Can You Use Roundup For Lawns In Gardens

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If you find yourself with free time due to the COVID pandemic and want to enjoy the increasingly warmer weather, now is the perfect time to beautify your lawn and garden. Whether you are a long-time gardener or a beginner in search of a hobby, there is one mutually frustrating aspect of keeping your garden pretty—weeding. No matter how many you pull out from the roots, they just seem to sprout right up again. One of the best ways to keep them at bay is weed killer. With options that will keep away weeds for months and even some non-toxic solutions, there is bound to be a solution that fits your lawn and garden needs.

Check out quick reviews below of the top five weed killers, then scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of those weed killers, plus other high-ranking options.

BEST OVERALL

Compare-N-Save Concentrate

Consumer Score: 80% gave it 4 stars or more

Gentle on grass but tough on weeds, this formula does the hard work for you.

BEST FOR LAWNS

Roundup For Lawns Concentrate

Consumer Score:59% gave it 4 stars or more

This formula keeps your lawn healthy, while killing pesky weeds.

BEST FOR GARDENS

Preen Garden Weed Preventer

Consumer Score: 95% gave it 4 stars or more

Protect your flowers and prevent weeds from growing.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer

Consumer Score: 82% gave it 4 stars or more

Deadly for weeds, safe for you.

BUDGET WEED KILLER

Bayer Advanced Ready-to-Spray

Consumer Score:70% gave it 4 stars or more

Keep lawn (and your wallet) full and green.

What's the Deal with Glyphosate?

One of the most popular chemicals used in weed killers, glyphosate has been around since 1974 and was popularized by Monsanto's Roundup brand. However, it was only recently that tests began on the safety of glyphosate.

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a study on glyphosate with evidence that it could damage DNA cells—a catalyst to cancer. There was also limited evidence that exposure to glyphosate led to an non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

But in spite of these studies, there is not yet a clear answer. "First, IARC just looks at whether glyphosate can cause cancer; regulators, on the other hand, have to decide whether it actually will, considering how much of it people are exposed to," wrote NPR. "Second, different agencies considered different evidence...Regulatory agencies like the EPA considered a large number of studies that aren't publicly available because Monsanto paid for them and submitted them to the agencies." The IARC, however, did not make use of these studies as they only reference studies available to the public.

If you are concerned with the chemical, there are effective options that are glyphosate-free and environmentally friendly. Ultimately, when it comes to whether or not glyphosate is safe for use—particularly on nutritional crops—the jury is still out. If you do decide to use it around produce, try to wait about a month before consuming, and make sure to wash it well to remove any residual chemicals.

How We Selected and Rated Them

We researched expert sources such as The Spruce and Best of Machinery, as well as 10,000 consumer reviews to select the top seven weed killers of the year. Our Consumer Score represents the percentage of customers who rated the product at least four out of five stars on retail and review sites like Amazon, Home Depot, and manufacturers' websites.

—BEST OVERALL—

Compare N Save Concentrate

Consumer Score: 80% gave it 4 stars or more
Gentle on gardens but tough on weeds, this formula does the hard work for you.

Compare-N-Save Concentrate

Compare-N-Save amazon.com

$57.99

Affordable
Covers up to 25,000 feet

Must wait before consuming produce where concentrate is applied

If you were to search for weed killer recommendations from expert sites like The Spruce, Best of Machinery, Architects Guide and more, you'd find that Compare N Save dominates the category. And why is it so highly praised? This concentrate is affordable and highly effective—just 3 tablespoons of it mixed with a gallon of water can cover up to 300 square feet of land. The full bottle covers up to 25,000 square feet, so it will likely last multiple seasons. You shouldn't exceed two applications per year, and you should wait at least 30 days between applications. The Compare N Save concentrate can be applied near flower beds, vegetable and fruit gardens, but you should wait at least 21 days before eating any produce from a garden where it was sprayed. Since it also kills grass, you will also want to resist spraying it on your lawn, but it can be used to remove grasses from unwanted areas like pathways, driveways, or around gardens.

—BEST FOR LAWNS—

Roundup for Lawns Concentrate

Consumer Score: 59% gave it 4 stars or more
This formula keeps your lawn healthy while killing pesky weeds.

Roundup For Lawns Concentrate 32oz

Kills weeds but not grass

Requires sprayer

Since weeds don't discriminate, you sometimes need a weed killer that you can spread across your entire lawn—without killing your grass. This concentrate is both highly effective at killing weeds and gentle on your grass, leaving you with a beautiful, green lawn. One bottle of this concentrate covers up to 5,000 square feet when diluted with water. It will kill crabgrass, dandelions, clover, and up to 93 other types of weeds while ensuring that your lawn grows full and healthy. You can also purchase Roundup for Lawns in a ready to spray formula that does not require dilution.

—BEST FOR GARDENS—

Preen Weed Preventer

Consumer Score: 95% gave it 4 stars or more
Protect your flowers and prevent weeds from growing.

5.625 lbs. Garden Weed Preventer

Preen homedepot.com

$13.48

Stops weed before they grow
Keeps garden weed-free for 3 months

Doesn't kill existing weeds

While you may want to keep weeds out of your garden, you don't want to kill your existing plants. This formula is made to be preventative, so you can sprinkle it on your garden to inhibit future weeds from growing, without affecting the health of your plants. However, you'll have to remove any existing weeds before you spray, since it will not kill them. One application of Preen Weed Preventer will keep your garden weed-free for up to 3 months. It is safe for use on flowers and edible plants, but you will want to keep it away from your lawn as it will also prohibit the growth of grass.

—ECO-FRIENDLY—

Doctor Kirchner Weed Killer

Consumer Score: 82% gave it 4 stars or more
Deadly for weeds, safe for you.

Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer

Doctor Kirchner amazon.com

$38.99

Natural ingredients

Not safe on any plants

Weed killers, pesticides, and growth enhancers filled with chemicals have become commonplace in our gardens—both flower and vegetable. But the Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed and Grass Killer uses natural and non-toxic ingredients to kill weeds safely and effectively. The formula is made from ocean salt water, vinegar, and soap, and it comes in a plastic-saving, pourable bag. It should be noted that this weed killer is not discriminatory—if you pour it on a plant, it will die. Therefore, it is best used on walkways or other concrete areas, or large stretches of weeds away from grass and other gardens. It is also ideal for using in areas where you have kids or pets playing, since it is completely safe and free of potentially harmful chemicals.

—BUDGET WEED KILLER—

Bio-Advanced Ready-to-Spray

Consumer Score: 70% gave it 4 stars or more
Keep lawn (and your wallet) full and green.

Bayer Advanced 704040 Ready-to-Spray Season Long Weed Control for Lawn, 24-Ounce (Not Sold in NY)

BioAdvanced homedepot.com

$16.47

Inexpensive
Covers 7,500 square feet

Requires a sprayer

This Bio-Advanced Ready-to-Spray Weed Killer is affordable and effective. Costing less than $15, it can cover up to 7,500 square feet. Not only will this formula kill weeds, but it prevents them from growing back for up to 6 months. The 20-ounce container is ready to use once you attach a hose. This will automatically dilute the solution as you spray it on the desired area. Since this weed killer was specifically designed for use on lawns, it will kill your lawn weeds, but leave your grass healthy and green.

—BEST FOR SIDEWALKS—

Roundup Concentrate Plus

Consumer Score: 85% gave it 4 stars or more
Make your sidewalk sparkle in as little as 12 hours.

Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus

Results after 12 hours
Inexpensive

Requires sprayer

Whether you want a clean sidewalk to up your curb appeal, or need to get rid of the pesky weeds growing in the cracks of your driveway, the Roundup Grass and Weed killer Concentrate Plus is ready for the job. This concentrated solution is designed to be diluted and sprayed through a spray tank. Since this is not included, you will need to purchase one in order to use this product—usually they will be anywhere from $15 to $40. Once it is in the tank, however, you can either spray it over a large area or in precise spots. Reviewers found that you will notice results in as little as 12 hours, and within 1-3 weeks of usage, all weeds you used it on will be completely destroyed.

—PRE-EMERGENT—

RM43 43-Percent Glyphosate Plus

Consumer Score: 84% gave it 4 stars or more
Kill weeds before they get a chance to grow.

RM43 43-Percent Glyphosate Plus

Kills from the root
Covers 17,297 square feet

Not safe on lawn or garden

This weed killer will kill your current weeds and make sure they stay dead. This formula will take out weeds from the roots up, which ensures that they will not grow back. The glyphosate solution can get rid of weeds, brambles, and invasive plants and keep them away for up to six months. A one gallon bottle can cover up to 17,297 square feet, but be aware that this is a non-selective formula, so it is best not to spread it on your lawn or gardens as it will kill the plants you want to grow too.

Gabrielle Hondorp Before joining Runner's World as an Editor in 2019, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe.

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