10 Best Weed Killers of 2024

Getting rid of weeds can be a long, slow process, but it can be made a lot quicker by using Roundup Fast Action Weed Killer. This is the best weed killer overall – it’s powerful and also simple to apply.

There are a couple of reasons why this pump spray weed killer speeds up the process of getting rid of pesky weeds, and it comes down to both its effectiveness, and its straight-forward application style.

Whilst some other weed killers require dilution, like the Weedol and SBK options featured on this page, this Roundup Weed Killer gets sprayed straight from the bottle. The large 5 L container comes with a hose and nozzle already attached, so you just carry it around whilst targeting weeds.

The weed killer is straight forward to apply, and there’s a built-in pump pressure sprayer which helps spread the liquid. When sufficiently pumped, the pressure sprayer bottle projects the weed killer to around 120 cm, keeping the product away from your hands.

The nozzle can be twisted to select either a ‘jet’ or a mist; however, the mist is not particularly fine. The jet, on the other hand, can be used as expected to sufficiently target individual weeds.

When it comes to product effectiveness, Roundup Weed Killer is pretty powerful. Moss, weeds, grass and flowers can all fall victim to this herbicide. It’s a good choice for tackling perrenial weeds. However, occasionally, the odd weed may be impervious to its effects.

It can take anywhere for 24 hours to one week to see weeds start to die, and some may require a second application. It’s also not a residual weed killer which is good news – it becomes inactive on contact with soil and is broken down by micro organisms in the soil to allow for replanting.

Overall, Roundup is a well-known name in the world of weed killers, and under certain conditions it can completely clear large patches of heavy-duty weeds. It’s best used in dry spells, so that rain can’t wash it away before it’s had a chance to work, and should be used with care around wildlife, pets and children due to its Glyphosate content.

The Gallup Home & Garden Weed Control has been promoted as the strongest weed killer available for domestic use, and it did work very well. I noticed visible results within 24 hours, and the roots were killed within a couple of weeks. It’s been designed for both annual and deep-rooted perennial weeds. 

This weed control is exceptionally strong, with a single 2 L bottle treating up to 3332 sqm. It would be ideal for those with a badly overgrown allotment or garden, but it’s also a good choice if you’re after a super strong weed killer for deep-rooted weeds. 

This product requires diluting, so a lot of care needs to be taken not to get the product on your skin. It doesn’t come with a measuring cap included, so you will need to purchase one separately in order to accurately dilute it. The liquid can then be applied using a sprayer, covering up to 40 sqm. 

This weed killer is very effective, destroying weeds at the roots within 2 weeks. The smell alone is enough to indicate that it’s exceptionally powerful, so while it is very effective, a lot of care needs to be taken during use. It worked on all the weeds I treated it with. 

It does contain glyphosate, which is toxic to ponds and pollinators. It’s broken down into the soil so isn’t bad for the environment in that sense, but you do need to be careful to keep children and pets off the affected area until it’s dried. 

One final thing to note is that the safety instructions are difficult to access. The top label needs to be peeled back to reveal the safety instructions, which for such a toxic product, really should be easier to spot! 

Overall, this weed control solution is incredibly strong and effective, but you do need to handle it with a lot of care. 

The Weedol Ultra Tough WeedKiller Liquid Concentrate is arguably the easiest weed killer to apply of all the ones I tested. It doesn’t come pre-mixed, but it can be diluted in either a watering can or sprayer. 

There’s no mess or measuring required, because this product comes in 8 individually packaged tubes. The entire tube can be squeezed into your watering can, topped up with 5 L of water. If you’re going to be using a sprayer, you’ll need just 1 L of water. Then simply mix and you’re ready to go!

This weed killer works very well, killing most weeds fairly quickly. It worked especially well to remove dock leaves, while the oxalis also turned crisp. It removes weeds at the roots, and you should see an effect within 5 days. After a week, it was clear the weeds were beginning to die off, and after 3 weeks, the roots were pretty much all dead. 

While it takes longer than others on the market to see results, the results even so were impressive. Some weeds may require reapplication, but you shouldn’t find this weed killer lets you down in any way. The fact that it’s individually packaged means you can be sure that you’re applying the right amount. 

Another benefit is that it dries very quickly. While children and pets need to be kept off the treated area until it’s dried, this took around 15 minutes. One thing to note is that you do need a dry day to apply this product – as if it rains within 6 hours of application, you’ll need to reapply.

Like many off-the-shelf weed killers, it contains glyphosate. While this is strong enough to kill weeds, it’s also strong enough to harm pollinators and pond life. Having said that, treated areas can be replanted 7 days after application, which isn’t bad going for a weed killer. 

All in all, this weed killer is ideal for those who value ease of application. The individual packaging, while not great for the environment, certainly makes it easier to use this Weedol product. 

A lot of products kill grass as well as weeds; however, there are a few weed-killer gems worth knowing about if you’re keen to clear your lawn without damaging it. This Weedol Lawn Weed Killer is successful at removing clover, dandelions and other unwanted culprits from lawns, without scorching or killing off the grass.

This makes it one of the best selective weed killers, making it possible to carry out targeted weed killing on the lawn!

It’s also one of the best products in terms of value for money, coming in a liquid concentrate that can be diluted to cover up to 667 m².

As a result, slightly more preparation is required than with ready-to-go weed killers. You’ll need to mix 15 ml of Weedol weed killer with 1 L of water in a watering can with a fine rose before applying it to the lawn.

However, the results are reliably positive, albeit slow – it takes around one week for clover to start visibly yellowing and dying. There may still be the occasional dandelion that needs to be removed by hand after using Weedol Weed Killer, but it does a fairly comprehensive job of clearing the lawn (without harming the lawn itself).

One disadvantage of using this weed killer is that you have to be careful with disposing of your grass clippings. Because of the chemicals used, grass clippings should not be disposed of in the standard council-collected green waste. If you choose to compost them , they need to be composted for at least 9 months before being suitable to use as mulch on the garden.

If you’re after a way to get rid of a lot of weeds on your lawn, without damaging the grass, Weedol Weed Killer is one of the best safe-for-lawn weed killers.

However, as with all chemical weed killers, it could have a negative effect on wildlife, and children and pets should be kept away from the treated area, so just because it doesn’t kill grass don’t be fooled into thinking the chemicals are less hazardous.

Not all weed killers successfully target the roots of weeds, which can result in them growing back. However, this Resolva 24h Weed Killer gets down into the roots of even well-established perennial weeds, stopping them from returning. It’s the best weed killer for effectively killing weeds at the root.

It works well, successfully killing off tough perennial weeds like dandelions, and clearing larger weeded areas too, although the claims of ‘24-hour effectiveness’ are somewhat optimistic.

Whilst Resolva Weed Killer is powerful, it often takes several days to see results. Weeds are more likely to die after 4 – 7 days than 24 hours. However, after a week, once they’re dead, they’re generally dry enough to simply pull out of the ground.

In terms of application, the container holds 5 L of liquid which is applied to weeds via a built-in spray nozzle. This makes it ideal for block paving.

Pumping the handle creates pressure in the container, and when the button on the wand is pressed, the weed killer travels through the hose and out of the nozzle. The output can be adjusted, producing either a spray or a fine jet.

It seems to work best in hot, dry weather, and certainly shouldn’t be applied when rain is forecast for the same day; the longer the weed killer stays on the weeds, the more effective it will be.

The general consensus seems to be that once weeds are gone, they don’t come back, making this the best weed killer for getting to the root of the problem (!) and getting rid of even deep rooted weeds. This is therefore an excellent choice for tackling perennial weeds. It just might take a little while to work, and possibly require more than one application.

For fast results, the Job Done Tough Weedkiller is one of the best. This worked a good deal better than household name weed killers. It has a helpful internal sprayer that allows you to tackle individual weeds including dock and couch grass. 

One of the best things about this weed killer is that it’s fairly simple to apply. There’s a ‘flexi spray’ that clips out of the body, with the pipe clipping to the lid. There’s two spray functions, a jet spray and a fine spray. You will need to touch the nozzle, so gloves are required. 

The only negative when it comes to application is that it takes a few pumps to get a decent amount of weed killer out. You’ll need to get fairly close to the weeds to cover them, and those with weaker hands or reduced mobility may find they’re working harder than is comfortable for them. 

This weed killer can kill all greenery (including your lawn!) so a lot of care needs to be taken. If you spray any weeds on your lawn, you’ll likely affect the surrounding area too. For this reason, it’s better for individuals or clusters of weeds on your driveway or patio. 

It does work well however. Weeds are visibly sick within a couple of hours and the roots killed off within a couple of weeks. Dock leaves however, did need a second application. 

One downside of this weed killer is that it makes the soil unusable for a period of time. This is fairly disappointing if you’re wanting to get planting. The instructions state that it takes a ‘growing season’ to wear off, meaning potentially an entire spring or summer! 

For this reason, this weed killer is best used on driveways and patios, as opposed to within flower beds. That said, it does work very well and should keep these weeds at bay for up to 3 months. 

If your weed problem is bigger than just dandelions and clovers, this Vitax SBK Brushwood Tough Weed Killer is a bit more heavy duty. It can see off hardier plants like brambles, nettles and thistles, and is the best weed killer for clearing overgrown, unruly spaces.

Some preparation is required first, of both the weed killer and the overgrown area. It’s not as simple as just throwing SBK over an overgrown plot. For best results, use a brushcutter to cut reduce the overgrown plants back to their stumps before using this weed killer.

It comes as a concentrated liquid, so you need to dilute the weed killer before applying it to the garden. This is done by adding 30 ml of weed killer into 6 L of water (if using a watering can and a fine rose). This produces enough weed killer solution to treat an area of 10 m².

As well as tough, woody weeds, SBK is also capable of getting rid of tree stumps; a diluted solution needs to be poured into drilled holes in the wood which turns the stump soft and mushy after about a month.

Whilst not a particularly fast-acting weed killer, compared to those which show results in a couple of days, results on weeds should start to be visible after a couple of weeks. Although it’s one of the strongest weed killers, it may take a few weeks to notice brambles dying off.  A repeat application after six weeks might be required.

Overall, this is certainly one of the best weed killers for getting rid of tougher weeds and tree stumps, but it does need to be used with patience as the results aren’t instant. Also, it offers quite good value for the price, with the 1 L bottle containing enough formula to cover up to 332 m² when diluted.

If you’re looking for the strongest weed killer, this SBK is a great option to consider. It’s useful for tackling areas of dense growth and permanently removing weeds without too much physical exertion. It’s also the best weed killer if you want a versatile product that can be used on tree stumps as well!

Whilst Neudorff might not be a particularly well-known company, their WeedFree Plus Concentrate is a powerful weed killer that works on relatively stubborn weeds.

Whilst not all products can successfully get rid of pervasive weeds like horsetail, this WeedFree Plus weed killer causes it to turn brown in a couple of days. Other, more common weeds, can show signs of wilting within a couple of hours.

The weed killer needs to be diluted. Then, the diluted product can be sprayed or applied directly to the stem of the weeds. This makes it possible to avoid getting weed killer on other plants.

Also, it’s worth noting, that whilst WeedFree Plus does seem to attack weeds down to their roots, it does not remain in the soil (unlike residual weed killers). This means that perennial weeds may grow again in the same place.

On the plus side, the fact that this product isn’t left in the ground means that the treated areas can be sown or planted again relatively soon after using the product.

The bottle of weed killer automatically dispenses out pre-measured amounts of the concentrated product. Although some thought is still required whilst making up the diluted formula, it’s easier than a classic free-pour dispenser.

This weed killer also doesn’t contain glyphosate, using a combination of pelargonic acid and maleic acid hydrazide instead. These attack the leaves and roots of the weed. These chemicals are generally considered to be safer to use around food crops.

WeedFree Plus Concentrate is quite an easy-to-use weed killer which can see some weeds wilting in a few hours after application. It can also take on tougher, pervasive weeds like horsetail, so it’s one of the best weed killers for tackling tough plants without using glyphosate.

With a name like ‘Rootblast’, you’d expect the Rootblast Super Concentrated Weed Killer to do more than just kill the leaves. Indeed, it did a very good job getting down to the roots of the weeds I treated with it, including docks, nettles, dandelions and bindweed. It can also be used to kill tree stumps, although I wasn’t able to test this. 

This bottle contains 360 g of product, enough to cover a 1666 sqm area. It does require mixing before application, but it comes with a measuring cap included which is very easy to use. It can be applied using either a watering can or a sprayer. 

In terms of results, this weed killer certainly delivered. It produces results within 7 days, but the weeds won’t be killed at the roots for a lot longer. If you’re wanting a fast acting weed killer however, you may prefer another product listed on this page. Alternatively, you could apply it at a more concentrated rate for faster results. 

With glyphosate as its primary ingredient, this product does need to be handled and used with care. It’s toxic to pollinators and pond life, and children / pets need to be kept off the treated area until it’s dried. It does take a while to dry – up to 48 hours. 

Once the weeds have died off, you can replant in the soil.

Overall, this weed killer is a good choice if you’re after long-term as opposed to fast results. It’s very good value for money, while mixing the correct amount is fairly easy. Its only downside is the long drying time, but this isn’t too much of an issue. 

The Deadfast Concentrated Weed Killer Sachets is for those who don’t want to worry about mixing the right amount of product. It comes with 12 sachets and is able to cover up to 720 sqm. You can simply dispense a sachet of product into a watering can, add water and then apply to the weeds you are wanting to treat. 

This weed killer can be applied using either a spray or watering can. Or, for more stubborn weeds, it can be applied directly from the packet onto the roots. Of course, applying this way will give you less value for money, but for very deep-rooted weeds, it does work well. 

One thing to note about this weed killer is that it doesn’t work especially fast. To kill the roots, it needs around 3-4 weeks. While the weeds do start to wilt within a few hours, it takes 7 days before I actually felt the weed killer was working! Despite the slower results, it does work as well as others on the market, and it’s very easy to use. 

Like most weed killers I’ve tested, this product does contain glyphosate which isn’t wildlife friendly. Flower heads should be cut off weeds first, especially dandelions. 

Once the product has dried, children and pets can use the treated area. It can take a few hours for the product to dry, so your garden may be out of action for this time. 

Another thing to mention is that as the product arrives in individual packets, which isn’t particularly good for the environment. If you want to use as little packaging as possible, you may prefer a different product. 

All in all, this weed killer is a decent option, but gloves are essential as it’s fairly easy to squeeze some of the product onto your fingers. If you value ease of mixing over fast results, this may be a good choice.