6 Best Weed Killers for Gravel: Keep Your Driveway Pest-Free
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Anyone who has a gravel driveway knows it doesn’t take weeds long to ruin a nice, neat appearance. You’re lucky if you make it through the first couple weeks of spring without a few green shoots popping up.
And, I think it’s safe to say we’ve all learnt that gravel is one of the worst types of ground to try to pull out weeds by hand, no matter what type of landscape tools you have. That’s why the best weed killers for gravel are an essential tool for controlling weed growth on such surfaces. And, since you’re not worried about harming nearby plants on a gravel driveway, you can apply weed killers more liberally than in flower and landscape beds.
In this article, I’m going to bring you 6 of the best weed killers for gravel you can buy online. If you choose one of these great products, you can start making progress on your weed problem within days.
Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
I have a long gravel driveway on my property, so I couldn’t even count all of the different weed killers I’ve tried out through the years. That’s why I’m quite confident that this list of the 6 best weed killers for gravel driveways is wall-to-wall full of winners.
Overall, I’ve decided to recommend Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer as the best weed killer for gravel. It combines fast-acting weed killing compounds with long-lasting weed preventers, meaning that your driveway will look great soon after using the product and that it’ll stay looking that way.
I’ve also included a concentrated option, Hi-Yield (33692) Super Concentrate Killzall Weed & Grass Killer, for those who prefer to mix their own weed killer, as well as an excellent natural weed killer, Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer, for those worried about their environmental impact.
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Best Overall: Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer
Why this is a quality choice: The Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer is a powerful and reliable weed killer that can take on even the toughest problem vegetation that’s going to appear on a gravel driveway. It also contains an effective weed preventer that’s capable of preventing weed recurrence for up to a year.
And, perhaps best of all, your order comes in a jug with a built-in applicator, which means it’s incredibly easy to get out and get started once this product arrives at your door.
Who is this for? I’d say that there’s very relatively few people who are looking for a weed killer for gravel that wouldn’t be very happy with this product.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: That being said, one exception is experienced gardeners who already have their own applicator and prefer to work with less expensive concentrated herbicides.
Form: Ready-to-use spray | Working time: within 1 hr | Coverage: up to 400 sq ft | Package size: 1.33 lbs.
Best Budget: Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer
Why this is a quality choice: Although Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer has some limitations compared with some of the top options on this list, it’s still a great weed killer that shows results within three hours. That’s especially the case when you bear in mind the incredible cost-effectiveness of this concentrated 11.6-pound bottle.
Who is this for? I’d recommend this bottle of weed killer to gardeners who want to get an outbreak of weeds under control but don’t want to break the bank by doing it.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The major problem with this product is that it doesn’t contain a weed preventer. So, you might have to go over the same ground once or twice during a growing season.
Form: Concentrate | Working time: within 3 hrs | Coverage: up to 7,000 sq ft | Package size: 11.6 lbs.
Best Natural: Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer
Why this is a quality choice: The Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer is a natural solution to weed control that actually gets the job done. Its vinegar-based formula won’t do any damage to the surrounding environment. It’s more than strong enough to kill any weeds you spray it onto.
Who is this for? I’d usually recommend this product to gardeners who really prefer to use natural and organic compounds when they’re gardening, which is a commitment that definitely extends to weed killers.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The trigger sprayer that comes with this product might be more uncomfortable to use when compared to the pump sprayer that many weed killers come with.
Form: Ready-to-use spray | Working time: within 24 hrs | Coverage: up to 500 sq ft | Package size: 9.08 lbs.
Best Natural Concentrate: Calyptus 45% Pure Super Concentrated Vinegar
Why this is a quality choice: If you liked the idea of using a natural ready-to-spray vinegar product, then you might also be interested in Calyptus 45% Pure Super Concentrated Vinegar. This product gives you a lot of control over the strength of the weed killer you want to use to kill weeds on your driveway while remaining all-natural.
Who is this for? Experienced organic gardeners should definitely give this powerful natural product a shot on their driveway.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you aren’t familiar with how to properly mix and apply concentrated weed killers, then this product might be a little challenging for you. It’s also very acidic, so you need to be careful when using it.
Form: Concentrate | Working time: within 24 hrs | Coverage: up to 1,000 sq ft | Package size: 17 lbs.
Best Conventional Concentrate: Hi-Yield (33692) Super Concentrate Killzall Weed & Grass Killer
Why this is a quality choice: Amazingly, you need to use only five tablespoons of this powerful weed killer in a gallon of water to kill weeds over a large area. The main herbicidal ingredient in Hi-Yield (33692) Super Concentrate Killzall Weed & Grass Killer is glyphosate, which is a widely used and effective chemical for controlling plant growth.
Who is this for? Like the other concentrates on this list, I’d recommend this product to experienced home gardeners who have all the knowledge and equipment necessary to use concentrates.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Since this product contains such a concentrated and potent herbicide, you can’t really use it anywhere except for grave or tile walkways, since it will harm any nearby plants.
Form: Concentrate | Working time: within 24 hrs | Coverage: up to 3,800 sq ft | Package size: 20 lbs.
Best Weed Preventer: Roundup Dual Action 365 Weed & Grass Killer Plus 12 Month Preventer with Pump ‘N Go 2 Sprayer
Why this is a quality choice: The last option on this list of the best weed killers for gravel is definitely a heavy hitter, the Roundup Dual Action 365 Weed & Grass Killer Plus 12 Month Preventer with Pump ‘N Go 2 Sprayer.
This ready-to-use product comes with a highly effective applicator that’s built into the bottle. It also contains heavy doses of both weed killer and weed preventer. You’ll see results from applying this product within six hours. Better yet, its weed-preventing properties last for up to six months.
Who is this for? If you don’t want to treat the same area multiple times as weeds reoccur, you should definitely look into this powerful product. It’s also one of the easiest products on the list to use, so gardeners who are nervous about using complicated weed-killing products can also give it a look.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The product is rain-proof after thirty minutes, which isn’t bad but might prevent you from using it on certain spring days.
Form: Ready-to-use spray | Working time: within 6 hrs | Coverage: up to 400 sq ft | Package size: 12.76 lbs.
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Buying Considerations for The Best Weed Killers For Gravel
Form
Like many gardening products, weed killers come in a lot of different forms that each have their own pluses and minuses in terms of cost, use case, and ease of use. Weed killers commonly come in the following forms: ready-to-use sprays, liquid, concentrates, and water-soluble granules.
Concentrates, for instance, are usually more cost-effective than ready-to-use sprays. However, they’re a bit more difficult to use because you have to complete extra steps like mixing the compound and putting it in an applicator. Each comparison will come with trade-offs like that. Which form of weed killer you prefer using will come down to your gardening experience and preferences.
Working Time
The amount of time it takes for a weed killer to work is another important consideration. After all, the longer it takes for a weed killer to actually kill the weeds you’ve sprayed it on, the more chances those weeds will have to spread their seeds and cause even more problems. Most weed killers on the market are able to kill weeds within 24 hours, with some promising even quicker working times.
Coverage
Finally, make sure that you’re going to buy enough weed killer (or weed preventer) to treat the entire gravel area that you’re worried about. Before purchasing any product, you should see what the manufacturer says its coverage area is and then compare that number with the area that you’re planning on treating. This step is less important if you just want to treat a few weeds that have popped up, but it’s essential if you’re dealing with a larger outbreak of undesirable plants on your driveway.
How I Choose These Products
I have a long gravel driveway leading to my home, and I’m constantly struggling with weed control on the surface. I’ve tried out all the products on this list personally. I’ve also tried several that didn’t perform very well and, therefore, didn’t make it. I reached out to other people I know who have gravel driveways to find out what works for them. And, I read a whole host of online reviews.
This research has led to a list that’s filled with effective products backed up by reputable manufacturers. I hope that you’ve been able to find a product that meets all your needs on this list of the best weed killers for gravel.
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Final Verdict
Overall, Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer tops our list of the best weed killers for gravel driveways. It’s incredibly fast-acting, with the ability to kill any weeds it comes into contact with by the hour mark. And, its weed-preventing feature is incredibly long-lasting, helping to keep your driveway clear of weeds for up to a year. To me, that looks like Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer offers the best of both worlds.
FAQs
What is the best thing to kill weeds in gravel?
In general, weed killers are the most effective way to kill weeds in gravel. That’s simply because you don’t have a lot of other options. Since the roots of weeds that are growing in gravel are particularly well protected (unlike on lawns and similar surfaces), you don’t have much of a chance of pulling them out by hand.
And, since you can’t really stop them by using landscape fabric or anything else, you’re really just left with weed killer if you’d like to make a quick impact on weed growth.
How do you permanently stop weeds from growing in gravel?
Unfortunately, it’s just about impossible to permanently stop weeds from appearing in gravel. Whether you place landscape fabric underneath your driveway or pull out each and every weed by hand, something will eventually break through.
The best weed killers for gravel can kill weeds and stop them from re-emerging for a time. Eventually, though, you’ll have to treat your driveway again with some type of herbicide. That’s because, much like fertilizers and plant foods, whatever compounds you put into the ground to combat weeds will eventually lose their effectiveness.
