5 Best Granular Weed Killers

Having a nice lawn means tending to the weeds. If killing weeds is important to you, then you may appreciate the five products we take a closer look at in this article. Whether you want to treat the problem before it begins, or you prefer to attack the issue when it arises, these products offer several advantages. Inspect their applications in our product comparison chart in the next section.

The first product on our list is a pesticide where the other four are weed killers. For overall coverage, we suggest using the insecticide along with a general-purpose or long-lasting weed killer. Check out each highlight below to find out more about each of our five choices.

Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns – Best for Killing Outdoor Insects

You may feel like all your hard work is for naught if you cannot enjoy your yard after treating it for weeds. When mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and ticks invade your beautiful lawn, it may send you running back inside.

Check Price

Ortho Home Defense is a multi-purpose pesticide that rids your yard of pests before they can infiltrate your home and cause more problems.

If you hate spiders, then you may like this product because it will several spider species, centipede, and mole crickets, and numerous pests. You can safely use this product around animals after it dries. The insecticide works for as long as one year.

Pros

Pros

• Reputable brand with a solid history for creating effective and helpful products
• Works for all outdoor areas
• Covers as much as 10,000 square feet
• May use on flowers and outside decor
• Once a year treatment in the spring or summer is all you need to control spiders, ants, and fleas

Cons

Cons

• Must use a spreader to treat the lawn effectively
• Works best when spraying down with water after applying
• Only safe for pets after granules dry

Scotts Turf Builder Bonus S Southern Weed & Feed 2 – Best for Medium Yards in Sub-Tropical Climates

Do you live in the southern United States? Places like Texas and most of Florida have different grass types than Ohio or New Jersey, for example. These lower areas often see dry conditions all summer. Killing weeds that are resistant to drought takes a more specific formula than a general weed killer.

Check Price

The Scott’s Turf Builder may be best for thick grass carpets and mossy weeds. You may appreciate that these granules help strengthen your grass to resist weed growth and water evaporation. If you prefer a solution that offers maximum results against the hardiest weeds, then this product could work for your yard.

Pros

Pros

• Covers at least 5,000 square feet
• Safe for applying to St. Augustine grass
• Fortifies grass against heavy use
• Improves the lawn with each additional treatment
• Apply when the grass is growing
• Boosts root health to prevent dying off during low water conditions

Cons

Cons

• Will not work on Bermuda grass
• May burn the lawn if applied to the wrong type of grass
• Hardy weeds may take a few applications to eliminate completely

The Anderson’s Pro Turf Barricade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control – Best for Seasonal Weed Control

It is annoying when your yard is the first to get dandelions? Maybe your grass looks uneven and spotty because there are so many weeds. You may like the Anderson’s weed eliminator because it tackles the problem at the root.

Check Price

Some people prefer using a product that you can apply in the fall. You may find mad respect for the Anderson’s Pro Turf Barricade when you realize this product gets rid of weeds before they have a chance to invade your yard.

Pros

Pros

• Typical application is between March and May
• Covers nearly 6,000 square feet of lawn
• Many users say this product works excellent for eliminating crabgrass
• Can apply once or twice a year
• Works for winter and summer weeds
• Popular product for use on golf courses and recreational fields

Cons

Cons

• Must apply before the soil gets above 55 degrees
• Requires moisture to complete activation
• Two applications necessary for some weeds

A.M. Leonard Snapshot 2.5 TG Granular Pre-Emergent Herbicide – Best for Coverage Size and Scope

Do you have a large yard? When you want to get a product that will cover the entire yard in one go, then the 50-pound bag of Snapshot may do it. The green and white bags are easy to pick out in the garden center.

Check Price

If you want a weed killer that eliminates a broad spectrum of weeds, then Snapshot may be the right choice. This product can get rid of over 110 plant pests like dandelions and aggressive weed species. You may like that you can put this product on your flowers and shrubs without worrying about it hurting them.

Pros

Pros

• Eliminates over 100 weeds
• Works for stopping weeds from growing
• Prevents weeds for at least six months
• Safe around Christmas trees and poinsettias
• May apply to fruit trees
• Acceptable for using on nut trees

Cons

Cons

• Must work into the soil without irrigation or a soaking rain
• Not for turf grass – works best in gardens and flowerbeds
• May require more than one application

Lilly Miller Noxall Ready to Use Granular Vegetation and Weed Killer – Best Long-term Product

Are you the person who wants to put down an herbicide and forget it? This weed killer is not for use in your flower garden. This potent formula gets rid of the aggravating weeds that snake across the sidewalk and creep through every crack and orifice they can find.

Check Price

If you have natural driveways and paths, then having an effective and long-lasting plant killer may be important. The Noxall vegetation stripper gets rid of all life in the kill zone. There are no weeds or grasses that will grow up and cause issues when using this product.

Pros

Pros

• Strong formula
• One application lasts an entire year
• Great product coverage
• Kills existing greenery
• Effectively stops weed growth
• Works for brush

Cons

Cons

• Will kill flowers and plants
• Excellent for gravel and sidewalks
• May cause problems if the granules wash away during a heavy rainfall

Buyer’s Guide Top Five Granular Weed Killers

How do you know which weed killer product is best for your garden or yard? You may want a combination of products to get year-round results. Perhaps you are the one who wants to get outside the first time the weather is nice and treat the yard. Maybe a weed killer to use on existing weeds is most important to you. Below are some general questions and answers about weed killers.

How often do I need to reapply the product

Each of these items requires different application times and circumstances. It is imperative that you read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Following them exactly as the maker suggests is our biggest recommendation.

Can I let my animals in the yard right after I put down the weed killer

No. To properly apply the chemical and activate it, most of these products require water. To prevent any harm to your animals, it is important that these granules sink into the soil, gravel, or grass and dry out again.

Do this product kill zoysia

Yes. Most of these weed killers cover this pesky growth. You can effectively control this weed by applying a weed preventing chemical like The Anderson’s Pro Turf Barricade. Then, you do not have to kill the weed after it grows because it never breaks the soil.

How to apply a granular weed killer?

Such a herbicide requires watering two days after treatment, and its effect will be visible only after 1-2 weeks. Liquid herbicide works faster, but its application requires a garden sprayer, special rubber gloves, and when used, it is necessary to protect useful plants on the lawn. I recommend applying a granular weed killer from mid-May to early August.

I would recommend buying a selective granular herbicide. But keep in mind that they won’t affect all types of weeds. Many experts recommend the use of herbicides along with nitrogen-containing fertilizer because such a product increases the weed killer’s efficiency. With this treatment, the fertilizer must be applied a week earlier than the powder herbicide. You may mix the liquid herbicide with liquid fertilizer and use them together, but if the fertilizer is granular and the herbicide is liquid, apply it only a week after the fertilizer.

Video Tutorial: How to Apply Granular Herbicides Properly

Our last take on granular weed killers

This list offers a diverse product range because your yard has different needs. You may need a vegetation killer to keep weeds out of your gravel driveway. You might also find a yearly herbicide important for keeping dandelions and crabgrass out of your yard. Using an outdoor pesticide is also important for minimizing ant problems and issues with centipedes and spiders. Therefore, you may want to purchase a few of these products for your shed or garage.

Are granular weed killers effective? One of the readers of Grass-Killer.com asked me this question. I firmly say “yes” because liquid herbicides are good but their granular analogs provide a more selective effect.

Many farmers and gardeners have proved the effectiveness of granular weed killers, especially for large territories. Efficacy of granular or powder herbicides depends on:

• Compliance with the dosages recommended by the manufacturer;
• The suitable air temperature (16-22 degrees) and the irrigated soil;
• The moisture soil layer;
• Growth activity of weeds – the higher they are, the better they are affected by a chemical herbicide;
• Phases of weed development – young plants die faster;

What granular weed killers you may buy?

1. Ortho is good for 3-month protection. It is a very cost-effective 10 lb. bag for 10,000 sq. ft.;
2. Scotts is a good weed killer that may feed the grass and kill the unwanted vegetation. But do not apply it on Bermuda grass;
3. The Andersons product is good for killing over 30 weed types in early spring;
4. Snapshot 2.5 covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. and may save your lawn from the weeds up to 6-8 months. Apply before the rainfall or irrigation;
5. Lilly Miller may cover up to 1,000 sq. ft. up to one year of weed control;

If you don’t know how to apply a granular herbicide, check the video with detailed instructions. I am also interested in your methods of using granular weed killers, so please share in the comments below this review.

Granular Weed Killers FAQ

What is the best grass killer on the market?

It is hard to define the best of the best weed killer on the U.S. market because all these products have different formulas and methods of action. 

The kind of weed killer you use will determine where you apply it, where you apply it, what kinds of weeds it will kill, how it can affect surrounding plants, and how long it can keep weeds under control.

When selecting the best professional weed killer for the task, consider the following properties required to maximize product efficacy and reduce the chance of herbicide failure:

1. Pre-emergent products (also known as weed preventers) aim and kill weed seedlings that are sprouting until they grow from the soil as visible weeds. They’re usually applied to the soil of lawns or gardens until you see weeds. They provide a chemical barrier in the upper soil layer that stops seedlings from growing underground, effectively destroying them;
2. Post-emergent remedies. Adult weeds that have already grown from the soil are controlled with post-emergent solutions (also known as herbicides). Apply the chemicals to the leaves and/or stems of noticeable weeds in garden beds, driveway or pavement cracks; the chemicals can kill the weeds by crushing the vegetation or stems, or by going down to the roots and damaging the whole root structure;
3. Selective weed killers destroy species but leave turfgrass and other useful plants behind, making them a decent choice for getting rid of dandelions or thistles on the turf or in a flowerbed;
4. Non-selective weed killers for lawns kill weeds as well as all other plant species in the application area. Use them around the fence or lake, as well as in driveway or sidewalk holes, where beneficial plants would not be harmed;
5. Systemic herbicides. After being absorbed, systemic products travel within a weed, typically down to the roots, killing the whole plant from the ground up. You should expect to see results in a few days to a few weeks, but unlike touch weed killers, systemic drugs don’t usually specify how long they take to kill weeds. They’re an excellent choice for annual weeds like dandelion, poison ivy, and ragweed, which are notoriously difficult to kill due to their deep roots;
6. Contact weed killers do not travel inside a weed until entering it; instead, they kill the weed by removing the plant component on which they are applied, normally within hours to days of use. Crabgrass, nettle, and chickweed are examples of annual weeds that are quicker to destroy than perennial plants that fail when the leaves or stems are killed;

According to user feedback, these commercial products are quite common in their weed control categories: 

• Post-emergent – Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer;
• Pre-emergent – The Andersons Barricade Granular Weed Preventer;
• Contact – Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate;
• Non-selective – Roundup Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate Plus;
• Selective – Southern Ag Amine 24-D Weed Killer;
• Systemic – Ortho Nutsedge Killer;

What will kill clover but not grass?

The most effective methods for killing clover and saving the lawn grass at the same time: 

1) Vinegar solution. For this safe home cure, make a DIY non-toxic weed killer:

• Combine one cup of vinegar, one cup of water, and one droplet of dish soap in a mixing bowl;
• Shake it well before spraying it on clover patches. The vinegar will dry out the clover leaves, whilst the dish soap will ensure that they stay there;
• To kill clover completely, you will require to spray over a period of weeks;
• Sad to say, the vinegar will damage turf, so use caution when spraying the remedy;

2) Organic herbicide. You could, for example, use the ADIOS targeted, organic herbicide to kill clover while leaving the grass alone. Just spray it on clover to weaken and kill the weed.

3) Organic fertilizer. Clover would be less attracted to your grass if you use an organic nitrogen-rich fertilizer that releases slowly. Traditional, slow-release fertilizer is preferred by certain homeowners since it grows vegetation faster and costs less. In the end, however, applying organic fertilizer can result in healthier growth. Guano, cow manure, bone meal, blood meal, liquid kelp, earthworm castings are popular organic fertilizers.

If you’re picking the clover by hand, smooth the field by watering it and letting it soak for an hour or two.

What is the best herbicide to kill chickweed?

However, many herbicides kill chickweed on touch and are better used in the early spring to discourage seeds from developing. Chickweed may be eradicated with a non-selective herbicide that attacks the root system and kills the whole plant.

Remove chickweed from the field in lawn areas to reveal the dirt. After that, use an aerator or a shovel to aerate the dirt. If you’re using a shovel, make gashes in the ground that are at least two or three inches wide and one to two square feet long. To get rid of chickweed, apply a fertilizer and weed killer mixture to the infected field.

For example, the Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer RTU products may be used. This product can kill chickweed but will not damage your lawn if used as instructed. When chickweed is vigorously developing in the spring or fall, apply as directed on the bottle.

What kills weeds permanently?

Grass and weeds may be destroyed in a number of ways. Permanently killing them, on the other hand, is a daunting task. To permanently kill some kind of grass or weed, you must strike and kill the plant’s roots.

Use detergent, Epsom salt, and dish soap to make a homemade weed killer. This non-toxic grass and vegetation killer is simple to create. Get rid of weeds in your garden without using Round Up with these easy-to-follow recommendations that will kill grass and weeds for good. Vinegar-sprayed weeds can die easily, usually within 24 hours.

Covering weeds is perhaps one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to avoid them. Weeds cannot thrive in the absence of sunshine and space to grow. Mulching is a common practice that can also help boost the health of your soil.

Glyphosate is the world’s most commonly used weed killer, and it is strong, clean, and effective at eliminating most weeds with only one use. It destroys right down to the roots, ensuring that they do not regrow after only one use. It kills 99 percent of weeds in the yard, even stubborn ones like brambles and ivy.

What do professionals use to kill weeds?

Most professional services and gardeners use chemical herbicides for weed control. Mostly, these are non-selective and selective products. Non-selective herbicides are intended to kill any plants they come into contact with, while selective herbicides are only made to attack certain weeds.

Also, experts mostly use the strongest ingredients to achieve quick and effective results in the shortest period of time. Keep in mind that these active components can be quite dangerous to your lawn, pets and kids. Hire a professional if you are not sure how to apply a powerful herbicide. 

The strongest components in weed killers:

• Glyphosate. It’s found in parks, fields, and public spaces all over the country. Glyphosate is an extremely successful and powerful weed killer. It is systemic, and it can kill grass and pretty much every other plant it comes into contact with. This product kills all annuals, perennials, woody perennials, and tree stumps;
• Vinegar. This herbicide is widely used at home. Salt and dish soap are sometimes used in combination. A non-selective weed killer performs best in hot weather. It will harm your soil’s PH levels if you use it too often. It works well on small weeds, however big weeds like brambles will need commercial amounts. Overall, this is a fine, inexpensive homemade weed killer that works well for tiny weeds and small plots;
• Triclopyr. Woody weeds such as brambles, nettles, and invasive saplings are targeted with this selective weed killer. It’s been formulated to not kill vegetation and can be easily used in turfed fields. In a knapsack or sprayer, it’s usually combined with water, although it may even be found in a watering can. One disadvantage is that it can stay in the soil for up to 6 months, preventing replanting. This powerful weed killer destroys anything it comes into contact with;

What is the best way to get rid of crabgrass?

Regrettably, keeping crabgrass control necessitates weeding the lawn on a daily basis. Weeding can be performed in the late spring until the crabgrass plant matures and produces seeds. This method works well after rain, when the soil is damp and warm.

Also, you may use different chemical and all-natural herbicides. A pre-emergent herbicide is the most effective agent in the fight against crabgrass (a.k.a. crabgrass preventer). It’s best to do it until the crabgrass seeds sprout in the morning. The granular herbicide functions by forming a chemical membrane on the soil’s surface. The herbicide is absorbed by the seeds when they germinate, and they die.

In the fight against crabgrass, this is the most successful and cost-effective method. Pre-emergent products inhibit full germination by interrupting the growing phase.

Once crabgrass has established itself in your yard, it’s time to broaden your horizons. Post-emergent herbicides attack the plant directly, destroying it so it can reproduce further seeds.

If your lawn just has a few crabgrass trees, you can use a ready-to-use tool like Scotts Spot Weed Control for Lawns to handle them. When used as instructed, this spray kills mentioned weeds, like crabgrass, right to the root without damaging your lawn.

Search for one of the following active compounds:

• Dithiopyr;
• Prodaimin;
• Oryzalin (for a warm season);