10 of the Best Crabgrass Killers That Won’t Kill Your Healthy Grass

Kenneth Wilson

We get it; dealing with a crabgrass infestation on your lawn can be troublesome and tedious! Crabgrass is a plant that can harm your lawn's overall health. It needs to be taken care of ASAP before the damage goes beyond your control. (Related: How to Get Rid of Crabgrass in the Summer (The Right Way))

When overlooked, crabgrass may take over your lawn in no time and suck the life out of your turfgrass. Fortunately, plenty of commercial crabgrass killers are available in the market today to help you kill these weeds without harming your lawn. Here are our top picks:

7,114 Ratings

It is composed of a Mesotrione 40% active ingredient, allowing it to work as a pre-and post-emergent herbicide.

160 Ratings

This product is formulated with 1.71% Pendimethalin, making it suitable to use regardless of the season.

13,684 Ratings

It is available in 16 oz. volume and has a long shelf life of 4-8 years. The dual-action formula removes the pesky crabgrass.

3,389 Ratings

The product can cover up to 5,000 square feet of lawn area, making it suitable for those with extensive yards.

507 Ratings

It is a post-emergent herbicide guaranteed to protect your grass while eliminating crabgrass and other broadleaf weeds.

26 Ratings

It can eliminate 250 other weed types, and can be easily applied as it comes with a beginner-friendly applicator wand.

0 Rating

It eliminates more than 470 varieties of common lawn weeds. It also has a fast-action formula.

1,201 Ratings

It has 128 oz. volume and can cover up to 1,000 sq. ft. of your lawn and is formulated with 0.0092% Topramezone content.

6,268 Ratings

It is designed with a built-in sprayer, allowing beginners to use it easily. The product comes with 32 ounces of formula.

507 Ratings

The product doubles as a pre and post-emergence herbicide. But it would be best if you were mindful of the application.

In This Review & Buyers Guide

10 Best Commercial Crabgrass Killers That Won't Kill Grass

We’ve rounded up our top lawn-friendly crabgrass killer picks in the market today:


Looking for a reliable crabgrass killer for compact, small lawns? The Tenacity turf herbicide is the perfect choice for single-use, with 8 ounces of compound volume. It is composed of a Mesotrione 40% active ingredient, allowing it to work as a pre-and post-emergent herbicide.

After application, it will be absorbed by the crabgrass to hinder its growth and stop it dead in its tracks. It also addresses other pressing issues such as barnyard grass, carpetweed, foxtail, and more.

Advantages


  • It has a shelf life of up to 5 to 8 years
  • Formulated with 40% Mesotrione active ingredient
  • Offers protection beyond just crabgrass
  • Works as both a pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide

This crabgrass killer from Roundup is one of the leading choices, preferred by thousands of homeowners and lawn professionals in the country. It is available in 16 oz. Volume and has a long shelf life of 4 to 8 years. The dual-action formula effectively removes the pesky crabgrass and prevents its recurrence for the next four months.

You can also use the product on driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Just after 10 minutes of installation, this crabgrass killer becomes entirely rainproof. This is an excellent consideration if you are located in a region with frequent rainfall.

Advantages


  • It has a shelf life of about 4 to 8 years
  • You can expect visible results after 3 hours
  • It comes in 16 oz. formulation
  • Guaranteed four months of crabgrass-free lawn
  • The product becomes rainproof in under 10 minutes

The Primesource Quinclorac is a post-emergent herbicide guaranteed to protect your grass while eliminating crabgrass and other grassy, broadleaf weeds. It is an excellent choice for both commercial and residential use. You can apply the product one week before the seeding or up to 28 days after the crabgrass appearance.


According to its label, the Spectracide Concentrate effectively eliminates more than 470 varieties of common lawn weeds. It also has a fast-action formula, which only takes as little as five hours to get rid of any weed on your lawn.


Ortho is a leading brand name when it comes to residential gardening needs. You can count on their weed killer to help you control your crabgrass infestation problem.

The Ortho WeedClear is also designed with a built-in sprayer, allowing beginners to use it easily. The product comes with 32 ounces of formula. Like all the other options on this list, the product removes crabgrass without harming the development of your lawn. Other than crabgrass, it also works best against chickweed and dandelion. The formula becomes rainproof just 1 hour after application, with visible results after just a few hours. It can cover up to 5000 sq. ft. lawns.

Advantages


  • It can cover up to 5000 sq. ft. yards
  • Equipped with an easy-to-use design
  • It has a 32 oz. formula
  • You can expect visible results after only a few hours
  • It becomes rainproof just 1 hour after application

Homeowners with extensive lawns can benefit from the Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer, an excellent choice for large-area coverage needs. It comes in with 160 ounces volume. This product is formulated with 1.71% Pendimethalin, making it suitable to use regardless of the season. Its generous quantity allows you to cover about 5000 sq. ft. area without the hassle!

Pro Tip: Apply the Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer sometime around spring, if possible. This allows you to protect yourself from crabgrass problems for the season.

Aside from getting rid of crabgrass, it also allows you to avoid winter seed germination, including chickweed, henbit, and Poa annua.

Advantages


  • Formulated with 1.7% Pendimethalin active ingredient
  • It has about 3 years of shelf life
  • It has 160 oz. of formulation
  • It can be applied in any season

This next lawn-friendly crabgrass killer is another crowd-favorite choice, as it never fails to eliminate pesky crabgrass (and other lawn weeds) time and time again. The product can cover up to 5,000 square feet of lawn area, making it suitable for those with extensive yards.

It offers effective results due to its different active ingredients: Quinclorac (1.61%), Dicamba, Dimethylamine salt (0.45%), and other components (93.09%). Regardless of its powerful formula, it will keep your green lawn safe.

Advantages


  • It has about five years of shelf life
  • It comes with 40 oz. quantity
  • It can cover up to 6,250 sq. ft.
  • While it has an active formulation, it keeps your lawn safe from damage

The Ortho Weed B Gon Weed Killer is another trusted crabgrass killer solution that keeps your lawn safe. Aside from crabgrass, it can also eliminate 250 other weed types (and more). The product can be easily applied as it comes with a beginner-friendly applicator wand.

In terms of product sizes, you can purchase this product in several different ounces. So, whether you have a small or big lawn, you'll have the proper crabgrass control for your needs!


Roundup is another famous brand in residential gardening solutions, so you can count on their affordable crabgrass killer to get the job done! It has 128 oz. volume and can cover up to 1,000 sq. ft. of your lawn. It is formulated with 0.0092% Topramezone content, clearing your lawn of crabgrass without harming the surrounding healthy turf.

After application, the crabgrass (and other pesky weeds) will turn white– indicating that the product is working as intended. You can also use this product all year round, regardless of the season or seeding schedule.

Advantages


  • It can cover up to 1,000 sq. ft.
  • Formulated with active Topramezone ingredient (0.0092%)
  • Ideal for lawns with bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass
  • The product comes with a dedicated sprayer

The Primesource brand may not be as prominent as the other names on this list, but it is also an excellent crabgrass killer solution that offers impressive results. This crabgrass killer is available in 64 oz. size and is formulated with Quinclorac active ingredient (18.92%). You can count on this post-emergent herbicide to be safe for use on all turf types and keeps it protected from broadleaf and other grassy weed infestation.

After application, you won't need to worry about a crabgrass comeback on your lawn. Other than crabgrass, it can also help you deal with foxtail, Kikuyu grass, torpedo grass, and more. The product doubles as a pre and post-emergence herbicide. But it would be best if you were mindful of the application. Ideally, apply it on your lawn at least a week before seeding and 28 days after the initial weed emergence.

Advantages


  • It is formulated with 18.92% Quinclorac active ingredient
  • It is suitable for both residential and non-residential lawns
  • This product is effective against other different types of weeds as well

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you naturally get rid of crabgrass?

Yes. You may purchase natural crabgrass killers if you don't want to deal with creating your homemade treatment. Some of them are made with ingredients including soap, vinegar, and sea salt.

Can you burn crabgrass?

You certainly can. Extreme heat will kill the cells in the leaves and stems of the crabgrass. It will not be able to produce its food and will die almost instantly. A burner or a blow torch can be used to burn crabgrass.

Kenneth Wilson
June 15, 2022
2terra, Reviews, Yard & Garden

Kenneth Wilson

Retired contractor. Currently residing in Southwest Florida. Now in semi-retirement, I write and manage this blog focused on helping home owners make savvy decisions when it comes to finding contractors and getting their projects done. I also operate remodeling design service for homeowners.

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