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Top 8 Crabgrass Killer for a Healthy and Beautiful Garden

Top 8 Crabgrass Killer for a Healthy and Beautiful Garden

A healthy and beautiful garden doesn’t necessarily require a professional gardener, but it does require time and the correct information on how to take care of it properly. For example, learning what kind of seed to plant and what type of grass should you eliminate is crucial if you want to grow a thick, lush, and green garden. 

There are various types of grass, some are low maintenance and make your garden look pleasing such as the Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass, but there are other types of grass that can ruin your entire garden if not killed immediately. One of which is crabgrass.

Table of Contents

What is Crabgrass?

Crabgrass are clumpy, unattractive weeds that grow rapidly in your garden, sidewalk, and even along with flower beds and vegetable gardens, making your home look less desirable and leave your plants unhealthy. 

The annual summer grass germinates, lives, and dies in the same year, but your problem won’t stop just after one year. Weeds are tough to deal with. They seep down to their roots to deep in the soil and compete with the natural nutrients of the soil. It thus affects the health of your lawn.

Moreover, these troublesome weeds produce about 150,000 seeds and germinate when the soil temperature reaches around 55 to 60 degrees (F) from 3 to 10 consecutive days. That’s more than the capacity of your natural grass to produce! So sooner or later, if you don’t take care of your weed problem, your lawn will be taken over by ugly weeds, and you’re left with nothing but a headache.

What is a Crabgrass Killer?

Fortunately, years of research and problem solving by experts lead to the formulation of the crabgrass killer. This formulation is great because it only affects weeds and actually boosts the health of your lawn grass.

Crabgrass killers are chemical products designed to kill existing and actively growing crabgrass weed before they can produce more seed. There are two primary types of herbicides that you can use to kill crabgrass called pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. Pre-emergent herbicides are used to eliminate weeds before they emerge from the soil, while post-emergent herbicides eradicate weeds that have already emerged from the soil.

Although there are benefits of having certain types of grass in your garden, others can make your garden look unattractive and cause harm to your beloved plants. Therefore, it is vital to know the ways on how to control the seeds and prevent them from becoming seed-producing. 

Here are the 8 best crabgrass killers we recommend for you:

10 Best Crabgrass and Weed Killer For Your Garden and Lawn In The Market

The below Crabgrass Killer depict the best in the market.

1. Roundup Weed and Grass Killer III Ready-to-Use Trigger Spray, 1-Gallon

Finding a product that works to kill weed and grass without harming the healthy plants in your garden can be difficult, especially for sensitive areas like vegetable gardens and flower beds. The Roundup makes it easy with their Ready-to-Use Weed and Grass Killer III product.

This product is safe to use in and around vegetable gardens, tree rings, and flower beds, as well as on cracks in driveways or patios. Its active ingredients, glyphosate isopropylamine salt, and pelargonic acid are absorbed through the leaf and stem only so it won’t spread to non-target plants through the soil. Furthermore, its formula is designed to kill stubborn weeds and grass immediately with visible results in just 3 hours.

It is so easy to use with its no-mix formula. Just adjust the nozzle to a coarse spray and spray the weeds you want to kill until thoroughly wet. This formula is also rainproof in under 10 minutes, making it ideal for areas where rain is abundant. Moreover, this product comes with 4 different types of applicators that depend on the site you want to cover.

Eliminating unwanted weeds and grass has never been this easy.

2. Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer | Natural and Organic

If you are looking for a weed and grass killer that is organic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly, try this Green Gobbler Weed and Grass Killer. This 20% vinegar weed and grass killer is derived naturally from corn, so it does not contain allergens such as sulfate and bleach, making it safe to use around children and pets.

This product can kill any type of annual and perennial weeds and grasses with visible results in less than 24 hours. It’s safe for agricultural and non-agricultural use, unlike other weed and grass killers available in the market. In addition, it is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will destroy any plant that comes in contact with it, so you may want to avoid spraying it on healthy grass and desired plants. 

The Green Gobbler is an OMRI listed weed killer, certified for organic use, and does not contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals, unlike other herbicides. Moreover, it comes with a trigger sprayer making it easy and convenient for you to eliminate unwanted weeds and grass. 

3. Tenacity Turf Herbicide - 8 ounces

You might have heard of the phrase: prevention is better than cure. This goes the same when it comes to eliminating crabgrass, but what would you do if it already emerged? So it’s a good thing that Tenacity Turf Herbicide, a systemic pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide, can help you prevent, control, and eliminate unwanted weeds.

When applied as a pre-emergent, the product will be absorbed by the soil, thus preventing seeds from sprouting. When used as a post-emergent, the susceptible weeds will absorb the product through the leaves and soil. Additionally, it is classified as a selective herbicide which means it can control unwanted grass without affecting the growth of other plants. 

Its active ingredient, Mesotrione, takes out the chlorophyll in plants, making it white in appearance and leading it to its death. So you won’t need to worry if you see white spots in your garden; it just means that the formula is working. 

A two-in-one herbicide like the Tenacity Turf is the ideal choice for gardeners like you who want to completely eliminate uncontrollable and unwanted weeds and grass in your garden.

4. Scotts Crabgrass, Pre Emergent Control for Lawns, Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer

A crabgrass and grassy weed-free lawn all season long is a gardener’s dream, but Scotts Crabgrass and Grassy Weed Preventer will make it possible for you. This product will eliminate your problem easily, with just one application, and your garden will be protected year long.

You can apply it during spring to prevent germination of crabgrass and during fall to prevent germination of poa annua, chickweed, and other problem weeds. Its active ingredient, pendimethalin, acts as both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide and inhibits the roots and shoots from growing. Moreover, its formula can withstand rain, snow, or even freezing temperatures ensuring its long-lasting effect.

One bag weighing 20.8 lbs can cover a large-sized lawn making it a cost-effective choice, especially if you have a small to medium-sized lawn. It is vital to control annual grasses and eliminate weeds because they take the nutrients, water, and light from healthy plants, preventing them from growing and developing, leaving your garden unattractive.

5. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready to Spray: For Northern Lawns, 32 oz

If you are searching for an effective weed grass killer that covers a lot of variety, try this Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer. It is specifically designed to kill over 200 types of weeds, including hard to eliminate types like dandelion, chickweed, and crabgrass. The formula works to kill troublesome weeds down to its roots while ensuring that the healthy plants won’t be affected.

This can be applied to different lawn grass varieties like bermudagrass and zoysiagrass compared to the weed killers available in the market. Additionally, it’s fast-acting, becomes rainproof in just one hour, and you can see the results with just one application, making it convenient to use. 

It is so easy to use. Just connect the garden hose to the sprayer, turn on the water, and start spraying. Also, a 32oz. bottle can provide protection to a large-sized lawn, making it a budget-friendly weed killer. It is recommended to be applied only 2 times per year. 

6. Ortho Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control Concentrate2, 40 oz.

Crabgrass is frustrating and challenging to control the type of weed because it grows and spreads year after year. Sometimes regular maintenance and persistence just wouldn’t work. The Ortho Weed B Gon can offer a solution to your crabgrass problem.

It kills crabgrass, clover, dandelion, and over 200 other types of grass and broadleaf weeds. Its active ingredients, 2,4-D, quinclorac, and dicamba, penetrate through its leaves which affect the growth of unwanted weeds leading it to die. In addition to its function, it is also formulated to leave the healthy part of your garden unharmed with proper use.

The effect is quite fast, with visible results with only one application. You don’t need to repeat the process even if your garden gets wet because the formula is rainproof after 1 hour. Further, it is recommended to apply during the daytime when temperatures are below 90 °F and when weeds are young and actively growing.

This product has 4 types of applicators, all of which are designed for easy use. You can start treating your garden with four simple steps. Just pour the desired amount of concentrate into the sprayer jar, turn the nozzle to the preferred pattern, connect a garden hose to the sprayer, turn on the water and start spraying. 

This cost-effective product can protect up to a large-sized lawn making it an ideal choice, especially if your lawn’s size ranges from small to medium.

7. BioAdvanced All-in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer Garden Herbicide, 40 oz, Concentrate

Imagine having a thick, lush, healthy garden free of unwanted weeds. This BioAdvanced Weed and Crabgrass Killer can help you achieve a weed and crabgrass-free garden with its all-in-one formula. It contains 2,4-D, quinclorac, and dicamba, three proven weed killers that control lawn weeds and crabgrass down to its roots without harming your entire garden.

This product helps protect your garden against 217 types of grassy and broadleaf weeds, including hard to remove weeds like chickweed and crabgrass. You can use it on bermudagrass, buffalograss, and zoysia. Furthermore, it is recommended that you spray it on small and actively growing weeds when the temperature is ranging between 50°F to 90°F for better product absorption.

Rain is not a hindrance to its effectiveness because it is formulated to become rainproof just one hour after application. It comes with four types of applicators available that target different areas, but all of these are easy to use. Additionally, this product can help you save money because it can cover large-sized lawns. 

8. Roundup For Lawns1 Ready to Use - All-in-One Weed Killer for Lawns, Kills Weeds

If you are looking for a weed grass killer that is specifically designed for Northern grasses, then the Roundup for Lawns1 is perfect for you. This all-in-one weed killer is suited to eliminate unwanted weeds on Northern grasses. It can control over 250 common types of lawn weeds and kill it down to its roots. It’s also proven effective for hard-to-kill weeds such as crabgrass, dandelion, clover, and yellow nutsedge.

This fast-acting formula starts killing on contact and eliminates actively growing weeds during early growth stages down to its roots. It is intended for spot treatment of individual broadleaf and grass weeds on residential lawns. Additionally, it is rainproof after 3 hours from application.

The ideal application season is during spring, early summer, or fall and when it’s daytime where temperatures are ranging between 45°F and 90°F. This product comes with two different spot-treatment applicators; both are easy to use, and its design will keep your back pain-free. This cost-friendly weed killer will certainly help you achieve a weed-free and healthy garden.

Conclusion

The grass is often seen as just an aesthetic plant in your home or garden, and they bring plenty of benefits for us. They produce oxygen that improves air quality and traps airborne dust particles and other contaminants. They can reduce the air temperature by up to 14°F. They reduce pollutants from leaching through the soil into the water supply. They can even help improve our wellness and reduce our stress.

Although crabgrass is technically grass, it also has parasitic properties that can easily devastate your lawn in a lot of ways if not addressed properly. In addition, it can destroy your precious plants and make our gardens look unappealing. 

That is why controlling and eliminating unwanted grass and weeds are necessary to be able to keep our plants healthy and maintain our beautiful gardens. The crabgrass killers we listed above are safe and effective. It will help you control and eliminate crabgrass and unwanted weeds easily and without the help of a professional gardener. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How many square feet does it treat?

Answer – Depending on the size of the product you choose. A 1.33-gallon container can effectively treat large size lawn of approximately 400 square feet.

Question: Will it kill bamboo?

Answer – Bamboos are solid and sturdy grass. It has a different built compared to other grass. You may need a more potent formulation to eliminate bamboo species.

Question: How long before you can plant new seeds?

Answer – Depending on the product. Generally, you may want to wait 72 hours or rainfall to wash out strong chemicals and allow the natural healthy growth of your new seedlings.

Question: How to know when crabgrass will appear?

Answer – Crabgrass depends largely on temperature. The warmer the climate, the better their growth. Ideally, before the summer starts, you can start treating your lawn.

Question: Does these kill vegetables?

Answer – Most of the products listed above are for pre-emergent plants. It does not affect anything that is already emerged. Check the product safety before spraying it to anything edible.

Question: Do I need to remove the weeds manually after spraying them?

Answer – No. Treated weeds will eventually die out and decompose naturally.