Best Weed Killers for Lawns (2026): Ortho, Roundup For Lawns, BioAdvanced and 2,4-D Compared

Weed killers come in two groups. Selective products are labeled to kill listed weeds without harming listed lawn grasses when used as directed. Non-selective products kill most plants they touch, and they're meant for places like driveways and landscape beds. Brand names don't tell you which is which. Roundup, for example, sells both lawn products and driveway and patio products. Check that the label says the product is for lawns and lists your grass type.

When to Spray

Iowa State University Extension says fall, from mid-September to early November, is the best time to control perennial broadleaf weeds with broadleaf herbicides. In fall, these weeds move food from their leaves down to their roots for winter, and an herbicide sprayed on the leaves moves down with it. Iowa State adds that spring applications are generally less effective, and that products with a mix of 2 or 3 herbicides tend to work best because no single one controls every broadleaf weed. The Ortho and Roundup labels both say to spray young, actively growing weeds in spring or fall when daytime temperatures are between 45°F and 90°F, and not to spray Bermudagrass above 85°F.

If you plan to overseed this fall, check the seeding intervals on the label. For example, Roundup For Lawns2 says to wait 4 weeks after spraying before seeding, and not to spray new Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue or perennial ryegrass until the grass is well established (about 6 weeks after it comes up, or after the third mowing). The Southern Ag 2,4-D label says not to spray newly seeded lawns until the grass is well established.

The Picks at a Glance

The Picks

Ortho WeedClear with Comfort Wand - Our Pick for Spot Spraying

Per Ortho, WeedClear Ready-To-Use contains 2,4-D, quinclorac and dicamba. It kills over 200 listed broadleaf and grassy weeds, including crabgrass, dandelion, clover, chickweed, foxtail and creeping Charlie, and it's rainproof in 1 hour. The 1-gallon jug comes with a battery-powered Comfort Wand, so there's nothing to mix or pump. Ortho labels it for Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, tall and fine fescues, Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and buffalograss. It is for spot treatment only; don't spray it over the whole lawn. Ortho says to hold off mowing for 2 days before and 2 days after you spray, and that people and pets can go back on the treated area once the spray has dried. The Amazon listing gives a different weed count from Ortho's current page, so check the label on the jug you get. It was sold by Amazon. We chose it because the wand makes spot-spraying easy and the label covers many common lawn grasses.

Roundup For Lawns2 (Northern) - Whole-Lawn Treatment for Northern Grasses

This is Roundup's lawn product. Its active ingredients are MCPA, quinclorac, dicamba and sulfentrazone, with no glyphosate. Per Roundup, it kills 253 listed weeds, including crabgrass, dandelion, clover, yellow nutsedge and poison ivy. It's rainproof in 3 hours, and Roundup says it controls weeds for up to 3 months (as listed). One 32-ounce bottle treats up to 5,000 square feet. The tank-sprayer rate is 4 fl oz per gallon of water per 500 square feet. It's labeled for Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fescues, zoysiagrass, buffalograss and Bermudagrass; Roundup notes Bermudagrass may yellow for a while. Don't use it on bentgrass, St. Augustine, bahia, centipede or carpetgrass. The label allows no more than 2 broadcast applications a year, at least 21 days apart. It was sold by Amazon. For mixing, see our backpack sprayer guide.

BioAdvanced Lawn Weed Killer Ready-to-Spray - Hose-End

BioAdvanced says this weed killer kills over 200 broadleaf lawn weeds and can be used on both Southern and Northern lawns. Per the listing, the 32-ounce ready-to-spray bottle attaches to a garden hose and covers up to 8,000 square feet. The listing says it is rainproof in 1 hour and lists grasses including fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, Bermudagrass, buffalograss and some St. Augustine varieties. Check the label for exactly which St. Augustine varieties are excluded. It's a broadleaf formula, so don't count on it for crabgrass. It was sold by Amazon.

Southern Ag Amine 2,4-D - Concentrate

Per Southern Ag, this concentrate contains 3.8 pounds of 2,4-D acid equivalent per gallon in a low-volatile amine form. It controls many broadleaf weeds (the label has the list). The lawn rate is 2-3 tablespoons in 3-5 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet, applied as a coarse, low-pressure spray without overlap. Keep it from drifting onto plants you want to keep. The label warns that injury may result on bentgrass, St. Augustine, carpetgrass, centipedegrass, dichondra and clovers. It also says to keep people other than the applicator and pets off the treated area until the spray has dried. You'll need a sprayer and careful measuring. It was sold by a third-party seller when we checked.

Common Questions

Will a lawn weed killer hurt my grass?

These products are labeled not to harm the grasses they list, when used as directed. The risk comes from using one on a grass the label excludes, spraying at the wrong temperature, or applying too much. Identify your grass first, then check the label.

Which of these kill crabgrass?

Ortho WeedClear and Roundup For Lawns2 both list crabgrass. Roundup says to spray it from when it first comes up until it has 6 leaves (2 tillers), or before it's 3 to 4 inches tall. The BioAdvanced product is a broadleaf formula. Southern Ag's 2,4-D is labeled for broadleaf weeds.

When can kids and pets go back on the lawn?

Ortho and Southern Ag both say once the spray has dried. For any product, check the label, which lists the re-entry directions alongside the application directions.

Should I spray the whole lawn or spot-treat?

Follow the product's label. Ortho WeedClear Ready-To-Use is labeled for spot treatment only. Roundup For Lawns2 can be applied evenly over the area, with a limit on broadcast applications per year. With just a few weeds, hand-pulling is another option.

Bottom Line

Ortho WeedClear with the Comfort Wand for spot-spraying; Roundup For Lawns2 to treat a whole Northern lawn; BioAdvanced Ready-to-Spray for a hose-end sprayer; Southern Ag 2,4-D if you're comfortable mixing a concentrate. Check that the label lists your grass, spray perennial broadleaf weeds in fall per Iowa State Extension, keep the label's timing in mind if you're overseeding, and follow the label directions every time.