Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If dandelions, clover, and chickweed are turning your lawn into a patchy eyesore, the frustration is real. You want something that kills the broadleaf weeds, not your grass, and you want results you can actually see. This guide cuts through the shelf full of confusing bottles to show you the selective herbicides that deliver.
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.
The right formula for your yard depends on your grass type, the weeds you’re fighting, and if you want fast results or a budget-friendly approach — here is the breakdown of the best broadleaf weed killer for lawns you can buy right now.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Broadleaf Weed Killer For Lawns
Choosing the wrong weed killer can leave you with a brown lawn or weeds that just laugh and regrow. Focus on these key factors, and you’ll pick a winner every time.
Grass Type Compatibility
Not every weed killer works on every lawn. Some formulas, like Trimec-based ones, are safe for cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass but can harm sensitive warm-season types like Floratam St. Augustine. Always check the label against your specific grass type before you mix or spray.
Active Ingredients and Weed Spectrum
The active ingredients determine what weeds die. A four-way mix with 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop-p, and carfentrazone-ethyl (found in SpeedZone) is a powerhouse that handles over 90 weed types, including stubborn ground ivy and spurge. Simpler blends may only cover common broadleaf weeds like dandelion and clover.
Form: Concentrate vs. Ready-to-Use
Concentrates, like the Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop, give you the best value per square foot because you mix them with water in a sprayer. Ready-to-use products, like the Ortho WeedClear with the Comfort Wand, cost more per ounce but offer pure convenience — you grab, spray, and store with zero mixing and no cleanup.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Coverage | Liquid Volume | Active Ingredients | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBI/GORDON Trimec (1 gal)★ Best Overall | Hard-to-control weeds | 32,000 – 64,000 sq ft | 128 fl oz | Trimec | Amazon |
| PBI/GORDON SpeedZone EW (128oz)Top Performer | Fastest visible results | Broad spectrum | 128 fl oz | 2,4-D, Dicamba, Carfentrazone, Mecoprop-p | Amazon |
| SpeedZone EW (20oz) | Concentrated fast action | — | 20 fl oz | 2,4-D, Dicamba, Carfentrazone, Mecoprop-p | Amazon |
| Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop | Value for large yards | 32,000 – 42,500 sq ft | 128 fl oz | — | Amazon |
| The Andersons Surge Weed & Feed | Weed & feed in one step | 16,000 sq ft | 640 oz (granules) | Herbicide + 16-0-9 Fertilizer | Amazon |
| Southern Ag Lawn Weed Killer | Budget-friendly option | 5,000 sq ft | 32 fl oz | Trimec | Amazon |
| Ortho WeedClear (RTU with Wand) | Easiest application | — | 170.24 fl oz | — | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. PBI/GORDON Trimec Lawn Weed Killer, One Gallon
Our pick — 4.5★ from 600+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The old reliable that an 73-year-old reviewer called the best weed killer he’d ever used.
Trimec is a name that experienced lawn guys trust. This particular gallon from PBI/Gordon is built for cool-season grasses and targets the hard-to-control weeds that basic mixes miss. One buyer specifically bought it to fight Virginia Buttonweed overtaking their St. Augustine turf — a very stubborn weed — and reported it “performed wonderfully.” The coverage is impressive at 32,000 to 64,000 square feet, which puts it right next to the Spectracide for square-footage value, though you pay a bit more for the Trimec brand power.
You need to mix this concentrate yourself. A recurring tip from reviewers is to “double or triple the Trimec portion of the mixture” for really resilient weeds, especially if you are working in a short growing window. It does not harm the existing grass, but you may need to hit the same spot a few times for deeply rooted perennial weeds. Unlike the Ortho WeedClear below, there is no spray wand — you supply your own sprayer.
Why the faithful keep buying it
- Known to kill tough weeds like Virginia Buttonweed and wild onion
- Coverage of 32,000–64,000 sq ft per gallon
- Selective formula — won’t harm your grass
One catch to know
- You may need to increase the mix ratio for really strong weeds
- No measuring tools or sprayer included
For the DIY lawn nerd: If you enjoy dialing in your own mix and tackling a known, tough weed problem, this is a proven weapon.
Look elsewhere: If you want a grab-and-spray solution with no mixing — you will prefer the Ortho WeedClear with the Comfort Wand.
2. PBI Gordon SpeedZone EW Broadleaf Herbicide for Turf – 128oz Bottle
The heavy hitter that toasts the toughest weeds — clover in a week, others in hours.
When you want to see something happen fast, this is the one. The SpeedZone EW formula delivers visible activity within hours of spraying, not days. Buyers report it is “simply the best” for toasting a wide variety of weeds, and one reviewer who fought morning glory for a decade called it “more reliable than every car I’ve ever owned.” It handles over 90 listed weeds including white clover, dandelion, ground ivy, and even field bindweed — the stuff that laughs at other chemicals.
The gallon size (128 fl oz) is a concentrate, so you mix it with water in your own sprayer. It is rainfast (dry enough on the leaf that rain will not wash it off) in just 3 hours, which is a huge advantage if you are racing the weather in spring or fall. A single treatment keeps working in cool temperatures where many other herbicides stall out. The catch is that this product has many state shipping restrictions — it is not for sale to AR, CO, CA, CT, DC, IL, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, NM, RI, SD, TX, WA, WI, WY, AK, or MA — so check availability first.
Why pros reach for it
- Visible results in hours, clover control in as little as 1 week
- Rainfast in 3 hours — no worrying about a sudden shower
- 128 fl oz concentrate treats a large area with powerful four-way active ingredients
Check your state first
- Not shippable to many states (AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, IL, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, NM, RI, SD, TX, WA, WI, WY, AK, MA)
- Premium price point vs basic Trimec formulas
Deadliest pick: This is your go-to if you have stubborn, deep-rooted weeds (onions, violets, bindweed) and want to see them curl fast.
Not for you if: You live in one of the restricted shipping states — you simply cannot order it.
3. Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop for Lawns Concentrate, 1 Gallon
The value jug that covers half an acre and kills over 200 weed types.
This is the most generous coverage-per-dollar play on this list. A single 1-gallon (128 fl oz) bottle of concentrate treats up to 32,000 square feet of Northern grasses or 42,500 square feet of Southern grasses — that is nearly a full acre. It kills more than 200 types of listed weeds, including dandelion, chickweed, and clover, while leaving your grass untouched when used as directed. Unlike the SpeedZone above, this one is rainproof (needs 6 hours dry on the leaf before rain) in 6 hours, not 3, but that is still fast enough for most schedules.
Owners mention it is “much slower acting” than the label implies — one reviewer noted “no results in hours, that is for sure, much slower acting, but does act in time.” It works well on dollar weed, chickweed, and nuts edge, but some very tough weeds like foxtail may need a second or third application. If you have a large yard on a budget and can be patient, the Spectracide gives you the most liquid volume for your money — a full 4x the concentrate of the Southern Ag 32oz bottle.
Why large-yard owners love it
- 1 gallon concentrate covers up to 42,500 sq ft
- Won’t harm lawns (safe on centipede grass per buyers)
- Rainproof in 6 hours
A few trade-offs
- Acts slowly — not an overnight fix
- Some tough weeds (like foxtail) may need multiple sprays
Best for big properties: If your yard is measured in acres and you want to blanket the whole thing without buying multiple bottles, this is your most economical route.
skip it if: You need a quick, visible kill on one or two stubborn weed types — you will be happier with SpeedZone.
4. SpeedZone EW Lawn Weed Killer (20 oz)
The same SpeedZone power in a smaller bottle for smaller yards or targeted jobs.
If you do not need a gallon of SpeedZone but want the same four-way active ingredient stack (2,4-D, dicamba, carfentrazone-ethyl, mecoprop-p), the 20 fl oz bottle is your entry point. It controls 90+ listed weeds including white clover, dandelion, ground ivy, spurge, and goosegrass. Customers note it “kills everything but the grass” and that weeds curl and brown in just 2 days. The speed is similar to the larger SpeedZone — visible effects within hours and rainfast (dry enough that rain will not wash it off the leaf) in as little as 3 hours.
You can reseed your lawn in as little as 7 days after application, which is a big deal if you need to overseed patched areas in the same season. The label includes specific mixing instructions for warm-season versus cool-season grasses, so you get the right dose for your turf type. A small downside: the bottle does not come with a measuring cup, but the cap holds roughly 0.2 fl oz, which buyers have figured out works as a measuring tool. Do note the warning to not apply more than twice yearly.
Great for the average homeowner
- Fast visible results — weeds curl and brown in 2 days
- Reseed in just 7 days
- Labeled for multiple key grass types (bluegrass, fescue, Bermuda, zoysia)
Small bottle, small caveats
- No measuring cup included — you will need to use the cap markings
- Spurge may reappear within 2 months per some reviews
Perfect for 5,000–10,000 sq ft lawns: If you want SpeedZone speed without committing to a gallon, this is the smarter buy.
Pass if: You have a half-acre or more — the 128oz SpeedZone will be cheaper per treatment in the long run.
5. The Andersons Professional Surge Weed and Feed 16-0-9 (40 lb)
The granular all-in-one that feeds your lawn as it kills weeds — no spraying required.
If you hate mixing and spraying liquids, this is your answer. It is a professional-grade, four-way weed and feed that you spread with a regular lawn spreader. It eliminates over 250 common weeds (dandelions, clover, chickweed, plantain) while the 16-0-9 fertilizer (a mix of 16% nitrogen, 0% phosphorus, 9% potassium to feed grass) feeds the grass to build thicker, greener turf. A reviewer who “tried a lot of pre-emergents” (pre-emergents are weed killers applied before seeds sprout) finally conquered creeping Charlie with this product. The small particles give you more coverage per square inch than cheaper granular brands.
It works in cooler spring and fall temperatures, but there are important grass-type restrictions: do not use it on Floratam St. Augustine grass, dichondra, carpetgrass, or creeping bentgrass. It is also not sold in New Hampshire or Washington. One honest buyer said they “would not spend the extra money again” because results were similar to cheaper products, so it is not a miracle worker on every lawn. But for the convenience of feeding and weeding in one pass, it is tough to top.
Why no-spray fans choose it
- Weed and feed in one easy spreader pass
- Eliminates over 250 common weeds
- Professional-grade small particles for thorough coverage
Know before you spread
- Not for Floratam St. Augustine or dichondra
- Not available in NH or WA
- Some buyers saw no advantage over cheaper brands
One-step solution: If you want to save time by fertilizing and killing weeds together and have the right grass type, this is the easiest choice.
Avoid if: You have a sensitive grass type like Floratam St. Augustine — you need a liquid spray instead.
6. Southern Ag Lawn Weed Killer with Trimec – 32oz
The Trimec bargain that wiped out one buyer’s dandelion invasion in 2 weeks.
This is the most affordable Trimec-based option on the list, and it still packs the same patented three-weed-killer punch. It targets 5,000 square feet per bottle, so it is best for small to medium lawns. One buyer mentioned it “killed dandelion invasion in 2 weeks with no harm to lawn” — that is exactly what you want. It is also effective on spurge, chickweed, and clover, and it works in both conventional and hose-end sprayers.
The 32 fl oz bottle is a 4.0x smaller liquid volume than the Spectracide gallon, so if you have a large yard you will burn through it fast. Some reviewers point out it is “not great with clover” and that weeds may “return relatively fast,” requiring reapplication every few weeks. For the price, though, it is a solid entry point if you are new to selective weed killers and want to test a Trimec formula before committing to a gallon jug.
What makes it a smart starter
- Budget-friendly Trimec formula proven on dandelions, spurge, chickweed
- Works on 9 turf types
- Easy to use with hose-end or pump sprayers
Limitations to consider
- Small bottle covers just 5,000 sq ft — not for big lawns
- Weeds may return quickly; not a season-long solution
- Less effective on clover per some reviews
Smart buy for small yards: If your lawn is under 5,000 sq ft and you want Trimec performance on a tight budget, this is the one.
Move up if: You have a larger yard or need something that lasts all season — the Spectracide or Trimec gallon covers far more ground.
7. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready-To-Use with Comfort Wand (1.33 gal)
The zero-mess, battery-powered wand that makes spot-spraying as easy as pointing and pulling a trigger.
This is the ultimate convenience pick. The Ortho WeedClear comes pre-mixed in a 1.33-gallon (170.24 fl oz) container with a battery-powered Comfort Wand that sprays on demand — no measuring, no mixing, no pumping. You just point, squeeze, and move on. It kills crabgrass, dandelion, clover, chickweed, and creeping Charlie down to the root. It is safe on common grass types including Bermudagrass, fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and Zoysiagrass, and you can use it when temperatures are between 45°F and 90°F.
Shoppers say it works “slow but sure” — one owner reported it takes “an entire month for the entire plant to melt away to nothing.” That is noticeably slower than the SpeedZone or Spectracide concentrates. The 33% more liquid volume compared to the PBI/GORDON Trimec gallon is nice, but you pay for the convenience. There are also reports of consistency issues — a 2025 review complained that it “did not even turn yellow” the weeds, suggesting quality may vary between batches.
Why lazy lawn owners adore it
- Battery-powered Comfort Wand — aim and spray with zero effort
- Ready-to-use, no mixing required
- Kills a wide range of common weeds (crabgrass, dandelion, clover, etc.)
Slower and pricier per spray
- Weeds can take a full month to die completely
- More expensive per ounce than concentrates
- Some buyers report recent batches seem less effective
Click and go: If you want to walk your yard for ten minutes and spot-spray without touching a single chemical or mixing a drop, this is the tool.
Set it down if: You want fast, aggressive results — the SpeedZone or Spectracide will kill weeds in days, not weeks.
Understanding the Specs
Active Ingredients & Weed Spectrum
This is the science that makes a weed killer selective. A four-way mix of 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop-p, and carfentrazone-ethyl hits a broader range of weed families than a simpler two-way mix. The more active ingredients in the blend, the more types of weeds it controls — from dandelions and clover to tougher targets like ground ivy, spurge, and wild violet. Trimec is a specific three-way blend of 2,4-D, mecoprop, and dicamba that has been a standard for decades.
Coverage Area in Square Feet
The coverage number tells you how much ground a bottle or bag treats at the recommended mix rate. A 32-ounce concentrate covering 5,000 sq ft is meant for a standard suburban front yard. A 1-gallon bottle covering 32,000 sq ft or more handles a half-acre or better. If you undershoot the coverage, you run out of product mid-yard. If you overshoot, you waste money. Match the coverage spec to your actual lawn size for the best value.
FAQ
What is a selective broadleaf weed killer?
How long does it take to see results from a broadleaf weed killer?
Can I reseed my lawn after applying a weed killer?
Will Spectracide Weed Stop hurt my grass?
Do I need a surfactant with Trimec or SpeedZone?
What is the difference between Trimec and SpeedZone?
How often can I apply a broadleaf weed killer?
Can I use these weed killers on St. Augustine grass?
Will rain wash away the weed killer after I spray?
What if I spray a weed killer and the weed does not die?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For the majority of shoppers, the best broadleaf weed killer for lawns winner is the PBI Gordon SpeedZone EW (128oz) because it combines the fastest visible results with a powerful four-way active ingredient mix that takes down even the most stubborn weeds. If you want incredible value-per-foot and have a large yard, grab the Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop. And for pure convenience with no mixing, the standout is the Ortho WeedClear with the Comfort Wand.
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.
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