11 Options To Kills Weeds Permanently [They Won’t Come Back]

Weeds quickly become the enemies of all lawn care enthusiasts. 

Luckily, there are many options to kill weeds permanently so they won’t come back.

We start to see our beautiful grass come back in full force during the spring and summer months. 

Unfortunately, this time of year also brings stubborn and persistent weeds. 

Maybe you have tried a few options with little success, or you’re fresh into your battle against unwanted and pesky weeds. 

Whatever brings you to this article, we’re confident you’ll find the best option to kill weeds permanently so they won’t come back to invade your hard-earned lawn. 

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Killing weeds permanently will help you make a great-looking yard!

Gordon’s Amine 400 2,4-D Weed Killer

Amine 400 2,4-D is a very effective weed killer for treating various property types. 

The weed killer works well on pastures, lawns, corn, and wheat. 

It is a chemical weed killer called 2,4-D, which is used widely to treat unwanted weeds’ properties 

Gordon’s Amine 400 weed killer has a concentration of 46.47%, making it very potent. 

Make sure you properly mix the product with water to dilute sufficiently. Improper dilution and application result in burned grass and damaged lawns. 

Hi-Yield Super Concentrate Killzall Weed & Grass Killer

The Hi-Yield Super Concentrate Killzall Weed and Grass Killer is a fantastic option for killing weeds permanently. 

It contains glyphosate, a very effective chemical used to kill unwanted plants. 

The manufacturer does not recommend using this product on lawns unless you want to clear all plant life and start with a clean slate. 

If this is the case, we recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after applying the Hi-Yield Super Concentrate Killzall Weed and Grass Killer before laying down any sod or grass seed. 

Many homeowners use this product to treat weeds growing on patios, driveways, sidewalks, and fence lines. 

It will kill your grass as it is a non-selective herbicide. 

With a high concentration of 41% glyphosate, the product is highly concentrated and requires proper dilution for application. 

A little bit goes a long way with this weed killer, and it will last most homeowners a long time. 

Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed And Grass Killer

For those looking for a more natural option for killing weeds permanently, we recommend Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer. 

With a concentrated formula featuring 20% acetic acid, the product dries up and desiccates weeds quickly and efficiently. 

It works to kill crabgrass, clover, dandelions, and more. 

With a certified organic formula, you’re able to treat your lawn, sidewalk, driveway, and patio, knowing it is safe for your children and pets. 

It takes about 24 hours after application to fully desiccate weeds. 

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product. 

This is a great option for those interested in switching to natural methods. 

Users of this product recommend waiting for a sunny day with no rain in the forecast for at least 48 hours. 

This is true for most herbicides as it allows for proper absorption into the plants without worrying about the solution being washed away by rain. 

The sun also aids in drying up the weeds to kill them off. 

Roundup Concentrate Plus Weed and Grass Killer

Roundup Concentrate Plus Weed and Grass killer is a very effective chemical weed killer. 

It features fast-acting technology with results in as little as 9 hours. 

The formula is also rainproof after 30 minutes, making it a great option for those who live in climates with frequent or unpredictable precipitation. 

Roundup Concentrate Plus Weed and Grass Killer have a formula featuring 18% glyphosate and .73% diquat dibromide. 

This formula by Roundup is designed to be absorbed into the roots to permanently kill weeds so they won’t come back. 

It is a non-selective herbicide, so make sure you are only applying to areas where there are unwanted weeds. 

It will kill off the grass on your lawn. 

Preen Garden Weed Preventer

One excellent way to get rid of weeds is to pretreat your property before they start to grow. 

This is great to do in the springtime before you start to see the unwanted weeds popping up. 

Preen Garden Weed Preventer is an excellent option for treating your lawn. 

The formula is designed to prevent weeds for up to 3 months. 

Trifluralin is the active ingredient responsible for stopping weeds in their tracks before they invade your yard. 

The manufacturer recommends pulling up any weeds and then sprinkling the Preen Garden Weed Preventer over dry soil. 

If the desired plants are wet, the product may stick to and damage or kill your plants. 

Once you apply the product, generously water the area to promote proper absorption into the soil.

The product is safe to use around over 200 plants, vegetables, and flowers, making it an excellent choice for gardeners. 

Monterey Turflon Ester Broadleaf Weed Killer For Lawns

Turflon Ester Speciality Herbicide is a synthetic herbicide. 

It is very effective against a wide range of unwanted weed types on your property. 

The formula uses Triclopyr to kill emerging weeds around your property. 

It is an excellent option for those battling invasive perennial grassy weeds. 

Turflon Ester controls unwanted bermudagrass, Kikuyu grass, and broadleaf weeds. 

Many lawn care enthusiasts with fescue grass lawns use this product with a lot of success. 

It effectively removes stubborn bermudagrass from lawns while keeping the grass safe. 

We recommend mowing your lawn a few times to promote a strong and healthy lawn before treating it with any herbicides. 

This helps to make sure the herbicide will not damage your hard-earned lawn. 

As with all lawn care products, carefully adhere to the instructions and dilution guide to make sure you achieve your desired results. 

Vinegar 

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White vinegar is a great way to kill weeds.

Vinegar is an excellent organic way to treat your lawn for unwanted weeds. 

It is all-natural and poses no risk to pets, wildlife, and children. 

Lawn care enthusiasts have success using a variety of kinds of vinegar for weed treatment. 

White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and malt vinegar effectively kill weeds. 

Vinegar is a non-selective weed killer. It will kill most plants it lands on. 

To keep this from happening, we recommend putting the vinegar in a spray bottle to directly hit each weed. 

Using a hand sprayer is another excellent method. 

There is a compound found in vinegar called acetic acid. 

It is the active ingredient most responsible for weed killing. 

It works by drying out the plant. 

The higher the acetic acid concentration, the quicker it works to dry out and kill weeds for good. 

There is also horticultural vinegar with a higher percentage of acetic acid, usually around 20-40%. 

Household vinegar usually has a concentration of about 5% of acetic acid. 

Cardboard

Cardboard kills weeds by blocking out air, water, and sunlight. 

Plants need all of these elements to grow.

Covering the affected areas with cardboard will smother and choke out weeds. 

This is especially effective for large areas of the yard filled with weeds. 

As you may imagine, the cardboard will kill other plants and grasses it covers. 

This method works best for removing extensive areas with high weed populations. 

One of the major benefits of using cardboard to choke out weeds is its accessibility. 

Most of us have cardboard lying around the house. 

Using it to beautify our yard and kill weeds is a great way to recycle things we already have on hand. 

Weed Barrier Control Fabric

Weed barrier control fabric is another method of killing weeds by depriving sunlight, air, and water. 

The black fabric comes in a roll like this to cut into pieces to cover affected areas. 

Use this as a temporary block-out method to kill off existing weeds. 

The weed barrier control fabric also lines yards and garden beds and prevents weeds from popping up. 

If you are establishing new garden beds or overhauling existing ones, line the areas with this weed control fabric to keep your beds free of weeds. 

Using weed barrier control fabric methods are non-selective treatments and will kill all the plants it covers. 

While this seems extreme, it is extremely helpful for removing and permanently killing weeds in large areas of your yard.  

Homemade Natural Weed Killer

Many lawn care enthusiasts prefer to use an all-natural weed killer with no chemicals. 

Chemicals are known to be potentially harmful to pets, wildlife, and humans.

For some, this is reason enough to avoid them at all costs. 

Luckily, quite a few natural ingredients are useful in combating weeds in the yard. 

Those inclined towards natural and organic methods have significant success with homemade natural weed killers. 

The best part of the homemade natural weed killer is the convenience of the ingredients. 

You may have these ingredients in your house already. 

Dish Soap

You’ll only need a few drops of dish soap to make an effective homemade natural weed killer. 

Dish soap is extremely concentrated, and a little goes a long way. 

Include a few drops of dish soap in your solution to help the other ingredients adhere to the waxy leaves of weeds. 

Vinegar

Vinegar is an effective weed killer on its own. 

Combining it with this homemade natural weed killer with the other ingredients makes it even more effective. 

The acetic acid concentration in vinegar kills weeds by drying out the plant and causes severe dehydration until the plant dies. 

Salt

Salt is another great method for killing weeds. 

Like vinegar, salt dries out plants and removes water content until the plant dies. 

Some homeowners pour salt on unwanted weeds popping up in cracks in driveways and sidewalks.

Epsom salt tends to work best, but regular table salt also works in this homemade natural weed killer. 

How To Make Homemade Natural Weed Killer

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Make your own weed killer to save money.

Making the solution is very easy. 

The weed killer requires a 2:1 ratio of vinegar to salt. 

So if you need a half-gallon of homemade natural weed killer, you’ll need eight cups of vinegar and 4 cups of salt. 

After mixing the vinegar and salt, add a few drops of the dish soap. 

It is a simple and easy recipe with regular household ingredients. 

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent and effective natural option for weed killers. 

There are a few ways to kill weeds: baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate. 

First, it is helpful to know how it kills off unwanted weeds. 

Baking soda works by pulling moisture out of the plants and dehydrating them. 

Eventually, this kills the plant off. 

Applying baking soda on hot and sunny days makes the process happen faster as the heat and light accelerate the dehydration. 

One way to use baking soda is directly sprinkling it onto unwanted weeds. 

This is a great way to kill off specific plants and areas where unwanted weeds grow. 

Another method of applying baking soda to kill weeds is creating a spray. 

Simply combine baking soda with water and a surfactant. 

Surfactants are ingredients used to allow the solution to stick to the leaves of the plants. 

Making a baking soda solution is an excellent application method. 

Using liquid solutions also allows you to target individual plants. 

How To Keep Weeds From Coming Back

Killing off weeds is one thing but keeping them from coming back is sometimes another battle. 

If nothing else, weeds are resilient and opportunistic, waiting for the next opportunity to pop back up in your yard. 

The key to keeping weeds from coming back is limiting their opportunities to grow and pop back up. 

One great way to keep weeds from coming back is to establish vigorous turfgrass for your lawn. 

Vigorous grasses tend to monopolize resources and leave little space for other plants to grow. 

Certain types of grasses tend to grow dense and lush. 

They are less likely to give opportunities to invasive weeds. 

Here are some great grasses to consider to prevent weeds:

  • Bermudagrass
  • Zoysiagrass
  • St. Augustine grass
  • Fescue
  • Ryegrass

Choosing a vigorous and lush type of grass is one step, but proper lawn maintenance is what will prevent weeds from coming back. 

There are a few regular habits you’ll want to incorporate into your lawn care chores to foster a lush and healthy lawn.

Check out our pick for the best ground cover plants to prevent weeds from taking over.

Water Regularly 

Make sure your lawn is well watered. 

Water is so important for plant growth. 

Keeping your lawn hydrated allows it to grow thick. 

It also keeps grass from burning or dehydrating in the heat. 

This often leads to patchy lawns where weeds have space to establish themselves. 

Mow Consistently

Regular mowing helps foster a dense and lush lawn. 

Stay on top of your mowing schedule to keep your lawn as healthy as possible. 

Healthy lawns are more resilient, making them less likely to be choked out by invasive weeds. 

Your mowing schedule varies based on climate and grass type.

Educate yourself on the specific needs of your type of grass to make sure you are mowing at the correct height and frequency. 

Fertilize Your Lawn

It is important to fertilize your lawn during the spring and summer months. 

Fertilizer helps to boost your grass growth. 

Many fertilizers also include a pre-emergent. 

Pre-emergents kill weed roots before they break through the topsoil. 

Using a fertilizer with a pre-emergent in the early spring helps to give your grass a headstart while prohibiting the growth of weeds in your lawn. 

Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing The Right Weed Killer For You

With so many options to kill weeds permanently, you may be wondering how to choose the best one for you. 

There are several factors to consider when shopping around for a weed killer. 

To achieve the desired results for your property, you need to consider these factors and properly follow instructions and dilution guides. 

If not, you may still find weeds in your lawn or face damage to your cultivated plants. 

Types Of Weeds 

There are different weeds and may require a specific type of herbicide to kill the weeds permanently. 

Broadleaf weeds require solutions to stick to the outer leaves. 

These products work by absorption through leaves and into the root system to kill off the plants. 

Other types of weeds, like invasive and unwanted grassy weeds, require specific techniques and products to successfully kill them off. 

Selective vs. Non-Selective

This is one of the most important parts to consider when choosing the right herbicide for you. 

Selective weed killers target specific types of weeds and plants without harming your intentionally planted grass and flowers. 

Using this type of product requires you to determine which weeds grow in your yard and make sure the selective weed killer works at removing them. 

Non-selective herbicides kill nearly every plant they come into contact with. 

These products are great for treating large areas for the total removal of all types of weeds and plant life. 

They are also great for targeting specific plants through spot treatment. 

Be careful with these types as they will kill your grass and plants. 

Chemical vs. Natural

There are many debates among lawn care enthusiasts about using chemical or natural weed killers on their property. 

There are a few things to consider with this, and the most important is safety. 

Do you have children and pets rolling around in your grass or potentially ingesting it? 

If so, you’ll want to use natural weed killers to keep your family and pets safe. 

Some properties drain into bodies of water like ponds, rivers, and lakes. 

In these cases, you’ll want to use natural options on your property. 

Chemical runoff is responsible for contaminating water sources. 

This often makes them inhabitable for wildlife and ruins drinking water. 

Make sure your property does not runoff into bodies of water. 

Do Natural Methods Work Against Weeds?

Yes. Natural methods do work against weeds. 

Sometimes they take a bit more work and time, but often the results are worth it. 

Knowing your lawn care practices are safe for your family, pets, and wildlife is often worth the extra effort and patience. 

Methods like homemade weed killer and vinegar take a bit more time and require pulling up the dead plants. 

They are safe to use around pets and children, making the extra task more worth it. 

Other chemical-free methods like cardboard and weed barrier control fabric also take more time but require no synthetic chemicals. 

Soil is like a giant sponge and will hold whatever you put into it. 

If you put chemicals in it to treat weeds, it will stay soaked in the soil in the long term. 

How To Apply Weed Killers To Your Yard

Once you have chosen the weed killer product best for you and your property, you’ll need the right tools. 

Hand Sprayer

There are many different hand sprayers out there to apply weed killers to your yard. 

Using a hand sprayer like this allows you to use whatever weed killer solution you choose. 

They are very easy to use and allow you to bring the weed killer around freely on your property. 

Hose Attachment

Using a hose attachment like this allows you to easily spray your lawn with weed killer. 

Some weed killers come designed to attach directly to your hose. 

Another benefit of this method is applying the solution without having to mix it and risk getting the ratios wrong. 

Granule Spreader

Some weed-killing products come in granule form. 

Granules are great for those looking for a slower and longer-lasting release of herbicide throughout their soil. 

To apply a granular weed killer, you’ll need to use a granule spreader like this to evenly distribute the produce. 

Simply fill the bucket of the spreader with the granules. 

Push the spreader to slowly and evenly distribute the granules throughout your yard. 

It is good to overlap each pass with the spreader to make sure you don’t miss any spots.