, cracked driveways, borders, and overgrown banks, though you might need a second application on some hard-to-shift ground weeds. If you worry about what you’re spraying on your garden, give this one a try.
Key specs – Type: Contact/non-selective; Volume: 0.26, 0.79, 1.3 gallons; Deployment method: Pump and spray; Visible results in: 3 hours
4. Miracle-Gro Evergreen Complete 4in1: Best weed killer that also treats your lawn
Price when reviewed: From $13| Check price at Gardens Magic
Miracle Gro’s EverGreen Complete 4in1 is a great addition to the lazy gardener’s arsenal. This catch-all product kills weeds and controls moss while feeding your lawn thanks to a blend of ingredients including nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium.
It comes in granule form rather than a liquid and can be sprinkled over your lawn by hand, although bear in mind that you will need to measure amounts precisely to ensure an even spread. A spreader tool is recommended for easy application. A controlled release of nitrogen means your lawn will still benefit up to six weeks after the initial treatment.
Key specs – Type: Selective; Weight: 6.17lb carton; 7.72lb spreader; 27.78lb bag; Deployment method: None provided; Visible results in: 7 days
5. Weedol Lawn Weedkiller: Best weed killer for lawns
Price when reviewed: $22 | Check price at Gardens Magic
Weedol’s Lawn Weedkiller targets the kind of weeds that spring up around your grassy garden area (dandelions, daisies, clover, and so on), without compromising the integrity and lushness of the lawn itself.
Although it doesn’t come with its own method of deployment, this concentrated weed killer is easily diluted with water and applied with any watering can or spray tool at your disposal.
Key specs – Type: Contact/selective; Volume: 0.26 gallons (undiluted); Deployment method: None provided; Visible results in: Not specified
How to choose the best weed killer for you
Chemical weed killers basically break down into five main types, and which you pick depends on the weeds you’re trying to get rid of, and the position that you find those weeds in.
Systemic weed killers: Systemic weed killers are usually taken in through the foliage, and from there spread through the rest of the plant to its roots. This gives the weed killer a decent fighting chance of killing off the whole plant. They usually take longer to act, but are effective against the plants they’re designed to kill. What’s more, they don’t hang around in the soil afterward, which means it’s safe to plant again.
Contact weed killers: These powerful herbicides destroy plant life, killing any part they touch or – in some cases – the whole plant as they’re absorbed. Again, they take a while to work – sometimes weeks – but afterward, they’re neutralized by the soil.
Non-selective weed killers: These ultra-violent weed killers tend to be fast and effective, but they destroy just about anything they come into contact with, affecting both the plants and soil. That means they’re a little too effective to be used in lawns, beds, or borders in most cases, and are best used on driveway and patio weeds.
A popular non-selective weed killer chemical is glyphosate, which is found in many brands including Roundup and Resolva. Glyphosate was banned or heavily restricted in various EU countries in 2023, but the EPA has stated that ‘it’s not likely to be carcinogenic to humans’ and it remains on the shelves in 2024.
Selective weed killers: These more discriminating herbicides kill only a specific plant or type of plant. For instance, they might tackle lawn weeds like clover or dandelions while leaving your grass alone. Most lawn weed killers are selective.
Residual weed killers: These weed killers target the soil and kill weeds as they’re absorbed through the roots. They’re effective and long-lasting, but their awesome power comes at a price, hanging around in your backyard and affecting the soil quality and future plant growth.
In general, you should avoid using non-selective or residual weed killers anywhere except pathways and driveways, if you have to use them at all. Contact and systemic weed killers are safer as long as they’re applied carefully, while selective weed killers are the best bet for troublesome beds and borders or your lawn.
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How do you apply weed killer?
Check the instructions. If you’re using a ready-made spray you can put on some gloves and get to work, and, if it’s a concentrate, pour it into a watering can or sprayer and dilute your mixture as directed on the bottle.
Check the forecast to avoid a downpour washing your weed killer away, or high winds that might blow the mixture back in your face. It’s also worth applying weed killer in the morning, as this gives the unwanted plants plenty of time to absorb the solution, and get busy dying.
Some weed killers start to work within 24 hours, while others might take a week to have much impact. Don’t be tempted to reapply without reading the instructions. If, after the quoted time, you still have persistent weeds hanging in there, there’s usually no harm in giving them another dose to finish them off.
Is there an alternative?
Chemical weed killers aren’t always the answer, and you could try more natural solutions like boiling water or white vinegar/acetic acid (which, while EPA approved, isn’t actually considered organic). A good hoe can be effective in beds and borders, while there are various implements for digging weeds out of lawns, paths and driveways. Best of all, you can buy a flame weeder or flame gun. It’s not exactly eco-friendly and needs to be taken seriously, but it does make you feel a bit like a 1980s action hero when you’re taking out the weeds along the garden path.
