17 Best Crabgrass Killer & Preventers THAT WORK – 2022

Few things will give you a better feeling than seeing a perfectly manicured lawn when you pull up to your house. But if you’re new to lawn care, you’re likely finding out the hard way that it’s easier said than done to have that.

We’re tired of dealing with products that don’t work, or claim to do something they can’t. That’s why we tracked down ten of the best crabgrass killers and put them on display for you here.

Not only that, but we also came up with a comprehensive buyer’s guide and answered some of the most common questions out there so you can tackle your lawn and get the perfect results you’ve been dreaming of.

OUR FAVORITESs

Runner Up Roundup For Lawns3	Easy to use Outstanding coverage area Kills over 250 types of weeds	CHECK PRICE →

TOP PICK Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer	A great mix of price and performance Kills over 200 types of weeds Rainproof after one hour	CHECK PRICE →

Best for Professionals Scotts WeedEx	Does an outstanding job Doesn’t need multiple treatments Kills and prevents crabgrass	CHECK PRICE →

Best Crabgrass Killers

Crabgrass is no joke, and finding a product that can kill crabgrass while leaving your lawn intact is a bit of a challenge. The good news is that with any of these products, you’re in good hands.

PHOTO	PRODUCT
TOP PICK	Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer When you are using the product as described, the result is visible in just hours. It kills the weeds without harming your lawn. It affects all the major broadleaf weeds, including crabgrass, dandelion, and chickweed.	CHECK PRICE →
Runner Up	Roundup For Lawns3 Immediately effective, great for applying it to the entire lawn surface. It destroys more than 250 types of weed, including clover, dandelion, and crabgrass. It won't cause any harm to your lawn, and it becomes rainproof within 3 hours.	CHECK PRICE →
Best for Professionals	Scotts WeedEx Usable on all grass types (except bentgrass or dichondra), stopping crabgrass creation before it starts, during the whole season. Results in the perfect lawn after just one application.	CHECK PRICE →
Upgrade Pick	Roundup Max Control 365 Presents visible results in just 12 hours, killing the weeds to the root. Usable for any surface in your garden, preventing the weeds for up to 12 months.	CHECK PRICE →
Ready to Use	Ortho Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control Kills all kinds of common lawn weeds to the roots. If used as directed, it doesn't harm the lawn. Works immediately after applying.	CHECK PRICE →
Specific Weed Killer	Ortho Nutsedge Killer Ready to use without mixing, specialized in killing tough weeds. Designed for Northern and Southern turf grasses, becoming rainproof in just 2 hours.	CHECK PRICE →
Pre Emergent Controller	Scotts 49915 To prevent crabgrass all season long, you only need one application of the product. Different weather conditions as rain, snow, or freezing, don't affect the product performance.	CHECK PRICE →
Overall Weed Killer	Spectracide HG-95703 Kill over 470 different types of weeds, including many broadleaf weeds. It becomes waterproof after 3 hours, and its effectiveness can not be affected. Easy garden hose attachment and activation.	CHECK PRICE →
Best Product for Every Season	Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer Covering up to 5000 sq. ft., it prevents crabgrass before it invades and keeps the protection during the whole season. It also feeds the grass after winter, and it doesn't get affected by rain, snow, or freezing.	CHECK PRICE →
All-around Formula	BIOADVANCED 5-in-1 The all-around formula kills tough weeds, large crabgrass and prevents new weeds from emerging. Control barrier for prevention lasts up to 6 months after applying, without harming your lawn.	CHECK PRICE →

1. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer – Best Overall

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Style: Read to use spray

Application Method: Garden hose

Size: 32 ounces

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat the Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer. It’s extremely easy to use, available for a great price, and covers a wide area.

The Ortho WeedClear kills over 200 types of weeds, and all you need to do to use it is hook it up to your garden hose and start spraying! And, while you should check the weather before spraying, it’s waterproof after only one hour, which means that there’s a much smaller chance you’ll run into problems with the weather.

There are few application methods that are easier and cover more area than the Ortho WeedClear. Simply hook up and spray, and you’re good to go!

However, keep in mind that while 200 types of weeds are quite a few, there are over 500 different varieties out there. Still, it does a great job against crabgrass and most other common weeds, so it should take care of whatever weeds that are in your yard in no time.

Pros

• A great mix of price and performance
• Easy to use
• Outstanding coverage area for the price
• Kills over 200 types of weeds
• Rainproof after one hour

Cons

• It does not kill all weed varieties

2. Roundup For Lawns3 – Runner Up

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Style: Ready to use spray

Application Method: Garden hose

Size: 32 ounces

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

Another extremely easy to use ready to use spray is the Roundup for Lawns3. Roundup is the largest name in the lawn care industry for a reason, and they have a product that works wonders with the Lawns3.

However, compared to the Ortho WeedClear, it’s a bit more expensive of a product, and that’s why it fell to number two on our list. Still, while it’s a little more expensive, it does kill over 250 types of weeds, which gives you slightly better coverage.

Another tradeoff is that it takes three hours until it becomes rainproof. While that might not sound like a big deal, it can ruin your entire application and start you back at square one if unexpected weather hits.

A single bottle covers up to 5,000 square feet, which means even though you’re spending a little bit more, you’re still getting a great deal.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Outstanding coverage area
• Kills over 250 types of weeds

Cons

• More expensive option
• Not rainproof until after three hours

3. Scotts WeedEx – Best for Professionals

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Style: Granules

Application Method: Spreader

Size: 10 pounds

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

While the ready-to-use garden hose spraying crabgrass killer has its perks, if you’re looking for a product that gives you a perfect lawn, you want Scotts WeedEx. It does an outstanding job at killing and controlling weeds, and it provides even coverage for extremely consistent results.

However, there are a few drawbacks to getting a product like this. For starters, the product itself is a bit more expensive. Not only that, but you need to invest in a spreader to apply the product over your lawn evenly.

While you might think that you can spread it by hand, if you try this, there’s a good chance you’ll have no weeds in some areas and dead grass in other spots. If you’re opting for a granule product, you should invest in a high-quality spreader that allows you to control the output too.

Of course, the result is a perfect lawn after just one application. So, if you can afford the Scotts WeedEx and the spreader you need to apply it, it’s a great choice.

Pros

• Does an outstanding job
• Doesn’t need multiple treatments
• Even coverage for consistent results
• Kills and prevents crabgrass

Cons

• More expensive option
• You need a spreader to use it

4. Roundup Max Control 365

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Style: Ready to use spray

Application Method: Direct Spray

Size: 170 ounces

Treatment Area: 400 square feet

Roundup Max Control 365 is precisely what you need to clean up tough weeds that are growing on the driveway, sidewalk, and other cracks. Roundup Max Control 365 gives you results in as little as 12 hours, and kills weeds all the way down to the roots, so they don’t come back.

In fact, it’s effective for up to 12-months! Once you spray the weeds once, you don’t need to worry about covering that area again until next year!

Even better, it’s rainproof in just 30 minutes, so you can even spray between storms. However, there are two main drawbacks to the Roundup Max Control 365.

First, it only covers up to 400 square feet. That makes this product better for spot treating areas, not covering your entire yard. Compounding that fact is that it’s a more expensive option. Compared to the ready-to-spray and the granule options, these direct spray options are more expensive.

But for spot treatments for tricky weeds, Roundup Max Control 365 is a great choice.

Pros

• Extremely effective at killing and preventing weeds
• Prevents weeds from coming back for 12 months
• Results in as little as 12 hours
• Rainproof in only 30 minutes

Cons

• More expensive option
• Smaller coverage area

5. Ortho Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control

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Style: Ready to use spray

Application Method: Direct spray

Size: 141 fluid ounces

Treatment Area: 400 square feet

While Roundup might be the biggest name in the industry, a close runner-up is Ortho. That’s why Ortho makes its own direct spray treatment for tricky areas. Ortho Weed B Gon does a great job at taking out weeds and kills over 200 different varieties.

However, the Ortho Weed B Gon Plus ranks below the Roundup Max Control 365 for a few reasons. First, while the Roundup product is rainproof after just 30 minutes, Ortho takes a full hour. Not only that, but the Ortho Weed B Gon Plus only works for six months, compared to Roundup’s twelve.

Still, while the Roundup Max Control 365 is a better product, that doesn’t mean Ortho Weed B Gon Plus is a bad choice. It starts working in hours, and it’s a more affordable choice – if you don’t count that you need to apply it twice as often.

But if you’re in a pinch and you need to take care of the weeds right away, Ortho Weed B Gon Plus can get the job done.

Pros

• Kills over 200 types of weeds
• Rainproof in only one hour
• More affordable than Roundup
• Starts working in hours

Cons

• Smaller coverage area
• Only lasts for six months

6. Ortho Nutsedge Killer

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Style: Ready to use spray

Application Method: Garden hose

Size: 32 ounces

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

If you’re looking for a crabgrass-specific weed killer, Ortho Nutsedge Killer is a good choice. While it only kills up to 50 different types of weeds, this makes it a little gentler on your lawn, and it still does a great job at killing crabgrass.

It’s more affordable than other ready-to-use sprays, and is still just as easy to use. Simply hook it up to the garden hose and spray your yard, and you can leave your crabgrass woes behind you.

A single bottle covers up to 5,000 square feet, which means that even if you have a ton of property, you don’t need a ton of product. Now, it’s only rainproof after two hours, but as long as you keep an eye on the weather before you start spraying, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Finally, it works on both Northern and Southern turfgrass, which is one less thing you need to worry about when you’re trying to get your yard under control.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Large application area
• Very affordable option

Cons

• Only kills 50 types of weeds
• Not rainproof until after two hours

7. Scotts 49915

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Style: Granules

Application Method: Spreader

Size: 20 pounds

Treatment Area: 10,000 square feet

Scotts is all about building great lawns, and while the 49915 might not have a catchy name, it does a great job at helping provide you with a perfect lawn. It has the largest application area of any product we reviewed here at 10,000 square feet, and they didn’t have to drive up the price to do it.

It’s an extremely affordable option, and even if it gives you more than you need, you can save it for the next application. You will need a spreader to use it, but that gives you a more consistent application and outstanding final results.

Note that it only works for six months, so you’ll need to head back out there in the fall to keep your yard under control for the winter and be ready to go again in the spring. It’s a bit of extra work, but with Scotts 49915, you get a picture-perfect lawn – and that makes it worth all the effort.

Pros

• Large coverage area
• Very affordable
• Does a great job at preventing and killing crabgrass

Cons

• Requires a spreader to apply
• Only works for six months

8. Spectracide HG-95703

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Style: Ready to use spray

Application Method: Garden hose

Size: 32 ounces

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

While Ortho, Roundup, and Scotts might be the biggest names in the industry, they’re not the only choices out there. Spectracide is another company out there, and while it might not be as effective as the top brands, it can still get the job done.

Spectracide HG-95703 can kill over 450 types of weeds, and it’s extremely easy to us. Like other ready-to-use sprays, all you need to do is hook it up to your garden hose and spray. Unlike other sprays though, it’s best to use Spectracide when you’re maintaining instead of trying to get a yard under control.

That’s because Spectracide isn’t nearly as effective as the top brands, and this can lead to inadequate results if you have a yard that’s full of crabgrass or other weeds. And while it’s extremely affordable compared to the other options out there, it’s not rainproof until after three hours.

So, while you can do worse than SPectracide, you can do better too.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Very affordable
• Kills over 450 types of weeds

Cons

• Not as effective as other sprays
• Not rainproof until after three hours

9. Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer

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Style: Granules

Application Method: Spreader

Size: 13 pounds

Treatment Area: 5,000 square feet

While most people choose to apply their crabgrass killer in the spring and fall, with Scotts Turf Builder Halts, they have a product for every season. If you’re trying to tackle crabgrass and don’t want to wait until the appropriate season, this product might be just what you’re looking for.

It’s extremely effective, and works on most grass types. However, it is a more expensive option, and since it’s a granules option, you’ll need to purchase a spreader too. Be sure to get a spreader that provides even distribution so you get the best possible results the first time.

Finally, since they have an option for any season, ensure that you’re getting the right product for the season you’ll be applying it. The last thing you want is to get less than ideal results with a more expensive option because you picked up the wrong package.

Pros

• Very effective option
• They have an option for any season
• Works on most grass types

Cons

• More expensive option
• Not the easiest to spread

10. BIOADVANCED 5-in-1

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Style: Granules

Application Method: Spreader

Size: 9.6 pounds

Treatment Area: 4,000 square feet

While the BIOADVANCED 5-in-1 fell to the bottom of our list, it’s not because it’s a bad product. In fact, it offers quite a few features that make it stand out from the rest of the pack.

For starters, it doesn’t just kill weeds. It also fertilizes your lawn for up to three months, which gives your grass a chance to start growing and really take off before weeds can come back.

That might not seem like a big deal, but allowing grass to fill in the spaces where the weeds were gives your lawn a better chance of success. Not only does it effectively kill crabgrass and other weeds, but it prevents new weeds from coming for up to six months!

Still, while it’s a more affordable option, it does have a smaller coverage area compared to many other crabgrass killers. The 4,000 square foot coverage area isn’t small, but it’s not the 5,000 square feet that other spray and go or granule options offer.

Finally, this is a granule option, which means you’ll need to invest in a quality spreader to get consistent coverage and the results you want. This adds to the overall cost, even if it is only a one-time expense.

Pros

• Affordable option
• Kills over 200 types of weeds
• Kills and prevents new weeds and crabgrass
• Fertilizer and weed killer

Cons

• Smaller coverage area
• Harder to use
• Only prevents crabgrass for six months

Buyer’s Guide

With so many great products out there, it can be hard to track down exactly what you need to get your yard in check. That’s why we came up with this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything you need to know to get the right product the first time – and to get enough of it.

Determining How Much You Need

One of the most important factors you need to keep in mind when selecting a weed killer is to get the right amount. While getting too little weed killer won’t take care of all the weeds, too much can kill your lawn.

But unless you’re already pretty tuned into the square footage of your yard, chances are you’re not exactly sure how big it is. While we can’t tell you how big your yard is, we can give you a few reference points to help you out.

For starters, an acre has 43,560 square feet. One acre is the size of a football field from one end zone to the 20-yard line, or about the size of 18 average-sized homes. This is another good reference to know, because if you know the overall size of your property, you can simply subtract the size of your home and get the size of your yard!

Finally, if all else fails, you can always get on Google Maps or go outside and take out a measuring tape to get the square footage of your yard. Simply measure the length and the width and multiply them together to get the square footage.

While this is fairly simple if you have a rectangular or square yard, this tip might not be the easiest to follow for odd-shaped yards.

Different Application Methods

While there are likely even more application methods out there for weed killer than we’ve highlighted here, we’re going to learn about three of the most popular options out there below.

We’ll break down each method, then highlight some of their pros and cons here – that way, you can make an informed decision before you purchase a product.

Ready To Use Spray

The ready-to-use spray is by far the easiest and most affordable way to treat your lawn. These products come with a nozzle that allows you to hook up a garden hose directly to the spray and treat your lawn by watering it with the garden hose.

While this is by far the easiest way to treat your lawn, it can also be the easiest to screw up. The most common problem is either over spraying or under spraying your lawn. Too much product will fry your grass, while too little will leave tons of pesky weeds for you to deal with.

While you know how much you’re supposed to use to treat an area, unless you know precisely how much 5,000 square feet of your lawn is (or whatever amount your product calls for), it’s hard to get everything just right.

Not only that, but since you’re spraying it with a garden hose, you’re not going to be getting the most consistent results. So, while it’s the easiest and most affordable way to tackle the job, it might take a few seasons to get the perfect lawn you’re looking for – although it should get better each time.

Granules

While ready-to-use sprays might be the easiest and most affordable way to get the job done, if you’re looking to do it right the first time, granules are probably the way to go. The problem for many people with granules is that you need a spreader to use them.

They’re also a bit more expensive than the ready-to-use sprays, and both these factors make them a bit more cost-prohibitive. But if you invest in the right spreader and enough product, you don’t need to worry about over or under applying, which means you get perfect results the first time.

Moreover, they also typically cover more weed varieties and last a little bit longer, which is a win-win for those that want a great-looking yard.

Direct Spray

While granules and ready-to-use sprays are best to treat your entire lawn, direct spray products are what you should use to treat specific areas. Direct spray products work best on sidewalks, driveways, and other areas where weeds grow through the cracks, but you can use them in trouble areas on your lawn if you’re careful.

Another huge perk of a direct spray is that you can get closer to flower beds and other shrubs and plants. While ready-to-use sprays do a good job covering a large area, you need to be careful around flowers and plants, or you can kill them as well.

Direct sprays give you more precision, so you don’t have to worry about spraying areas that you don’t want any weed killer.

But keep in mind that these products tend to be a little stronger than the ready-to-use sprays and the granules, and this means you can easily fry your grass if you’re not careful.

Moreover, direct sprays are typically more expensive and cover less area than those products, so if you want to use them to treat your entire lawn, it can quickly get extremely expensive.

Concentrate vs Premixed

When you’re shopping for weed killers, you’re likely to see two options at your disposal, concentrate and premixed. While concentrated products are typically a little more cost-effective, they have a couple of drawbacks.

First, you need to get the right mixture of the product before you can use it. Second, once you’ve mixed this weed killer together, you need to figure out how to spray it.

You’re not going to want to use a Windex bottle to spray your entire yard, so you’ll need to invest in a commercial sprayer. This will likely knock your savings right out unless you own a lawn care company. However, the good news is that the ready-to-use sprays are almost always a concentrate.

That’s because you need to hook up your hose to use them, which dilutes the solution as you work. But since you’re purchasing the nozzle and attachment that goes right on the bottle you’re using, you’re not getting the same savings.

Finally, the only true “premixed” options out there are the direct spray options. These are far more expensive than the ready-to-use sprays or the granules, but they’re also extremely convenient for attacking weeds in tough-to-reach areas.

Tips for Picking a Spreader

If you’re choosing to use granules, you need a spreader. If you think you can accurately dispense them by hand, you’re wrong, and you’ll likely fry your grass learning this lesson. In addition, you can check this video.

Instead, opt for a spreader that allows you to control the amount of product you dispense, then follow the directions on the granules to a “T.” Don’t assume that you know better, and don’t over-apply granules to an area with lots of weeds.

If you do, you’ll end up with dead patches on your lawn. Stick with a high-quality spreader that will last for years and ensure that you can change the dispensing rate. We know we’ve already said that, but it’s so important that it’s worth mentioning twice.

Killing the Right Weeds

While we focused our review here on crabgrass, there are plenty of other weed types out there that you need to keep an eye out for. That’s why our top two choices can kill over 200 and 250 types of weeds, respectively.

While crabgrass is extremely common and easily identifiable, the next type of weed you’re dealing with might not be so easy. Choosing a weed killer that hits a wide variety of weeds reduces your chances of running into any problems later, and increases the chances of you having a perfect lawn.

Check the Weather

Before you head out and start spraying or spreading, do yourself a favor and check the weather report. Check both the hourly forecast and the Doppler radar, and if there’s any rain in the forecast, do yourself a favor and don’t spray until later.

That’s because rain dilutes the spray and makes it less effective, which means there’s a higher chance you’ll get crabgrass and other weeds.

You want to spray or spread on a clear day with no chance of rain so that you get the best possible results.

What To Do if It Rains

Unfortunately, the best thing you can do if it rains is to simply hope for the best. While it can be extremely tempting to head out and respray to get adequate coverage, it’s impossible to know how much of the product soaked in before the rain came.

If you overspray, you’ll kill all the grass in your yard, and this is far worse than if you just wait a few months and reapply then if you see more crabgrass or other weeds.

While it can be frustrating to watch the rain potentially wash away your work, the only thing you’ll do by heading out and respraying is make everything worse.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re pulling home from a hard day’s work or heading out for a much-needed break, when you look at your yard, you deserve to have a picture-perfect lawn. While it might seem impossible now, with just a little hard work and the right products, you can get your yard there in no time.

Even if it’s not the right season to apply these products today, why not get them on order so when it is time to treat your lawn, you have everything you need and one less excuse? Because the last thing you want is to miss your window because you waited too long to get what you need.

FAQs

Cody

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.