6 Best Weed Killers for Bermuda Grass: Oust Only the Pest
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Bermuda grass is a beautiful and easy-to-grow lawn species that’s popular the world over, both with homeowners and the managers of golf courses and sports fields. Despite its good qualities like a deep green color and a resistance to drought conditions, Bermuda grass is vulnerable to weeds.
That’s why many home gardeners use selective herbicides on their Bermuda grass lawns to control aggressive weeds. The best weed killers for Bermuda grass can either get an outbreak of weeds under control quickly or stop it before it starts. Since being out on my hands and knees pulling weeds is one of my least favorite gardening jobs, I’ve always relied on weed killers to keep my lawn in tip-top shape.
I’ve gathered 6 of the best weed killers for Bermuda grass you can buy online. I’m confident that everyone who has a Bermuda grass lawn and struggles with weeds can find a product on this list that will work for them.
Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
After looking through my own Amazon order history to see all the weed killers for Bermuda grass I’ve used over the years, as well as doing lots of online research on some alternative products, I’ve collected six of the best options for various use cases.
Overall, I’ve decided to recommend Ortho WeedClear Ready-to-Use Lawn Weed Killer as the best weed killer for Bermuda grass. It’s a ready-to-use product that comes with a built-in applicator, so just about anyone can order and start getting to work at controlling weeds the very next day.
I’ve also included a weed preventer (The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control) that you can use to get ahead of weed growth early in the season, as well as a multi-functional option that includes a weed preventer and lawn fertilizer in addition to weed killer (Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action, Weed Killer and Preventer Plus Lawn Fertilizer).
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Best Overall: Ortho WeedClear Ready-to-Use Lawn Weed Killer
Why This is a Quality Choice: WeedClear Ready-to-Use Lawn Weed Killer by the well-known Ortho brand is an easy-to-use and very consistent weed killer. It comes with everything you need to get started, including a built-in applicator and premixed formula. (It’s also available in a few different forms, including concentrate and bulk, so you’re able to order the version of the product that best suits your needs.)
Who is this for? Just about any homeowner can use this product to take care of their Bermuda grass lawn, whether you’re new to lawn care or an experienced gardener with all the equipment and know-how necessary to just buy concentrated herbicides.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some customers report that the built-in applicator can have an unusual spray pattern, which can take some getting used to.
Ingredients: 2,4-D dimethylamine salt, Quinclorac, Dicama, and Dimethylamine salt | Effective period: Results in 24 hours | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: None | Package size: 9.46 lbs.
Best Budget: Spectracide Lawn Weed Killer
Why This is a Quality Choice: Spectracide Lawn Weed Killer is a fast-acting selective herbicide that can deliver results within just three hours. It’s also a very affordable option, but the manufacturer doesn’t make any compromises despite the low price. And, application is incredibly easy because all you need to do is attach your hose to the bottle and then spray away—no pumping necessary.
Who is this for? This small and comfortable-to-use weed killer is an excellent choice for anyone who needs to spot treat a few troublesome areas and get rid of the weeds growing there.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This product comes with less volume than many of its competitors on this list, which means it’s not a great option for gardeners who need to treat the entirety of a large lawn.
Ingredients: 2,4-D, dimethylamine salt, Quinclorac, Dicamba, dimethylamine salt, and Sulfentrazone | Effective period: Results in 3 hours | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: Garden hose | Package size: 2.5 lbs.
Best Granules: Scotts Weed Control for Lawns
Why This is a Quality Choice: Scotts Weed Control for Lawns is an effective way to kill weeds over a large area. Each 14-pound bag of weed killer is capable of dealing with clovers, dandelions, and many other types of weed over an area of 5000 square feet.
Who is this for? Gardeners who like to use a rotary spreader to fertilize their lawns will be very comfortable using this excellent product for weed control.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The manufacturer recommends not watering your grass for 2 days after application, which can mean that gardeners living in wetter locales might have trouble finding a suitable rain-free window to apply it.
Ingredients: 2,4-D, Mecoprop-p, and Dicamba | Effective period: Starts working on contact | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: Granule spreader recommended | Package size: 14 lbs.
Best Concentrate: Torocity Turf Herbicide by Atticus
Why This is a Quality Choice: Many experienced home gardeners swear by using concentrates as a result of their cost effectiveness and the amount of control you can exercise over the dose of weed killer your lawn gets. And, a plastic measuring syringe is included with your purchase, which makes the process of mixing the concentrate with water a lot easier and less error-prone.
Who is this for? I’d recommend this product to experienced gardeners who are experienced with using concentrates for weed control.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Using concentrates to kill weeds is significantly more risky than using ready-to-use formulas as a result of the risk to your health and the surrounding environment. You need to make sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions and all safety procedures to use products like this one.
Ingredients: 40.0% mesotrione | Effective period: 8 weeks | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: Fluid or spray applicator | Package size: 8 ounces
Best Multi-functional: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action, Weed Killer and Preventer Plus Lawn Fertilizer
Why This is a Quality Choice: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action is a multi-functional product that does a few necessary jobs for your lawn at once. It not only kills and prevents weed for up to three months, but it also provides a helpful fertilizing boost for your lawn. A nice bonus with this product is that you can choose between a few different order sizes so you can get the perfect amount for your lawn’s square footage.
Who is this for? If you don’t want to separately buy and apply several different products to your lawn at various points throughout the growing season, then you can use Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action, Weed Killer and Preventer Plus Lawn Fertilizer to save you a lot of work.
Flaws but not deal breakers: The fertilizer contains plenty of nitrogen and potassium, but it doesn’t have any phosphorus in it—which many gardeners would prefer to be in there.
Ingredients: 2,4-D and MCPP | Effective period: 12 weeks | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: Granule spreader recommended | Package size: 11.3 lbs.
Best Weed Preventer: The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control
Why This is a Quality Choice: The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control is an excellent way to prevent weeds for a long period of time. Its formula is able to prevent the germination of weeds, thereby stopping them from growing in the first place.
Who is this for? I’d say that this product is the perfect fit for two groups of people: those who want to use it early in the year to prevent weed growth and those who want to use it as a follow-up to a conventional weed killer to prevent any reemergence of weeds.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you miss applying it before the first stage of weed growth—namely germination—then this product won’t be effective. However, if you’re able to get a jump on the weeds, then it’s a great solution.
Ingredients: Prodiamine | Effective period: 26 weeks | Selective: Yes | Required Equipment: Granule spreader recommended | Package size: 18 lbs.
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Buying Considerations for the Best Weed Killers for Bermuda Grass
Ingredients
There are many different ingredients that manufacturers use to create weed killers safe for Bermuda grass. This includes both herbicides made from natural ingredients, like corn gluten meal and vinegar, and those made from chemical compounds.
In general, the types of weeds you’re trying to combat and the growing conditions of your Bermuda grass lawn are the factors you want to consider when choosing what ingredients to look for in a weed killer.
If you’re just trying to kill a few dandelions, then you can probably use a natural weed killer with adequate results. However, if you’re dealing with more resilient species like poison ivy or crab grasses, then it’s probably a good idea to get a stronger and more reliable synthetic herbicide.
Selectivity
I wouldn’t recommend using non-selective herbicides on your lawn because although these weed killers will take care of weeds, they can also harm the surrounding grass. Even if you’re careful about applying these types of weed killers, you’ll still end up with a less uniform, and less healthy, lawn.
You can, however, use non-selective herbicides on the areas around your lawn. This will help you create a “buffer zone” to which the weeds that harm your lawn cannot spread, helping you avoid a lot of spread to other areas.
Effective Period
Finally, the effective period of the weed killers for Bermuda grass that you’re considering buying is an important factor to consider. Some products are designed to kill weeds quickly when they emerge and, as a result, don’t have a very long period of effectiveness. Other products take the opposite approach and are intended to prevent the growth of weeds for a long period of time.
Which approach you prefer mostly depends on your own preferences and how much time you have to spend gardening. If you’re happy to spot clear weeds every week or two, then I’d recommend using a fast-acting herbicide. But, I totally understand those gardeners who would rather apply a preventative weed killer at the beginning of the growing season and then forget about it.
How I Choose These Products
Since I’m always trying to make my lawn care routine more efficient and optimal, I’ve ended up trying out just about all of the products on this list at some time or another. (The less time I have to spend with my weeding tools out or laying out landscape fabric, the better.) As a result, many of the benefits and problems with the products I’ve shared have come from my own personal experience using them.
I also made sure to research how other users of these products have found their performance to back up my own experience. That was able to help me learn about how these products perform in growing environments that are different from what I’m used to, as well as learn about some problems I haven’t experienced. At the end of the day, I’m quite happy with the list I’ve put together and hope that you’ve found the best weed killers for Bermuda grass for your needs.
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Final Verdict
Overall, I’ve recommended Ortho WeedClear Ready-to-Use Lawn Weed Killer as the best weed killer for Bermuda grass because of its powerful and selective formula. It’s a fast-acting product that comes in a variety of different forms, which makes it an appropriate purchase for a variety of different profiles of gardeners. Save yourself the trouble of having to get out your weeding tools and use a weed killer to keep your Bermuda grass looking pristine.
FAQs
What kills weeds but not Bermuda grass?
There are a number of selective herbicidal compounds that will kill broadleaf weeds, crab grass, and other undesirable plants without harming Bermuda grass. The best weed killers for Bermuda grass usually contain some combination of dimethylamine salt, sulfentrazone, and dicamba acid, as well as a few other ingredients. These compounds are formulated to attack weeds but not grass species like Bermuda grass.
Can you use weed killer on Bermuda grass?
Yes, you can use many types of weed killers on Bermuda grass. The best weed killers for Bermuda grass contain selective herbicides that have been designed to kill weeds without harming the surrounding grasses. If you’re resistant to using a weed killer on your lawn, then you can also consider using a weeding tool like a hori hori knife to pull out weeds manually or try out shrinking your lawn like this article describes.
