We’ve found the best weed killer for flower beds and we want to make sure you get the right product to get the job done. Keep reading to see our top picks and recommendations.
Top 3 Weed Killers for Flower Beds
Nothing is more frustrating than planning and planting a perfectly landscaped flower bed only to find within a season that it is full of undesirable grasses and weeds.
One of the challenges when it comes to reclaiming landscaped beds is to find a product that will successfully control those unwanted weeds while giving you peace of mind and not harming your shrubs, flowers and other ornamental plants.
This guide will give you some great options to get rid of the weeds and some pointers that will help you avoid them in the future.
Editors note:
Before we get into our list we recommend that you always carefully read the label of any product that you will be using on your landscape.
Many products that are labeled as weed and grass killers are classified as non-selective herbicides. Non-selective meaning that it will injure and/or kill any plant that it is applied to.
Be sure to read the label and determine if that product fits your application needs.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, is an example of a non-selective herbicide. Glyphosate is effective in killing unwanted weeds in landscape beds, but if overspray is a concern other products may be more effective.
The Best Weed Killer For Flower Beds
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1.Fertilome 8 Oz Over The Top Grass Killer – 10434
Best For: Generalized Grass Control
Fertilome’s Over the Top Grass Killer is the perfect product to use if you have unwanted grasses creeping into your flower beds. This post emergent weed control product is labeled for control of over 30 different grass types while protecting your shrubs and ornamentals. Over the Top can also be used in vegetables and fruit gardens.
Pros
- Great control of unwanted grasses
- Safe to use in landscape beds and gardens
- Cost effective
Cons
- None
2. Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer (Ready-to-Use)
Best For: Broadleaf Weeds in Your Flower Bed
(Broadleaf Weeds are weeds with irregular shaped leaves which don’t look like grass)
Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer is used as a post emergent herbicide to control unwanted grasses and non grassy weeds. Although this product is listed for control of grasses it really performs well in controlling your typical weeds. If you have dandelions, clover and other broadleaf weeds this product is for you.
Pros
- Great control for non-grassy weeds like clover and dandelion
- Best for spot spraying weeds
- Easy ready to use spray bottle
- Quick Results
Cons
- Overspray to desirable plants may kill or injure, be careful with application
3. Preen Weed Preventer
This product offered by trusted garden brand Preen is the best season by season weed control product for your flower beds. Preen weed preventer is a pre-emergent that will stop weed growth before it starts. So it doesn’t actually kill weeds that are mature, but once you get rid of the weeds you will definitely want to use this product to keep your flower beds weed-free.
This granular product is best applied in early spring and won’t harm your flowers or ornamentals. Add this product to your seasonal garden plan and you will be weed free in no time.
Pros:
- Only requires 1 application to keep weeds away for up to 6 months.
- Safe to use around more than 600 perennials, groundcovers, shrubs and trees.
- Effective when applied before weeds sprout or anytime they are actively growing.
- Easy shake-top applicator.
Cons:
- As mentioned above this product doesn’t kill maturely established weeds, but is very effective at preventing weed growth before they sprout or during their growth cycle.
Can you use vinegar as a weed killer for flower beds?
Vinegar has shown some effectiveness in killing unwanted plants but it also is non-selective in nature potentially injuring or killing desirable plants.
With that noted, if you were to use vinegar, apply it directly to the plant with a spray bottle to minimize damage.
Vinegar works best with follow-up applications weekly until the plant is controlled.
Do Organic Weed Killers Work on Flower Beds?
Organic weed killers may fall short in their effectiveness to adequately control undesirable weeds in your landscape and flower beds. Follow-up applications may increase effectiveness.
What do the experts recommend when it comes to removing weeds from flower beds?
Hand pulling
Most landscape and garden professionals recommend routine hand pulling for unwanted weeds.
Hand pulling works great especially if performed often before your flower bed gets out of control.
When hand pulling weeds it is best to try and remove the entire weed and its root to minimize recurrence. Hand pulling will also give instant weed removal gratification.
Weed killers often take a week or two to do their job. If you plan on using a weed killer you will want to remove the unwanted weed when it’s dead, so if you are hand pulling you are essentially killing two birds with one stone.
If bending over and hand pulling is too much for your back we highly recommend looking into a manual garden weeder that will leave you upright for the task.
Manual weed tools work well by inserting the spiked prongs into the middle of the weed and then twisting the tool to remove the weed and exposing the roots with minimal effort.
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