The Best Weed Killers to Use on Invasive Plants

This weed killer from Green Gobbler has more than 9,700 reviews on Amazon with a 4.2 rating. It kills many types of weeds such as dandelions, clover, chickweed, thistle and more. It comes with a trigger spray for the bottle making it easy to dispense. It can be used on sidewalks, concrete, mulch beds and other places where weeds pop up.

Reviewers say that this product killed their weeds and was easy to use. However, it is non-selective and so will also kill other types of vegetation, so take care around lawns, flowers or any plants you want to keep alive. It's made with a highly concentrated form of vinegar, so the smell may be bothersome at first but will fade over time.

• Suitable for: Crabgrass, dandelions, clover weeds, white clover, moss, nutsedge, oxalis and more
• Application Method: Trigger spray
• Time to eliminate weeds: Within 24 hours

Many weed killers that made it through our vetting process cannot be used on lawns because they are non-selective, which means they will kill all types of vegetation, including your lawn. With this weeder, you can specifically pluck out the weed without having to worry about ruining the rest of your grass. It has a long handle so there's no kneeling or bending over to help prevent a sore back or knees.

Customers highly recommend this product on Amazon, giving it a 4.1-star rating from over 1,100 reviews saying it's easy to use. One reviewer suggests waiting for it to rain so that the ground is moist to make the job even easier.

• Suitable for: All weeds
• Application Method: Manual hand tool
• Time to eliminate weeds: Instantly

Ortho Ground Clear kills all types of grasses, weeds and even moss, with visible results in as a little as 15 minutes. It takes about two hours to dry, but after that it’s rainproof so you won’t have to worry about it washing away after application. It has a spray applicator with a long handle, so it can be targeted at the specific weeds you want to kill.

Take note that this is a non-selective spray, meaning it will kill all types of plants so be sure not to get it on anything you don’t want to kill. It’s one of the highest-rated weed killers on Amazon with over 3,700 reviews and a 4.3-star rating. Shoppers love that the trigger wand sprays exactly where you need it and does not get everywhere for targeted weed killing.

• Suitable for: All types of weeds and grasses
• Application Method: Wand spray
• Time to eliminate weeds: Within 2.5 hours

If you're looking for an alternative to heavy-duty pesticides, our experts are fans of this weed killer from Earth's Ally, which meets the federal definition of a "minimum risk" pesticide. Its mild formula features common household ingredients such as salt, vinegar and soap so it poses little danger to the health of your family and the environment.

This weed killer works on many common weeds such as broadleaf, crabgrass and clover ivy, as well as dandelions. However, it is non-selective, which means it will kill most vegetation, so take care when spraying around other plants. In our review of third-party data, we found that it starts to brown weeds within just three hours and completely kills weeds within 14 days down to their roots.

• Suitable for: All conventional weeds and grasses, dandelions
• Application Method: Trigger spray
• Time to eliminate weeds: Within 14 days

Get rid of those pesky weeds sprouting up on your walkway or rock bed with this liquid formula. It’s made to eliminate broadleaf and a variety of grass weeds. It works quickly and results can be seen within 24 hours.

You’ll need to be careful where you spray this weed killer since it is nonselective and will kill all types of greenery, however it does not leach through the soil so you won’t have to worry about the liquid seeping into other areas where you don't want it. Because this solution is concentrated, be sure to follow the mixing ratio according to the instructions to get the desired results.

• Suitable for: Perennial and annual broadleaf and grass weeds
• Application Method: Use with spray equipment such as hand-held or hose-end sprayers
• Time to eliminate weeds: Within 24 hours

You can buy this weed killer in a 5-gallon size which is enough to cover a large area. It’s highly rated on Amazon with over 1,300 reviews and a 4.3-star rating. Shoppers say that this works just as well as brand-name weed killers, but you will need to use more to get the same results. One reviewer commented they used this on their entire backyard full of weeds and saw results in 24 hours.

• Suitable for: Most common weeds and grasses
• Application Method: Use with trigger or garden pump sprayer
• Time to eliminate weeds: Within 24 hours

If you would rather not use liquid weed killers, this torch is a good option to eliminate weeds. Shoppers gave this over 1,200 reviews and a 4.2-star rating on Amazon. This torch will kill weeds with a quick burst of fire, though it does need to be hooked up to a propane tank that will need to be bought separately.

Many reviewers raved that this killed weeds effectively and preferred to use this over a chemical sprayer. Because this is a torch, it’s best to take precautions such as prewetting surrounding areas and not using this around anything flammable.

• Suitable for: All weeds
• Application Method: Hand-held torch
• Time to eliminate weeds: Instantly

One of the best ways to keep weeds in check is to prevent them from growing in the first place. This landscape fabric creates a barrier so weeds can not grow through; it also eliminates the light that weeds need to grow while still letting air and water through to keep the soil underneath healthy.

It’s easy to use: simply unroll the fabric and cut to the size needed to cover your landscape. It has over 6,300 Amazon reviews and a 4.6-star rating with customers saying that this is more durable than what they normally buy at the hardware store.

• Suitable for: All weeds found in landscaping
• Application Method: Rolled fabric
• Time to eliminate weeds: N/A (designed for weed prevention)