How To Kill Weeds With Broadleaf Herbicide
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023Learn how to mix and apply concentrated broadleaf herbicide to eliminate pesky weeds in the yard.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
On This Page
What Is Broadleaf Herbicide?
There are two major types of weeds: broadleaf and grassy. Broadleaf weeds have leaves, like dandelions and creeping Charlie. Grassy weeds, such as crabgrass and quack grass, look more like clumps of grass. How to kill those weeds depends on which type you’re dealing with.
Broadleaf herbicide is a type of weed killer that targets leafy plants, not grasses. It’s an effective way to get rid of weeds, but it will kill landscape plants, too — so take care to keep it off the plants you like. Here’s how to kill weeds with broadleaf herbicide.
How To Mix Broadleaf Herbicides
Broadleaf herbicide may come as a liquid or granules. If it’s a liquid concentrate, it needs to be mixed with water before application. Some liquid weed killers come pre-mixed.
The correct ratio of water to herbicide concentrate will differ depending on the kind you buy. Check the instructions that come with your specific weed killer. It’s important to follow the instructions exactly. The herbicide we used called for 2.5 tablespoons per gallon of water. We used the Ortho Dial ‘N Spray, which has a dial to set the water-to-herbicide ratio. The dial adjusts the flow rate to create the right mixture. This way, all we had to do is set the dial, pour the concentrate into the sprayer and turn on the hose. If we had used a different type of lawn sprayer, we would’ve had to mix the water and concentrate ourselves.
How To Apply Broadleaf Herbicides
With a hose end sprayer, applying broadleaf herbicide should take about 20 minutes for an average yard. Wear rubber gloves, long pants and sleeves, socks and shoes to keep the herbicide off your skin. Start at one end of your lawn and begin spraying the grass. Then, fan the spray from side to side as you walk slowly backward. This technique ensures even coverage for the lawn and prevents you from walking through the herbicide.
Don’t spray herbicide when it’s windy. Read the directions and pay attention to your weather forecast. There should be instructions for temperature and rain. Some products only need a few minutes or hours between application and rainfall, while others may recommend a day or two.
You’ll notice results within a day and have a totally different lawn in two weeks!
