Weeds aren’t just an eyesore but a blight to the other plants in your garden, stealing valuable nutrients and growing space in their never-ending quest to spread. Whether you’re in the middle of testing out your new BBQ, playing garden games with the little ones, or relaxing in an inflatable hot tub, when you first see a sprouting or blossoming weed, the gut instinct can be to drop everything, run over, and pull it up.
While this keeps the garden looking neat and tidy in the long run, it is only a temporary fix – before you know it, the weed will be back, likely with reinforcements.
The only way to truly rid a garden of its weed plague is to kill the nuisance plants right down to their very roots with the best weed killers. While digging out weeds can work, it is a time-consuming job, requiring great accuracy to ensure that every single last weed root is removed.
Thankfully, there are plenty of weed-killing solutions out there waiting to take this hard and thankless job off of your hands. Weed killers are designed to kill weeds properly, from tip to root. Some are stronger than others, and some have very specific applications.
Some are very strong, indiscriminately destroying all plant life (great for clearing overrun garden shrub areas), and others are more meticulous in their approach, targeting only certain plants while leaving others untouched (perfect for the lawn with a stubborn dandelion infestation).
To help you find the solution that is right for you, we’ve rounded up the very best weed killers available in the UK. Below, you’ll see what we found.
The best weed killers at a glance:
• Best strong weed killer: Barclay Gallup 2L - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best all-in-one weed killer: Miracle-Gro EverGreen Complete 4-In-1 Treatment - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best for varied applications: Roundup Tough Weed Killer Super Concentrated 1L - Buy now on Amazon Uk
At the bottom of the page, we’ve also included a quick tip guide to help you maximise your weed killing performance.
The best weed killers
Best strong weed killer
Barclay Gallup is the UK's strongest off-the-shelf weed killer. By using the concentrated application of the chemical glyphosate, the product is ideal for all types of weed, be it annual or deep-rooted, grasses, docks, nettles, dandelions, or bindweed. Due to the strength of the solution, the vast majority of plant life will be killed after one application within days – right down to the root, too, preventing further outbreaks and preventing the need to pull up the weed.
This isn't a casual weed killer, creating temporary off-limits areas in your garden – consider weather conditions and protective clothing while using, and be mindful of children and pets. It's highly concentrated, so a two-litre pack will cover up to roughly 3332 square meters (0.8 acres).
Pros
- Doesn't contaminate soil
- Fast and effective
Cons
- Very strong smell
Best all-in-one weed killer
Miracle-Gro's EverGreen formula is a great all-in-one option for those with a mild weed issue on their lawn. Upon application, EverGreen simultaneously works its way into the roots of weeds and moss to kill them off while depositing release-controlled potassium and nitrogen into the grass's environment to encourage and promote healthy, lush growth.
The 17.5kg bag will cover 500 square meters, and you'll need this higher quantity to maximise the effectiveness of the product. Small applications can be applied by hand, but those with large will want to use a spreader.
Pros
- Nourishes lawn whilst killing weeds
- Helps protect against heat and drought with WaterSmart™ formula
Cons
- Can stain concrete/stone
Best for varied applications
Roundup's weed killer is both highly recommended and highly concentrated. Taking on everything from common weeds to Japanese knotweed and tree saplings to cut tree stumps, the solution will destroy the root of the weed within two days and ensure that it's not coming back.
This wide array of applications also makes the product ideal for clearing up driveways, patios, fences, and masonry. It'll last, too, as one litre provides 3000 square meters of coverage. Within seven days, residue from the solution is rendered entirely neutral by the soil, ready for planting.
Pros
- Super concentrated, so ideal for treating large areas
- Contains glyphosate, which is naturally broken down by micro-organisms in the soil
Cons
- Can not be used on patios, paths and drives
Best ready-to-use
Resolva's 24-hour solution is one of the best ready-to-use weed killers. With visible results appearing after only 24 hours, the killer works its magic on both the visible growth and the underlying roots.
The five-litre pack comes with a pump spray for accurate and efficient application and will cover approximately 200 square meters. For those looking for a quick fix that'll last on gravel driveways and patios, this is a great choice.
Pros
- Ready to use, no mixing required
- Comes with an adjustable spray for easy application
Cons
- Not as effective on larger weeds
Best on tough weeds
Weddol's Ultra Tough weed killer is the ultimate overgrown ground clearance companion. Using high doses of glyphosate and pyraflufen-ethyl, the solution will kill off 240 square meters of common weeds, like dandelions and bindweed, with ease, as well as hardy, deep-rooted pervasive weeds like bramble, docks, and thistle.
The product comes in pre-packaged sachets and can be added to watering cans or sprayers. Just be aware that this is a non-discriminative weed killer, affecting healthy grass and prized flowers as much as thistles and dandelions.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Kill weeds right to the roots
Cons
- Takes 2-3 weeks to see results
Best for targeted weed killing
The absence of glyphosate means that the lawn is left untouched, with only common weeds, such as dandelion, plantain, and clover, being killed off. This allows a lawn to flourish, as it is no longer competing for water and nutrients with other plants.
The Weedol powder is added to a sprayer or watering can for quick and easy application – once applied, it takes around a week for the roots of the weeds to be neutralised.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Kills weeds without damage to grass
Cons
- Can take up to 2 weeks to work
How to prevent the return of garden weeds
Once you’ve got rid of your pesky garden weeds, you’re going to want to make sure they stay away. Here are a few easy tips to help you prevent their return.
Apply weed killer at the right time
A decent weed killer will work its way into the roots of a plant and see that it's dead for good. But for that to happen, the solution needs to spend a little time being absorbed by the plant. Rain, lawn mowing, and high winds can all affect a weed killer's performance. Additionally, waiting until a weed's leaves are fully formed can also help in this process due to the increased surface area.
Fertilise grass
Grass is tough, it can win out over weeds in the quest for nutrition. Keeping grass-topped up with water, nitrogen, and potassium will help to keep the lawn thick and healthy, monopolising the available space and blocking weed growth. Products like Miracle-Gro EverGreen Complete 4-In-1 Treatment are great allies in this fight, both feeding the lawn and killing off weeds in one fell swoop.
Weed control fabric
Weeds growing through pavement cracks is a frustrating sight to behold for any proud gardener. A weed control fabric sometimes referred to as a weed control membrane, is a specially design covering sheet that can be pegged under decking, pavements, driveways, and patio. They block UV from seeping through to deep seeds, preventing any unexpected and unwanted plant growth. GardenMate’s woven weed control fabric is a great example of the product.
Reduce digging
Dig only when and where is needed, as turning and mixing up the soil can bring weed seeds closer to the surface, triggering their growth.
No bare soil
Bare soil is a competition-free vacant home, just begging for unwanted weeds.
William Lobley is a Content Writer and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology, gaming, and the outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online.
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