What is the Best Weed Killer That Won’t Kill Grass?

Keeping your lawn weed-free is no easy feat.

It’s definitely not enough to grab any herbicide off the shelf and apply it to your lawn because the indiscriminate use of herbicides can have adverse effects on lawn health.

This is why it’s essential to ensure that the product you’re using is a weed killer that won’t kill grass, and we’re here to tell you all about them.

What To Know Before Using Herbicides on Your Turf

Correct weed control is only possible when you use the right solutions.

Lawn care, if not performed carefully, can result in the development of infertile and unappealing patches in your turf.

Avoid any herbicide containing these ingredients, as they will kill your grass:

• Gasoline
• Salt water
• Glyphosate
• Boiling water
• Vinegar
• Most RoundUp products

The quickest way to kill your grass is to use non-selective weed and grass solutions.

Only when you’re doing a complete renovation or spot treatment should you spray such herbicides in your lawn.

Here’s a rundown of the best products that kill the weeds in your turf without damaging it.

1. Southern Ag Amine

The Southern Ag Amine 2,4-D is effective against several stubborn weeds, and works on most popular grass types except bentgrass.

The herbicide can also be used in other areas of your garden, such as around trees, shrubs, and flowers.

However, be careful only to drench the weeds, not the plants you want to keep.

For best results, mix it with water before use and spray with a tank sprayer for handling large volumes.

When you mix it with the correct water-to-herbicide ratio, you can effectively eliminate weeds like purslane, dandelion, crabgrass, and giant hogweed without damaging your lawn.

You should also use the Southern Ag Amine herbicide on mild days and check the weather forecast to ensure that there is no rain scheduled for at least several days.

Once applied, keep everyone off the lawn for 24 hours to allow it to dry completely.

If new or persistent weeds appear after the initial application, you can reapply the product after 30 days.

2. Ortho Weed B Gon Max

This product works well for treating minor patches of weeds in your lawn.

It’s a post-emergent herbicide that you can use without hurting your lawn.

It works against several common broadleaf weeds, including:

• Black medic
• Bindweed
• Wild onion
• Wild garlic
• Centipedegrass
• Sandburs

Provided it’s applied according to the label instructions, it targets weeds selectively without harming the turf.

Its formula, which includes 2,4-D and Quinclorac, ensures that Ortho Weed B Gon Max helps you eliminate stubborn weeds within 2-4 weeks.

And unlike most pre-emergent herbicides, it remains effective even if applied an hour before rain.

Choose different herbicide options if your lawn has bentgrass, carpetgrass, dichondra, or lipia, as this product can harm these grass types.

The product is also unsuitable for use when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees F.

3. Ferti-lome Weed Out Lawn Weed Killer

This herbicide controls over 200 broadleaf weeds, including clover, dandelion, and chickweed.

Some of its active ingredients include 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba.

It works best with grass types such as Bermuda grass, Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, or Bahia.

Other supported grass types are indicated on the label.

With one pint of this liquid concentrate, you can treat as much as 8,000 square feet of turf.

For best results, you should apply the Ferti-lome weed killer during the target weed’s active growth season, which, for most weeds, is the spring.

Later in the year, in the autumn, you can apply it to control any late-germinating weeds.

This herbicide works twice as effectively when paired with a surfactant, which helps the plants absorb the chemical better.

Avoid using the product if your turf has carpetgrass, and apply it only when temperatures range between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. BioAdvanced All-in-One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer

This product works well for combating several weed types, including creeping Charlie, wild mustard and thistle, all without hurting the lawn.

The product’s formula consists of Trimec, which is a selective herbicide made up of dicamba, quinclorac, and 2,4-D.

While this formulation doubles its efficiency, the product faces size restrictions in Texas, while it’s unavailable in Hawaii and New York.

Be careful when using BioAdvanced All-in-One herbicide in warm weather, as it can vaporize and drift onto other plants.

To avoid this, don’t use the herbicide in hot temperatures.

For best results, use BioAdvanced All-in-One herbicide on young weeds actively growing between spring and fall.

5. Roundup for Lawns

Owing to the brand’s affiliation with glyphosate, which is a carcinogenic chemical, many homeowners may be wary of using Roundup for Lawns.

This particular product is safe to use, though, as it’s one of the few Roundup products that don’t contain the chemical.

Some of its active ingredients include:

• Quinclorac
• Dicamba
• Sulfentrazone
• MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid)

The herbicide actively targets broadleaf weeds, sedges and crabgrass, all without impacting turfgrass or ornamental plants.

It’s important not to confuse this product with its twin version designed for southern grasses.

The alternative product targets only 93 weeds, as opposed to the 253 promised by the regular Roundup.

For best results, use Roundup for Lawns in mild weather and water your turf approximately eight hours before and after application.

6. Preen Crabgrass Control

As the name implies, this product is specifically designed to help tackle lawns with a tendency to grow crabgrass.

This herbicide is primarily a pre-emergent herbicide, meaning that it prevents weeds from sprouting.

Even if you miss this crucial window, Preen Crabgrass Control can also be an effective post-emergent herbicide as long as you apply it while the weeds are still young.

Although it’s not the best at killing dandelions, it works well for suppressing the growth of other common lawn weeds like foxtail, henbit and chickweed.

Preen Crabgrass Control works best when used with a lawn spreader, as it’s a granular, not a liquid product.

Provided it’s used per the manufacturer’s instructions, there’s no risk of turf burn.

How Do Herbicides Work?

Plants usually absorb herbicides through their leaves, stems and roots.

If you’re using a soil-applied herbicide, the chemical is absorbed by the roots of broadleaf and grassy weeds and the shoots and roots of lawn weeds like dandelions.

Some plant barriers, such as the Casparian strip and the waxy leaf cuticle, can prevent herbicides from being absorbed properly.

In such instances, it’s best to use surfactants to increase absorption, especially when you’re using a post-emergent herbicide.

This application increases the absorption of the herbicide by reducing the surface tension of the droplets.

Thus, when applied, the droplets are spread over a more significant portion of the leaf’s surface.

Best 4 Ways to Prevent Weed Growth

It’s not always easy to kill weeds. Dealing with pesky annual weeds can be a struggle.

Lawn grasses can be prepped to make the soil less hospitable to most types of weeds before using weed control products.

1. Aerate Every Year

Aeration is one of the best things you can do to help your lawn combat the growth of stubborn weed species.

Weeds destroy your entire lawn when they thrive in compact and dry soil conditions.

As a core lawn maintenance practice, aeration promotes airflow and boosts soil water retention.

The best time to aerate your lawn is early in the spring.

2. Annual Fertilization

Fertilizing the lawn encourages the growth of dense, lush turf, which overwhelmingly competes with any potential weeds, significantly reducing their growth.

Fertilizers can rebalance the chemical composition of the soil, allowing various weeds to thrive in soils with excessive phosphorus or low nitrogen levels.

Tailored to the right soil test, a balanced NPK fertilizer improves soil condition, which keeps grass dominant.

3. Soil Watering

Weeds thrive in dry weather conditions, growing consistently with minimal moisture.

Watering your lawn for at least 30 minutes, three times a week, is recommended.

Prompt soil watering ensures that you’re giving the turf a chance to grow and overwhelm any potential weed growth.

4. Overseed in the Spring and Fall

Overseeding your lawn is a way to regenerate the lawn, filling the eventual patches that spring up in the turf and preventing weed seeds from accessing the sunlight they need to germinate.

Overseeding also reduces weed density, ensuring that soil water and nutrients are directed to the grass.

The best time to overseed your lawn is in the spring or early fall when the air is cool and the soil is warm.

Tips to Help You Weed Without Killing Your Lawn

Apart from using selective herbicides, such as those with the 2-4 D active ingredient, killing weeds can be done without hurting the grass, as long as you:

1. Pull Out The Weeds Manually

By hand, you can always pull the weeds out by their root.

While this doesn’t completely kill the weed and prevent it from sprouting again, you can take an extra step by using removal equipment such as a flathead screwdriver.

Such tools are the most effective way to eliminate weeds from their roots to their stems and beyond.

Note, however, that gloves are required to protect you from the sting of the sometimes prickly surfaces of pesky weeds.

2. Mow Regularly

Regularly and properly mowing your lawn is crucial for controlling the weed population.

Before mowing, ensure that the blades have been sharpened and avoid cutting lower than a third of the grass height.

Cut the grass weekly in the spring, and gradually reduce the frequency to once a week in the summer.

At this point, you can add mulch to boost the turf’s density.

While this method is efficient at preventing weed growth, it is essential to remember that the roots of the weeds remain intact and can potentially regrow.

3. Re-Sod the Lawn

Resodding your lawn involves replacing it entirely with pre-grown grass and a layer of soil held together by roots or mesh.

If weeds have completely overtaken your lawn, leaving little healthy grass, you’ll need to contact a professional landscaping company.

Fight Weeds With Quality Selective Lawn Care

Without expert knowledge, homeowners can struggle with using herbicides and weed killer solutions that don’t adversely affect the grass.

Professional lawn care services help keep your lawn green all year round and free from weed infestations through the use of selective herbicides.

Learn more about the best lawn maintenance solutions at SunCo Lawns.