March 6th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Weed killers are a great way to take care of weeds in your garden. However, with so many different types of weed killers available on the market, it can become difficult to choose the right one for your needs. We will cover several types of the most popular weed killers and how they work, but first, let's talk about what kinds of weeds you might be dealing with.

Different types of weeds

There are many different types of weeds, but for the sake of simplicity, we will be talking about the two main types: Annuals and Perennials.

Annuals are plants that grow from seed to maturity within one growing season. Annual can also spread seeds that will create more plants the following year. These are typically easy to kill because once you kill them they don't come back from their roots. Examples of Annuals include things such as bittercress, chickweed and cleavers

Perennials are plants that grow from seed to maturity within one growing season, but they also come back from their roots in the following years. Perennials are much harder to kill because they come back from their roots each year. These include things such as Dandelions, Dock Leaves, Horsetail and Creeping Buttercup.

There are different types of weed killers to choose from.

So now we have a little more understanding of the types of weeds you will commonly find in your garden, let's talk about weed killers. There are many different types of weed killers, and each one has its own properties. Some are better suited to certain applications than others. Some are cheaper than others, while some have more long-term effects on the environment. It's important to know what you want from your weed killer before buying it so that you can make an informed decision about which product is best for your situation. Weed Killers can primarily be split into 2 different categories Selective and Non-Selective.

Selective Weed Killers

Let's start with selective weed killers, these are often more expensive than non-selective ones, however, they have the added advantage of being better for the environment and the rest of the plants in your garden.

Selective means that these products kill only unwanted plants while leaving desirable ones intact. This makes them ideal for use in yards that have a lot of other plants, flowers or even vegetables as there's no danger of accidentally killing something that you want to live. Because selective weed killers don't harm other plants in your garden or lawn, it's easier to maintain an attractive landscape without having to replant every season because some weeds have begun growing again. Selective weed killers are also less likely to damage the soil in your yard. This is because they don't contain any chemicals that could leach into the ground or water table and harm other plants or animals. So, if you are an avid grower and you have lots of other life in your garden that you want to protect, then a selective weed killer may be the better choice.

Non-Selective Weed killers

Non-selective weed killers on the other hand will kill or damage all plants in the area, including grasses and weeds. Due to the chemical used non-selective weed killers will not only damage other plants they can linger in the soil for longer, which can result in growing in that area is been a little trickier. However, this can be avoided by using foliar-acting formulas as these are applied directly to the leaves and stems so do not come into contact with the soil. Non-selective herbicides can be harmful to beneficial insects, wildlife and water quality. Non-selective weed killers are a good choice for use on areas such as patios, pavements and driveways and they are also the better option if you are wanting to completely clear out all growth in the area.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate is one of the most popular types of weed killer formula and is an example of a non-selective weed killer, it works by inhibiting an enzyme that is essential to plant growth and uses the above-mentioned foliar-acting formula, so it is applied directly to the leaf and stem. It is considered a broad-spectrum herbicide, meaning it can kill both grasses and broadleaf plants.

Organic weed killers

For those who don't like the idea of using chemicals then there has been an increase in organic weed killers becoming available on the market that is made from natural ingredients. They're also usually cheaper and eco-friendlier, however, they may not kill weeds as quickly or effectively (especially if you have a large area to cover). Organic formulas work by disrupting the growth cycle of plants so they can't get enough sunlight to photosynthesize properly, which eventually kills them off completely. This means they'll need repeated applications over time-- So organic weed killers are usually more beneficial to those will smaller areas to cover. These can be available in both selective and non-selective formulas.

So, which is the best for me?

Well, this depends on the weeds you have and your budget and there is also some element of personal preference involved too.

If you want to kill everything in sight, or are not too concerned with preserving other plants then go with non-selective weed killers like glyphosate. They're cheaper than selective and are widely available with varying strengths for those with more stubborn weeds.

For those who suffer from stubborn weeds, but would have quite a lot of plants in their garden they wish to preserve then investing the extra money into selective weed killers may be the right option for you. As mentioned they will target unwanted weeds and plants while leaving desirable plants intact.

And this is where personal preference comes into play, for those who are reluctant to use chemicals in their garden then organic or even homemade options are available that are made from natural ingredients like vinegar or citrus oil that won't harm your plants while doing their job of killing weeds. However, these are not quite as effective and may require retreatment, so this type of product is much better for the smaller garden that struggles mostly with Annual grasses. It is important to note if you wish to use organic formulas to preserve wildlife and insects, especially Bees as is quite common. Then it is important to note that despite the common misconception of using vinegar or Acetic acid makes it safe, it is incredibly deadly to Bees and can kill them within minutes should they come into contact with a surface that has been treated with Vinegar.

So, hopefully, you have a slightly better understanding of the different kinds of weeds and weed killers available and this should make it a little bit easier for you to make the best choice for you and your garden.