5 Best Post-emergent Herbicides for Your Yard

Weeds are the enemies of homeowners who wish to have pristine, clean lawn. This is where post-emergent herbicide comes handy. This product is designed to keep your lawn healthy and green and removing weed that tend to ruin the overall aesthetic of your lawn or yard. Herbicides generally come in two types – pre-emergent and post-emergent. Post-emergent herbicides are meant to kill weeds that have already sprouted while pre-emergent herbicide is a precautionary measure that prevents weeds from germinating. 

Lawn care experts, such as Eden highly recommend using a combination of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide for optimal weed control in your yard or lawn. If you have not used a herbicide before, it is highly advised to hire professional lawn care companies, such as Eden for best results. 

In addition, post-emergent herbicides are available in two types – selective herbicides and non-selective herbicides. The former targets weeds but does not affect grass growth. On the other hand, non-selective herbicides kill any plant they get sprayed on and are ideal for use in hardscape areas, such as driveways, walkways, edges, etc. 

We have listed the 5 best post emergent herbicides in this article.

5 Top Post-Emergent Herbicides for 2022

1 . Ortho Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control

Specs:

• Active ingredients – Dimethylamine salts, Quinclorac 
• Packaging – 1-gal, ready to use, concentrate in 32 oz. and 40 oz. 
• Selective – Yes
• Best for – Dandelion, Crabgrass, Chickweed, Dollarweed, Thistle
• Equipment required – None (use pump sprayer for concentrated version)
• Price range – Medium

Pros:

• Numerous purchase options
• Covers complete spectrum of common weeds
• Ideal for southern and northern lawns
• Assurance of not damaging the grass

Cons:

• Covers smaller area than other concentrated herbicides
• Some users claim it is less effective on clover 

Ortho Weed B Gon is a selective herbicide and used by professional lawn care companies and homeowners alike. It kills almost all common broadleaf and grassy weeds, but does not harm the lawn grass. This version of the weed killer is ideal to get rid of dandelion, crabgrass, dollarweed, thistle and more. 

This post-emergent herbicide is sold in a ready-to-use concentrate, with a spray bottle along with it. You won’t need to buy a separate pump sprayer to spread this weed killer. The ability to get rid of almost all common weeds makes Ortho Weed B Gon the best post-emergent herbicide on our list.

2. Southern Ag 2,4-D Amine

Specs:

• Active ingredients – Dimethylamine 
• Packaging – 32 oz. concentrate 
• Selective – Yes
• Best for – Clover, dandelion, plantain, chickweed, spurge 
• Equipment required – Pump sprayer
• Price range – Inexpensive

Pros:

• Affordable price range
• Most preferred by professional lawn care companies
• Works on all types of turf

Cons:

• Is not effective on grassy weeds

Southern Ag 2,4-D Amine herbicide is a concentrated dimethylamine salt which quickly gets rid of broadleaf weeds. A quart-full of this herbicide can effectively cover around 20,000 sq. ft. area. The brand is trusted by professional lawn care companies around the world, and is extremely reliable and effective as a weed-killer. However, it may not work too well when it comes to removing grassy weeds, such as crabgrass. 

3. Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer

Specs:

• Active ingredients – Diquat Dibromide

• Packaging – 1-gallon jug with sprayer/1-quart spray bottle 

• Selective – No

• Best for – Removing weeds from hardscape areas, such as edges, pathways, etc.

• Equipment required – None

• Price range – Inexpensive 

Pros:

• Glyphosate free 
• Fast-acting (works in 3 hours)
• Ready-to-use packaging

Cons:

• Non-selective (can kill turfgrass)

The Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer is a simple, non-selective herbicide. This herbicide can kill any plant it is sprayed on. To get rid of weeds and unwanted grass on the sidewalks, patios or driveways, you can simply spray Spectracide and get your money’s worth. This herbicide is a ready-to-use type and you do not need to buy additional spreading/spraying equipment to use it.

4. Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer

Specs:

• Active ingredient – Vinegar 
• Packaging – 1-gallong bottle (with sprayer)
• Selective – No
• Best for – Instantly treating weed growth in landscapes areas
• Equipment required – None
• Price range – Medium

Pros:

• Organic
• Fast-acting (works within 24 hours)
• Ready-to-use
• Pets/kid-safe 

Cons:

• Non-selective (can kill turfgrass)

If you are looking for a completely organic herbicide for your lawn, then the Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer is the best choice. It is a simple non-selective weed and grass killer from Green Gobbler, which is vinegar-based for added effectiveness. It is excellent for spot-treating weeds and grass besides being safe for kids and pets alike.

After you spray this herbicide, you will need to follow it with seeds to fix the bare patches as the vinegar takes effect. According to professional lawn care companies, such as Eden, you will get the best results if you combine this herbicide with corn gluten pre-emergent herbicide to create a natural weed control system. 

5. Scotts TurfBuilder Weed and Feed

Specs:

• Active ingredient – Dimethylamine salts
• Packaging – 14-lbs. and 40-lbs. bags
• Selective – Yes
• Best for – Clover, dandelion and broadleaf weeds
• Equipment required – Handheld or rotary fertilizer spreader 
• Price range – Medium

Pros:

• Makes your lawn green in just 24 hours
• Easy to spread
• Boosts lawn growth while killing weeds 

Cons:

• Less effective on crabgrass and grassy weeds

The Scotts TurfBuilder Weed and Feed is the only granular weed-killer on this list. It works a little different than other herbicides. Apart from the 2,4-D herbicide, the granular fertilizer encourages grass growth, while it crowds out and suffocates any weed growth. According to professional lawn care companies such as Eden, you should use this herbicide on a damp lawn for best effect. 

Conclusion

The Ortho Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control, Southern Ag 2,4-D Amine, Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer, the Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer and Scotts Turfbuilder Weed and Feed rank on our 5 best post-emergent herbicides for your yard. If you are not used to spraying herbicide and weed killer, it is recommended to hire lawn care experts, such as Eden, for best results.