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You see those yellow blooms dotting your lawn, and you know that if you do not act fast, each flower turns into hundreds of seeds that blow everywhere. The right product stops this cycle by feeding your grass while it kills the weeds at the root, so your lawn chokes them out naturally over time. This guide sorts through the sprays, concentrates, and granules so you know exactly which one matches your yard size, grass type, and patience level without wasting time on something that does not work.
I’m Rikta — the founder and writer behind Lawn Gear Lab. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Whether you are spot-treating a few stubborn patches or covering a large area, the right fertilizer to kill dandelions also strengthens your turf so the weeds do not come back as fast.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Fertilizer To Kill Dandelions
The key difference between products is if you want a two-in-one weed-and-feed that fertilizes while it kills, or a dedicated weed killer that you apply separately. Your choice also depends on the size of your yard and whether you are willing to mix a concentrate or just want to spray straight from the bottle.
Weed-and-Feed vs. Straight Weed Killer
A weed-and-feed product (like Scotts or The Andersons) gives your lawn a nitrogen boost while attacking the weeds — the grass gets thicker and crowds out new dandelion seeds. A straight weed killer (like SpeedZone or Ortho WeedClear) only kills the weeds; you will need to fertilize separately. If you want convenience and your lawn is generally healthy, a weed-and-feed saves you a step. If you have a heavy infestation, a dedicated killer is usually stronger per ounce.
Coverage and Yard Size
Products are rated by square feet of coverage per bottle or bag. A ready-to-use 32-ounce bottle might only cover 4,000–6,000 square feet. A 1-gallon concentrate can treat 32,000 square feet or more. If your lawn is larger than a quarter acre, a concentrate is the smarter buy because you mix only as much as you need and store the rest.
Speed of Results
Some formulas use carfentrazone or other fast-acting compounds that show wilting within hours and full kill in a few days. Others rely on 2,4-D or dicamba, which take a week or two. If you want quick visible results, look for labels that mention fast-acting or results within hours. If you are patient, slower formulas often kill deeper-rooted perennial weeds more completely.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Form | Coverage (sq ft) | Weed Types | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotts Turf Builder★ Best Overall | Weed-and-feed convenience | Ready-to-Spray | 4,000 – 6,000 | Listed broadleaf | Amazon |
| Spectracide Large PlotAlso Great | Large yards & value | Concentrate | 32,000 – 42,500 | 200+ | Amazon |
| PBI/GORDON Trimec | Tough perennial weeds | Concentrate | 32,000 – 64,000 | Broad spectrum | Amazon |
| SpeedZone EW | Fastest visible results | Concentrate | Mix per 1,000 sq ft | 90+ | Amazon |
| The Andersons Premium | Granule feeding + weed control | Granule | 5,000 | 250+ | Amazon |
| Ortho WeedClear | Ready-to-use spot treatment | Ready-to-Use | Per spray (1 gal) | Listed broadleaf | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Scotts Liquid Turf Builder with Plus 2 Weed Control
Our pick — over 4★ from 36,000+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The hose-end spray that fertilizes your lawn while it kills the weeds
If you want to simplify your lawn care into one step, this is the product for you. The bottle screws onto your garden hose and sprays a mixture of fertilizer and weed killer, so you get a quick nitrogen boost for your grass while the broadleaf formula takes out dandelions, clover, and other listed weeds. One owner reported it killed plantain, dollar weed, and clover in 1 week, though Japanese clover took 2 weeks — that honest pacing is typical for a weed-and-feed.
The 32-ounce bottle covers up to 6,000 square feet for warm-season lawns and 4,000 square feet for cool-season lawns. At 0.5 pounds, it is dramatically lighter than the 8.99-pound Spectracide jug. The hose-end applicator has an on/off lever, and reviewers mention they can hear an audible signal when the bottle runs dry. It does not kill crabgrass, so if that is your main weed, this is not the right pick.
What you get
- Combines feeding (nitrogen) and weed control in one simple hose-end spray
- Attaches directly to the hose with an on/off lever — no mixing or measuring
- Kills dandelions, clover, chickweed, and most common broadleaf weeds
What to watch for
- Does not kill crabgrass — only listed broadleaf weeds
- Some weeds like Japanese clover need 2 weeks of patience
Best for: the homeowner who wants a simple, all-in-one lawn treatment without buying a sprayer or measuring concentrate.
Not for you if: you have crabgrass as a primary problem or need to cover more than 6,000 square feet efficiently.
2. Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop for Lawns Concentrate
A gallon of concentrate that covers a massive yard without needing multiple bottles
If you have a large plot of grass, you do not want to keep running back to the store for more. This 1-gallon concentrate treats up to 32,000 square feet of northern grasses or 42,500 square feet of southern grasses — that is 6.4 times the liquid volume of the SpeedZone bottle. The formula is rainproof in just 6 hours, so you do not have to worry if a stray shower comes through right after you spray.
Buyers report that weeds start wilting quickly while the lawn stays healthy, and one reviewer noted they saw results from a single application on centipede grass without hurting the turf. It kills more than 200 types of weeds as listed on the label, which covers just about every broadleaf weed you will find in a typical yard. At 8.99 pounds for the bottle, this is noticeably heavier than the 0.5 pound Scotts spray jug, but that weight comes from the sheer volume of concentrate you are getting.
What makes it the top pick
- Covers up to 42,500 sq ft from one bottle — best value per square foot
- Rainproof after 6 hours, so you can spray without watching the weather
- Kills over 200 weed types including dandelion, clover, and chickweed
- Won’t harm lawns when used as directed, including centipede grass
What to keep in mind
- Concentrate requires a separate sprayer — not ready-to-use out of the bottle
- Some reviewers reported it works slower than the label’s “hours” claim, needing a repeat application on tough weeds
Grab this if: you have a large lawn (over 10,000 square feet) and want the most weed-killing power per dollar in a single jug.
Look elsewhere if: you need a ready-to-spray bottle with no mixing, or you are only spot-treating a few dandelions.
3. PBI/GORDON Trimec Lawn Weed Killer
The concentrate that takes down creeping Charlie and buttonweed with a single pass
Some weeds laugh at ordinary sprays. Trimec from PBI/GORDON is the heavy artillery for tough perennials that do not die easily. One buyer mentioned it killed Creeping Charlie in 2-3 days and Virginia Buttonweed in 2 weeks — those are two notoriously hard-to-control weeds. The gallon covers 32,000 to 64,000 square feet depending on your dilution, making it a 6.4x volume gap over the 20-ounce SpeedZone bottle.
It is labeled for use on cool-season grasses, so if you have fescue, bluegrass, or ryegrass, this is a great fit. A 73-year-old reviewer called it the best weed killer they have ever used. One practical note: some users recommend doubling or tripling the concentration for especially stubborn weeds, so you may want to start with the label rate and bump it up if needed. The active ingredient is Trimec, a well-known three-way herbicide blend that targets broadleaf weeds without harming your lawn.
Strengths
- Kills Creeping Charlie in 2-3 days and hard-to-kill buttonweed in 2 weeks
- Massive coverage range — up to 64,000 square feet per gallon
- Professional-grade formula trusted by experienced users for decades
Limitations
- Labeled only for cool-season grasses, so not ideal for St. Augustine or Bermuda
- May need a higher concentration than the label suggests for heavy weed loads
Choose Trimec when: you are fighting creeping Charlie, Virginia Buttonweed, or other perennial weeds that survived weaker products on cool-season turf.
Skip it for: warm-season grass lawns (Bermuda, St. Augustine) or if you prefer a ready-to-use sprayer.
4. SpeedZone EW Lawn Weed Killer
The professional-speed concentrate that wilts weeds within hours, even in cool weather
If you want to see dandelions curling and browning the same day you spray, SpeedZone EW is the one to reach for. It contains carfentrazone-ethyl, a fast-acting ingredient that shows visible effects within hours, and it performs well even when temperatures are lower — so you are not stuck waiting for a heat wave. Owners mention that weeds curl and brown in 2 days, and one reviewer who applied it to a 13,000-square-foot lawn with a mower-mounted boom sprayer found nearly all the weeds dead in a week.
It controls 90+ listed weeds including dandelion, white clover, ground ivy, and spurge. You can reseed in as little as 7 days, which is fast for this category. At 20 fluid ounces, this is a smaller bottle than the gallon jugs of Spectracide and Trimec (a 6.4x liquid volume gap), but it is a concentrated formula — you mix 1.5 to 1.8 ounces per gallon of water per 1,000 square feet. The cap holds about 0.2 fluid ounces, so measure carefully.
What stands out
- Visible results within hours — fastest-acting product in this guide
- Labeled for use on both cool-season and warm-season grasses (Bermuda, zoysia, fescue)
- Rainfast in as little as 3 hours
Trade-offs
- Smaller bottle (20 oz) compared to gallon concentrates — less raw volume
- Some users report spurge returns after 2 months, requiring later re-treatment
Reach for SpeedZone when: you need quick satisfaction — you want to see weeds die the same week, and you are comfortable mixing a concentrate for a mid-sized lawn.
Consider another product if: you have a very large yard that needs multiple gallons of concentrate to cover efficiently.
5. The Andersons Premium Weed and Feed 24-0-16
The granular spread that feeds your grass deep green while it kills 250 broadleaf weeds
If you prefer walking your lawn with a broadcast spreader instead of carrying a hose, The Andersons Premium Weed and Feed delivers a 24-0-16 fertilizer blend that includes both quick- and slow-release nitrogen. That means you see fast green-up, and the grass keeps getting fed for weeks. It also contains iron for extra deep greening — a feature lawn lovers notice quickly.
Each 18-pound bag covers 5,000 square feet and controls existing dandelions plus over 250 broadleaf weeds. It is safe on bahia, Bermuda, bluegrass, centipede, fescue, rye, St. Augustine, and zoysia — but do not use it on dichondra or carpet grass. One reviewer who had a failed pre-emergent saw his lawn look much better after two weeks of using this product. A caveat: one customer observed it did not work as expected after two applications, so results can vary with heavy infestations.
What makes it different
- Granular form: no hose, no sprayer, just a spreader and a walk across the lawn
- 24-0-16 fertilizer with iron gives grass a deep green color
- Controls over 250 types of broadleaf weeds, including dandelions
- Compatible with most common grass types
Before you buy
- Not for sale in NY, FL, CA, or IN — check local regulations
- Some users needed more than two applications on heavy weed infestations
Go with Andersons if: you already own a broadcast spreader and want a combined feeding-and-weed-kill that greens up the lawn while it works.
skip it if: you need liquid spot-treatment precision or live in a restricted state (NY, FL, CA, IN).
6. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready-to-Use with Comfort Wand
The grab-and-go wand that targets individual dandelions without hitting your grass
This is the product for the person who has a few dandelions scattered through the lawn and does not want to mix chemicals or drag a hose around. Ortho WeedClear comes in a 1-gallon container with a battery-powered Comfort Wand, so you just point and spray. One reviewer described it as a lifesaver: within 2 days, weeds stopped growing, and by 2 weeks, 85% of weeds were dead and brown — all with a single application that did not harm the grass.
The wand has two spray settings so you can dial in a narrow stream for a single weed or a wider fan for a patch. It kills crabgrass, dandelion, clover, chickweed, and creeping Charlie down to the root, and it is safe for Bermuda, fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass, and zoysia. One honest warning from a dissatisfied buyer: the product may not work as fast for everyone, and some weeds needed a second application — so your results may depend on the specific weed species and how actively they are growing.
Why choose this
- Ready-to-use with a battery-powered wand — no mixing or setup
- Two spray settings for spot-treating individual weeds or patches
- Fast action: one reviewer saw 85% dead and brown in 2 weeks
What to know
- Some users reported needing a second application on crabgrass
- One negative review noted it took forever for weeds to wilt, so not all experiences match
Reach for Ortho WeedClear when: you want the easiest possible method — point, spray, and walk away — for a yard with moderate weed pressure.
Look for a concentrate instead if: your lawn is heavily overrun with weeds or you prefer a more economical bulk option.
Understanding the Specs
Form: Concentrate vs. Ready-to-Use
A concentrate, like Spectracide or Trimec, requires you to mix the chemicals with water in a sprayer. It costs less per treatment and covers much more area per bottle. A ready-to-use product (like Ortho WeedClear or Scotts) is mixed at the factory and sprays straight from the container or wand — it is simpler but more expensive per square foot and covers less area.
Coverage (Square Feet)
This number tells you how much lawn area a full bottle or bag can treat. The Andersons covers 5,000 square feet, while the Spectracide concentrate covers up to 42,500 square feet. If your lawn is 10,000 square feet or larger, a concentrate will save you money and multiple trips to the store. Always match the coverage rating to your yard’s actual size to avoid running out mid-application.
Weed Type Count
Labels list the specific weeds a product kills. Spectracide and The Andersons claim 200+ and 250+ types, respectively. SpeedZone lists 90+ weeds including dandelion and clover. A higher number does not always mean better for your specific weeds — check that dandelion is on the list. All products here kill dandelions, but if you also fight creeping Charlie or spurge, look for those names on the label.
Weed-and-Feed vs. Straight Weed Killer
A weed-and-feed (like Scotts or The Andersons) contains fertilizer that feeds your grass at the same time it kills weeds. This helps the lawn grow thicker so fewer weeds can sprout later. A straight weed killer (SpeedZone, Trimec, Spectracide, Ortho WeedClear) only kills existing weeds — you must fertilize separately if your lawn needs nutrition. The trade-off is that straight killers are typically more potent per dose.
FAQ
Will a dandelion fertilizer killer also work on clover and other weeds?
How long does it take for a weed-and-feed to kill dandelions?
Can I reseed my lawn after using these products?
Is it safe to use a dandelion killer on a new lawn or freshly seeded grass?
Do I need a separate sprayer for concentrates like Trimec or Spectracide?
Will rain wash away these weed killers after I apply them?
Which grass types are safe for these products?
Can I use a dandelion killer when it is very hot or cold outside?
How often can I apply these products?
What is the difference between Trimec and SpeedZone?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
Across the board, the fertilizer to kill dandelions winner is the Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop because it balances huge coverage (up to 42,500 square feet), kills over 200 weed types, and is rainproof after 6 hours — all for a price that beats buying multiple smaller bottles. If you want the fastest visible action, grab the SpeedZone EW for results you can see within hours. And for the simplest one-step weed-and-feed, the Scotts Turf Builder attaches to your hose and handles both jobs at once.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Lawn Gear Lab earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.