5 Best Crabgrass killers Reviews & Guide

Crabgrass is one of the most frustrating and invasive weeds that can wreak havoc on your lawn or garden. If left untreated, it can quickly take over and leave your once-pristine yard looking like a disaster area. Fortunately, there are a variety of crabgrass killers available on the market to help you get rid of this stubborn weed.

According to a survey conducted by the National Gardening Association, weeds are the biggest problem faced by home gardeners, with 80% reporting issues with weeds in their lawns and gardens. Don’t let crabgrass be the bane of your outdoor space, read on to find the best solution for your needs.

Here we review the top 5 best crabgrass killers based on personal experience, customer feedback, brand reputation, market analysis, price, and more.

5 Best Crabgrass Killers For Lawn & Garden

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES	PRICE
Top Pick	Roundup for Lawns Crabgrass Destroyer1	Kill tough crabgrass and grassy weeds Stops weeds ability to absorb sunlight Won’t harm the lawn	Check on Amazon
Best Post-emergent	Quinclorac 75 DF Selective Herbicide	Kill crabgrass, even in mature stage Quickly controls the crabgrass Pet, people and environment friendly	Check on Amazon
Best Preventer	Scott Halts 49900 Crabgrass Preventer	Control crabgrass and grassy weeds Stops germination of weeds Increase stress resistant against weeds & weather	Check on Amazon
Best Pre-emergent	BASF Drive XLR8 Crabgrass Herbicide	Best crabgrass killer on the market Can be applied to many turfs Safe for pets, children and environment	Check on Amazon
Best Value	Primesource Quinclorac- Liquid Crabgrass Killer	Controls crabgrass up to 90 days Selective controls, means it does not harm your lawn Do not harm the pets, and people	Check on Amazon

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Roundup for Lawns Crabgrass Destroyer1

Roundup for Lawns Crabgrass Destroyer1 is a herbicide specifically designed to target and kill crabgrass in lawns. The product comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle, making it easy to apply directly to the affected areas. The formula is rainproof in as little as four hours, ensuring that the herbicide stays active and continues to work even after rain or watering.

Users of Roundup for Lawns Crabgrass Destroyer1 have reported positive results in eliminating crabgrass from their lawns. Many customers appreciate the convenience of the spray bottle and note that the product is easy to use, even for those with little experience in lawn care. The rainproof formula is also a major selling point, as it ensures that the product remains effective even in inclement weather.

Some users have reported a slight discoloration of their lawns after using Roundup for Lawns Crabgrass Destroyer1. However, this is a temporary effect and the grass will return to its normal color over time. Additionally, as with any herbicide, it is important to follow the instructions carefully to ensure that the product is used safely and effectively.

Use ready-to-use roundup for lawns crabgrass destroyer’ for spot treatment or beside patios and driveways. Roundup for lawns crabgrass destroyer is hard on grassy weeds but simple to use to make sure you’re getting the best results.

Apply roundup for lawns crabgrass destroyer on Kentucky, bluegrass, fine fescue, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.

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Best Post-emergent Crabgrass Killer: Quinclorac Selective Herbicide

Quinclorac Selective Herbicide is a powerful herbicide that is designed to selectively target and eliminate weeds in turf and ornamental settings. The product is effective against a wide range of broadleaf and grassy weeds, including crabgrass, clover, dandelion, and more. The herbicide comes in a concentrated form, making it easy to mix and apply to affected areas.

Users of Quinclorac Selective Herbicide have reported positive results in eliminating weeds from their lawns and gardens. Many customers appreciate the versatility of the product, noting that it is effective against a wide range of weeds and can be used in both residential and commercial settings. The concentrated formula also means that users can mix the product to their desired strength, making it a cost-effective solution for weed control.

However, it is important to note that Quinclorac Selective Herbicide is a powerful chemical and should be used with caution. Users should follow the instructions carefully and take proper safety precautions when using the product. Additionally, the product may cause some discoloration or damage to desirable plants if applied improperly or in too high of a concentration.

Overall, Quinclorac Selective Herbicide is a highly effective solution for controlling weeds in turf and ornamental settings. However, as with any herbicide, it is important to use the product safely and effectively to achieve the desired results.

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Best Crabgrass Preventer: Scott Halts Crabgrass Preventer

Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer is a pre-emergent herbicide that is designed to prevent crabgrass from growing in lawns and gardens. The product works by forming a protective barrier on the soil, preventing crabgrass seeds from germinating and taking root. Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer comes in a granular form, making it easy to apply to the affected areas with a spreader.

Users of Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer have reported positive results in preventing the growth of crabgrass in their lawns and gardens. Many customers appreciate the convenience of the granular form, noting that it is easy to apply and provides long-lasting protection against crabgrass. The product is also safe for use on most types of grass, making it a versatile solution for lawn care.

It is important to note that Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer should be applied before crabgrass has had a chance to germinate. Additionally, users should follow the instructions carefully and apply the product evenly to ensure maximum effectiveness. Some users have also reported a slight discoloration of their lawns after using the product, but this is a temporary effect that should resolve over time.

Overall, Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer is a highly effective solution for preventing the growth of crabgrass in lawns and gardens. The granular form and ease of application make it a popular choice among users, and the long-lasting protection ensures that lawns remain crabgrass-free for an extended period.

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Best Pre-emergent Crabgrass Killer: BASF XLR8 Crabgrass Herbicide

BASF Drive is a water-based selective post-emergent weeds killer on crabgrass, kiyuku grass, and torpedo grass for grassy weeds and some broadleaf weed coverage like clover and dollarweed.

It can be used in a blanket application or a spot application but depending on your square footage. It is a water-based formula, you want to make sure that you’re keeping it all the same consistency throughout the spray.

You want to make sure that you also irritate the area but apply after 24 hours until it penetrates the leaf surface.

You can apply this product to all types of grass. Also, check the label for your specific type of grass. And you can apply it before, during, and after the seeding to control the grassy weeds.

Remember, do not mow down the grass blades before or after applying the product for a couple of days. Make sure that there is enough leaf surface there to get good absorption from the weed control.

Use this product for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. An ideal product to use on golf courses and sports fields. This product is safe for pets, people, and the environment. Do not allow the pets and children to enter the treated area until the product is dried.   

When applying make sure that the temperature is between 55 to 80 degrees. So, plants get the most absorption. Microyl crop oil replacement increases its effectiveness.

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Primesource Quinclorac: Best Liquid Crabgrass Killer

Primesource Quinclorac is a selective pre-emergent herbicide that controls many broadleaf and grassy weeds including crabgrass. The product is safe to use on many types of turf. Use this product for residential and non-residential turfs.

It is highly effective against broadleaf weeds such as clover, dandelion, and chickweed, as well as grassy weeds like crabgrass and foxtail. Primesource Quinclorac is a selective herbicide, meaning it only targets certain types of plants while leaving other desirable vegetation unharmed.

One of the key benefits of Primesource Quinclorac is its versatility. It can be used on golf courses, athletic fields, residential lawns, and other areas where maintaining a weed-free appearance is important. It can also be applied at any time of year, although early spring and fall are often the best times to use it. Primesource Quinclorac is available in both liquid and granular formulations, making it easy to apply and incorporate into existing weed control programs.

It works as absorbed by the roots and foliage, active ingredient translocate to interfere with plant growth and cellulose production. Susceptible grasses demonstrate stunting, chlorosis, and gradual reddening followed by necrosis and death.

It can be applied 7 days before seeding and up to 28 days after emergence on selected weeds. Optimum results can be achieved by using Quinclorac 1.5LSelect with Methylated seed oil which increases its effectiveness. Apply before the second tiller or before grass weeds mature.

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Best Crabgrass killer Buyer’s Guide

Applying the best crabgrass killer will help your lawn to look more beautiful and healthy. And the buying guide will help you in selecting the best crabgrass killer for your lawn garden.

Things Our Team Consider When Testing The Best Crabgrass Killer

This article will give you guidelines on what factors should be put into consideration when making comparisons between various brands of best crabgrass killers because buying a specific product can prove useless if it does not meet our expectations after using them.

Identifying the Type of Grass

Step number one is the most important part of the process. You need to know what kind of grass you have. Do not skip this step the reason why we’re establishing this is that it will determine the type of spray that you use and if you use the wrong spray you run the risk of killing your lawn.

Now commonly your grass types are going to be divided between cool-season grasses like your Kentucky, bluegrass, ryegrass, tall fescue grass. And your warm-season grasses the common ones are Bermuda st. Augustine and zoysia.

You must understand the exact type of grass that you have. So, you buy the right solution. Because not all warm-season grasses require the same solution and you can put the lawn at risk.

Grab some samples take them to a local nursery and identify the exact type of grass.

Identify the Weeds

The easiest way to identify crabgrass is going to be by the seed head the color and the timing that you begin to see it. So, the tall seed heads typically see the seed heads first after mowing they tend to shoot up pretty quickly out of the ground.

Crabgrass tends to be a more lime green color against your other turf types.

According to the study, it’s easiest to control crabgrass before it reaches the 3 to 4 tiller stage. Now don’t let that frustrate you because it’s still controllable. It gets larger you may just have to do an additional treatment within two weeks

Now if you’re a little confused on how to properly identify crabgrass. The seed head of crabgrass is a dead giveaway. It commonly has four seed heads in a bunch. They’ll come out looking pretty thick but once they spread open you’ll see they’re fairly thin and they’re very unique.

The Active Ingredient

Most online retailers provide detailed information about each product that they are selling, they can list out what are the active ingredients in their products. This is important information that will aid you in making your choice of which crabgrass killer to choose because some brands may contain certain chemicals that are harmful to your pets, children, and plants near your lawn.

The Price

You should be careful with any retailer that is selling their products at suspiciously cheap rates. It might probably indicate inferior quality which might not offer maximum benefits to your property. If you select a product by price alone, it’s more likely than not, that you get an underperforming product.

The Composition

Before buying any specific product make sure you read online customer reviews of the best crabgrass killer available on sale. This will help you in determining if some people are facing some problems with the specific brand that you want to buy.

The Quantity

Normally, the amount of crabgrass killer that comes with each bottle is usually sufficient for tackling a certain range of infestation without having to purchase another product soon after your first purchase. It’s important to compare between brands before making any purchases because one may offer more content than what you can get for just a few dollars elsewhere.

Available Application Methods

You should be able to read and understand all instructions and directions that come along with the package. The best crabgrass killer available on sale should provide clear information about what you need to do when using them.

Choose the Best Crabgrass Killer Fertilizer

The next step is choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn and garden. To prevent crabgrass in your lawn, always choose pre-emergent herbicide. But for controlling the post-emergent crabgrass, the post-emergent herbicide will be best for you.

Moreover, selective herbicides are more susceptible to control the crabgrass in your lawn.

FAQ’s

How to Use the Best Crabgrass killer?

Properly handle and mix herbicides. There are a lot of options out there. Just pick one up that either has a fan sprayer or a cone sprayer which most of them do by default.

Now that we’ve chosen the right product for the type of grass. We need to move on to the proper mixing and handling procedures that all start by reading and familiarizing ourselves with the label.

Always wear the right clothes such as pants, a long-sleeve shirt, shoes with socks, and gloves. Spot spraying or spraying each weed individually is going to be the easiest way to not only mix but also treat the weeds.

For spot spraying method. We mix either one gallon of solution or two-gallon solution. The first thing we want to do is mix half the water each product is different and you need to familiarize yourself with the label.

You have to do half a gallon of water for ease of use. Most backpack sprayers have indicators on the side of the bottle that show you how much water is already in the tank. When mixing herbicides we must be precise with the number of herbicides that go in the tank.

If you put too much herbicide in and spray correctly. You run the risk of burning both the weed and the grass. And less herbicide will not kill the weeds. Always shake the bottle for a couple of seconds to make sure the product hasn’t settled.

When to Apply Pre-emergent Herbicides to Control Crabgrass?

Pre-emergent herbicides have to be applied before germination of crabgrass and so they normally have to be applied about the first week of May. When you’re making a single application which most people do to their home lawn.

While looking for the best crabgrass killer, just concerned about the amount of nitrogen that you will find in the bag. You have to look at the fertilizer that has the least amount of nitrogen at this time of year, the grass will be growing quickly naturally.

If you’re making a single application apply it about the first week of May. If you’re making multiple applications which is the best way to control crabgrass you could apply it earlier than May and then that second application would be about the first week of June.

How Does the Best Crabgrass Killer Work?

Herbicides in fertilizers attach to the crabgrass. Kills them and other grassy weeds on your lawn. Most of the herbicides attack cellulose production and plant growth that leading to crabgrass death.

These herbicides protect your lawn from crabgrass for up to 90 days.

The Best Crabgrass Killers are Safe for Pets and People?

These herbicides are mostly organic and made of natural ingredients. But it is important to keep people and pets off of the solutions until they dry.

Read: How to Get Rid of Chickweed?

Quick Recommendation

Hope the above guide will help you in selecting the best crabgrass killer for your lawn and garden. By following all these you’ll get healthy, green and more beautiful grass. Also, these crabgrass killers increase weather resistance and are more likely to be safe from disease.

Roundup for Lawns is the best crabgrass killer. It kills all grassy weeds down to the root and thickens the lawn.

For pre-emergent crabgrass, Primesource Quinclorac is the best product. And for post-emergent crabgrass control, Quinclorac herbicide is the best formula.

Reference

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2235&context=extension_fact

https://ag.umass.edu/turf/fact-sheets/biology-management-of-crabgrass