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If you love gardening, finding a decent weed killer that actually works can be a difficult task. Unfortunately, there are many products on the market that can cause long-lasting damage and destroy your lawn. The good news is that weed killers containing 24-D have developed a reputation over the years as being very effective, due to their ability to isolate the trickiest patches of weeds, while leaving grass untouched. If you want to learn more about this groundbreaking product and the best 24d weed killers that contain it, then keep reading to find out more.
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Can I Spray 2, 4-D on Lawn? What Weeds it Kills & Guide
Here are four of the best weed killers, which are available online and in most stores:
| PHOTO | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
TOP PICK  | Surfactant For Herbicides Surfactant for Herbicides presents a wetting agent that helps to increase the overall effectiveness of almost any herbicide. It reduces the surface tension of the water and creates a more uniform coverage of herbicides and weed killers. | CHECK PRICE → |
Best for Varieties of Weeds  | Crossbow Speciality Herbicide Applied on grass pastures, non-crop areas, and rangelands, this product controls the spread of the most unwanted trees and brushes. Needs to be used only on plants in non-crop and non-timber areas. | CHECK PRICE → |
Runner Up  | Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer Taking immediate effect in only 15 minutes, it is used to kill all types of weeds and grasses. Listed for organic gardening, becoming rainproof within two hours upon applying. | CHECK PRICE → |
Top Controller  | Compare-N-Save 2-4,D Broadleaf Weed Killer Controlling over 150 weeds, this product is most effective for applying in warm weather on young and actively growing weeds or brushes. Easy apply by spraying the mixed concentrate with water. | CHECK PRICE → |
1. Surfactant For Herbicides – The best wetting agent
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Style: Combine with other herbicides
Size: .474 liters
A surfactant is a wetting agent that helps the herbicide bind to the weeds instead of rolling off. It basically makes liquid more sticky, so that it has more time to do its job.
Pros
- Fast acting and works within 24 hours
- Prevents the herbicide from rolling off the leaves
- You don’t need to use much to make the herbicide soapy
- Great for removing algae in ponds
- Works well on stubborn weeds such as dichondra
Cons:
- Does the job, but it’s a small bottle
- Doesn’t work well with other products
2. Crossbow Speciality Herbicide – The best for killing a variety of weeds
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Style: Combine with water
Size: .946 liters
If you are looking for a versatile herbicide that can resolve a multitude of weed problems, Crossbow Speciality Herbicide is what you need. It’s great for getting weeds such as poison oak, blackberry bushes, wild mustard, common lambsquarters, horseweed, annual, buttercup, and blueweed under control. It works especially well on rapid-growing invasive plants.
Pros:
- Is not solely for agricultural use where crops are grown. It can be used on acre pastures, preserves, conservation areas, fencerows, pastures and permanent grass areas, roadsides, and rangelands.
- Is user friendly, and can be used by adding a spraying attachment to a tractor, or with a hand held spray.
- Works well on brush and woody plants.
Cons:
- Its use is banned in certain states, and using it could result in strict penalties or a fine. You will need to check the product label for this information.
3. Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer – The best for killing weed and grass
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Ortho GroundClear is good for use on hard surfaces such as patios, and gravel driveways. It kills grass and weeds, and prevents regrowth for up to a year; Ortho GroundClear is a fast acting formula that comes ready to use.
Style: Ready to spray
Size: 3.97 liters
Pros:
- Starts working within an hour.
- Very well designed and easy to use.
- Is strong enough to kill nutgrass.
Cons:
- Dries quickly once the affected area has been covered, which can reduce its effectiveness.
- Loses its strength when diluted with water.
4. Compare-N-Save 2-4,D Broadleaf Weed Killer
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No matter what you’re growing in your garden, you can provide the ultimate protection with this product. You only need to apply it twice a year, and it will clear up weeds, giving your lawn area a brand new feel very quickly.
Style: Mix with water
Size: 32 Ounces
Pros:
- Visible results within 4 days.
- Rainproof within 2 hours.
- Gets rid of over 200 different weeds.
Cons:
- It doesn’t kill all weeds, such as goose grass and crabgrass
- It can burn the lawn if you spot spray for too long, a couple of seconds is enough
Additional Information About 2,4-D
For farmers and gardeners, 2,4-D is like the holy grail of weed killers. It is used worldwide, and the third most popular in the United States. It was created during World War II by a British team who wanted to suppress weeds to grow more crops. The herbicide was introduced to the world in 1946, and quickly became the go to product for effective weed killing. 2,4-D worked so well that a 1996 study conducted by the U.S Department of Agriculture estimated that if it was taken off the market, consumers would pay an average of $1.6 million in additional food and fiber costs.
One of the reasons why 2,4-D became one of the best herbicides is because it was the only solution of its kind that isolated broadleaf weeds, and left other plants such as cereal, rice, corn, and wheat alone. Additionally, it is also very cheap; 2,4-D is the main active ingredient in more than 1,500 herbicide products, including Weedaway, Killex, Tri-Kill, Trillion, PAR III, and Weed B Gone.
The Weed Killing Process
It works in a very unorthodox way, by triggering the growth of broadleaf weeds; this unregulated growth causes the destruction of vital tissues, and it is this process that kills them. The herbicide doesn’t kill grasses, since weeds and grass process chemicals differently due to the position of their growing points. Grass grows from the base, while weeds grow from the tip of the leaves. In the following video, you can watch how is going the process and how much to use it.
The Risks Associated With 2,4-D
As with all pesticides, there are risks associated with its use, and there have been major concerns over 2,4-Ds toxicity. Several studies have been carried out, but it appears that the results are inconclusive. For example, in 1990, a study of farmers in Nebraska discovered that 2,4-D exposure increased the risk of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
However, a study of former employees who manufactured the product found that there was no increased risk from exposure to 2,4-D. On the other hand, the study did reveal that it caused an increased risk of death due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. There has been a lot of debate as to whether 2,4-D is linked to cancer; again, studies have been inconclusive, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer adding 2,4-D to their list of possible cancer causing agents. But a 2007 study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that 2,4-D exposure is linked to cancer.
2,4-D – How Much Do You Need to Use?
There is no one size fits all when it comes to 2,4-D, because every brand has its own instructions. The amount you use will depend on how strong the active ingredient is in the herbicide. But as a rule of thumb, combine 5 tablespoons of 24D weed killer with 1 gallon of water. This should be enough to cover an area infested with 400 square feet of weeds. If the area is 800 square feet, double the amount.
It’s important to mention that these ratios here are not exact, so for accurate measurements you will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the product you have purchased.
Final Thoughts
Be sure to store any leftover 2,4-D in its original container, get rid of empty containers immediately, and don’t use it around water. When using it in a dust form, to avoid breathing in the product make sure you wear a mask, and wear gloves regardless of the form you are using it in. 2,4-D is generally a fantastic option for getting rid of weeds on your lawn. The products listed above provide a fast acting, simple solution for a healthier, greener lawn.
FAQs
When should I spray my lawn with 2,4-D?
Exactly when to spray your lawn will depend on the manufacturer; however, the rule of thumb is to spray the lawn twice a year, during the spring, and during the fall. Early spring is typically the best time to use 2,4-D based herbicides, because weeds tend to just start growing around this time. You should spray your lawn two days after it was last mown, when the temperature is no more than 90 degrees F, and it is not windy. If your lawn is new and has just been seeded, wait for six weeks. If your lawn has just been plugged, sprigged, or sodded, wait for four weeks.
Is 2,4-D the same as roundup?
No, they are not the same; 2,4-D is a newer product, and much more powerful.
What grass will 2,4-D kill?
2,4-D is generally grass friendly because it has been designed not to harm grass but to kill broadleaf weeds. However, you will need to take extra care when using it on turfgrass, because there are some that you shouldn’t use it on, read the label on your product to find out. It is also advised that you take precautions when using 24D weed killer on Bermuda grass, because during the month of January, it’s in its dormancy stage, and 2,4-D can kill it around this time. The only grass that 2,4-D will kill is nutgrass.
What is the most dangerous herbicide?
There have been numerous reports that Roundup is harmful to human health, and that it causes cancer. But there are also arguments against this claim.
Will 2,4-D hurt pets?
To prevent harm, animals should be kept away from treated areas for as long as is recommended by the manufacturers.
Cody is a fulltime blogger and gardener. His favorite activity to relax after a long day of writing is taking care of his plants and garden. For the past few years he have spent more time in the garden than inside so if there is one man you should take advice from its our dear Cody.
