Best Overall
Espoma Organic Weed Preventer
Best Bang for the Buck
Preen Natural Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer
Best for Flower Beds
Gardener’s Supply Company Weedguard Plus Paper Mulch
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Stopping weeds early — before they can emerge from the stain — is the goal when applying a pre - emergent herbicide . A pre - emergent weed killer preclude the germination of unsuitable weed seeds , so it ’s a beneficiallawn carepartner in the war against weeds in grass , flower beds , and even vegetable gardens .
We spent hours researching pre - emerging weedkiller and testing a select few . We looked for the cream of the crop — products that can prevent weeds without utilize potentially dangerous chemical . Our favorite isEspoma Organic Weed Preventer . It ’s made from 100 % constitutive edible corn gluten repast , making it safe for tike and pets to be around . Plus , it works in lawns , veggie gardens , and bloom bed .
The right pre - emergent herbicide product for you will calculate on the sizing of the domain requiring treatment and the case of weeds you need to kill . This guide points out what to look for when shopping for a Mary Jane preventer and provides a list of some of the good pre - emerging herbicide on the marketplace .
Before You BuyPre-Emergent Herbicide
Pre - emergent herbicides make a roadblock that prevent weed seeds from sprouting . Because they stop tooth root from forge , pre - emergents are an effective way of life to control weeds , but they are n’t necessarily the correct production for every type oflawn weed , let in broadleaf and grassy sens .
A pre - emerging herbicide will keep mourning band seeds from germinating blowball and crabgrass , for example , but it wo n’t vote down the works once it ’s established . When broadleaf grass are mature , they ’re tough to get rid of . A targeted product such asdandelion killermay work best in this case .
Some pre - emergent herbicides are fairly specific about the weeds they direct . But others will bolt down almost any semen and are n’t a ripe pick for latterly sowed heyday borders , vegetable beds , or freshly seeded lawns . Regarding ingredients , choosing sustainable , environmentally friendly options that wo n’t pose wellness risks or damage the soil is always the best bet .
Pre-Emergent Herbicides Comparison Chart
Our Top Picks
The best pre - emerging weed killer are safe , sustainable , prevent a variety of weeds from sprouting , and offer well-fixed - to - follow instructions . All of the following products will reduce hand weeding and help obviate the need for additional post - emerging treatment of weeds .
Espoma Organic has been create organic garden products since 1929 . Few firebrand have more experience in this market . Its granular pre - emergent weed killer is made from edible corn gluten , with rude N to help feed lawn and base flora .
It is enforce twice a class in the same manner as man-made pre - emergent herbicides , so those switching up to sustainable practices will find it easy to employ . The 25 - pound bag will typically cover 1,250 square feet but can cover 2,500 square metrical foot if it ’s simply used as lawn provender . It should not be hold on freshly seed or overseeded lawns for weed mastery but is fine for established veg plants , flowers , and shrubs .
We have seen a little telephone number of reports of the product giving off an unpleasant smell and attracting flies when damp , but this may be triggered by incorrect storage or software .
What our examiner say : Stacey L. Nash , a Bob Vila staff author and product examiner , notes in theBest Weed and Feedthat “ Espoma can help preclude pre - emergent weed , but not those already growing . … We did n’t have to worry about children or pets walk on that lawn while the granules were still visible . We also appreciate that it can safely be used on bloom and vegetable garden . ”
Get the Espoma pre - emergent weed killer atAce Hardware , True Value , orWalmart .
Photo: Amazon
Like all Preen weed preventers , this pre - emerging product stops weed seeds from sprouting , but this one is entirely natural . It contains only corn gluten , which is known for foreclose seed sprouting . This Preen granular weed preventer can be used in flower beds and around other types of plant — admit fruits and vegetables .
We like that Preen weed preventer is a lifelike product that issue forth in granular cast and is easy to utilise with the built - in shaker lid for fuss - gratis , uniform program . A single app will keep sens seeds from pullulate for 4 to 6 weeks . It can be used on bare soil or in conjunction with mulch , such as shredded bark or pea plant gravel . It should only be used where plants are already establish . Seeds of worthy plants will not burgeon forth if sown in soil that ’s been treated with clavus gluten until the granule biodegrade to the extent that they no longer act as as a barrier to seed sprouting .
What our tester says : Debbie Wolfe , a Bob Vila staff writer and product tester , take down in theBest Weed Killers for Flower Bedsthat “ In my test , I apply [ Preen Natural Weed Preventer ] to my vegetable garden before adding transplant seedlings . My plants were all right , and new weed did not sprout . ”
Photo: Amazon Photo: amazon.com
Get the Preen pre - emergent weed killer atAmazon , Lowes , The HomeDepot , Ace Hardware , Tractor Supply Co. , orBlain ’s Farm & Fleet .
Gardener’s Supply Company Weedguard Plus Paper Mulch
The approach adopted by the Gardener ’s Supply Company is not to habituate a weed killer at all , but to expend a paper shroud made from natural woodwind pulp . This does n’t actually stop sprouting but keep light from getting to weeds , effectively smother growth .
Weedguard Plus can be set over unplanted areas and around be plants . It ’s easy to cut or pierce , so new plants can be slip in through it . It defecate it an ideal solution when creating flower borders , vegetable gardens , or plots using seedlings . The paper reduces vaporisation , keeping the soil moist for longer and concentrate the need to water .
A major upside of using paper mulch is that it disgrace during the growing time of year , adding utilitarian fibre and nutrient to the soil . The downside is that when the new time of year rolls around , the paper has to be relaid , or another herbicide needs to be used .
Photo: Ace Hardware
Get the Gardener ’s Supply Company pre - emerging herbicide atGardener ’s Supply CompanyorAmazon .
Best with Fertilizer
Sustane Spring Weed and Feed Corn Gluten
Sustane Spring Weed and Feed is a maize gluten - based pre - emergent dope killer and fertilizer certify as organic by theOrganic Materials Review Institute(OMRI ) . While it will allow for some general protection , it specifically targets those broadleaf weeds that are peculiarly unmanageable to deal with once establish .
Like many natural herbicides , Sustane bear a small amount of nitrogen—9 percent in wearisome - spill format . This is excellent as a lawn food and for border planting . When used as a lawn fertilizer , a 30 - pound bag will cover 5,000 straightforward foot . But for sess controller , the same bag only get over 1,500 square feet . Used as a pre - emergent weed killer , Sustane only require to be apply once a class and is secure for children and pet .
Get the Sustane pre - emergent herbicide atWalmartorArbico Organics .
Photo: The Home Depot
Best Ease of Use
Lawnbright Organic Pre-Emergent Weed Control
Most pre - emerging herbicides either come as granules , which are good applied with a spreader , or as liquids that need to be diluted and apply with a atomiser . This often involve an extra expense to buy the necessary equipment . With Lawnbright liquidity pre - emerging herbicide , all that ’s required is a garden hose , which plainly connects to the included pre - emergent spray attachment .
We revalue that Lawnbright weed ascendancy comes quick to use . It ’s made from corn gluten , and in increase to being nontoxic , it also complies with the USDA National Organic Program . However , despite claiming to be safer than “ traditional ” pre - emergent weed killer , Lawnbright ’s product label warns that it should be kept out of the reach of children and that it can irritate pelt and eye .
Get the Lawnbright pre - emergent herbicide atLawnbright .
Photo: Gardener’s
Or, DIY Your Own Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Indian corn gluten repast is found in many commercially available constituent herbicides , but it ’s also potential to bribe it from garden greenhouse and farm feed stores or online tomake your own skunk preventer . Applyingcorn gluten mealis done much like a granular pre - emergent herbicide . Simply sprinkle it over the lawn at a rate of around 20 pounds per 1,000 straight feet and irrigate it in .
Indian meal ( the deviation in the name is small-scale but important ) can also be used , but this choice is n’t as effective . Where corn gluten meal can be applied in other spring and gloam , Indian meal should also be applied during the midsummer months .
A 50 percentage seawater solution is sometimes advise as a natural pre - emergent and can raise effective at control weeds if lend oneself regularly . However , nothing else will grow in soil treated with it . That ’s why this natural pre - emerging is more appropriate for path and private road and can be used as aweed sea wolf for gravel . It should always be sprayed judiciously ( never oversprayed ) to avoid queer prime and other desirable plants .
Photo: Arbico Organics
Our Verdict
An established market leader , theEspoma pre - emergent herbicideis our option for the in effect pre - emergent weed killer . Popular lawn and garden options likeQuali - Pro Prodiamine , Preen Weed Preventer , andScotts Turf Builderweren’t listed because they did n’t encounter our sustainability guidelines — each contain harmful synthetical ingredients .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Pre-Emergent Herbicides
We await at the various types of pre - emergent herbicides on the market to determine our top selection , each of which is suited to specific shoppers looking for a particular characteristic for their yard .
While our research did find that there are two type of weedkiller available — liquidity and granule — we found that granule were more effective at provide long - live weed prevention . Many traditional liquid options are prone to overspraying and can burn the affected area . Fortunately , most organic liquids are far kinder to both plants and masses , so while compiling our list of recommendation , we were able-bodied to find a smorgasbord of different products that foreclose Mary Jane .
As with any of the house or garden chemical substance we investigate , sustainability is a key part of our selection process . It remains a challenge to find prove constituent pre - emergent herbicides , though during our research , we get wind a salmagundi of root that satisfy many organic principles .
Photo: Lawnbright
What to Consider When Choosing a Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Shoppers will want to be careful about opt a pre - emergent herbicide . Some should n’t be apply on filth where seeds will be planted to start a bloom or vegetable garden , for example , or on a sown lawn .
Also , effective pre - emergent weed killer option variegate in form , specialty , and in the type of element they contain . We prefer organic varieties but know that many popular commercial-grade weed killer contain toxins . There are endangerment require in using synthetic products . Many commercial-grade pre - emergents are labeled “ weed preventers , ” but that does n’t mean they ’re less damaging than “ herbicides ” or “ weed Orcinus orca . ” Shoppers will want to take care to always take recording label instruction for good use and administration .
Form
Pre - emergent weedkiller are usable in two primary forms : liquid and granules . While they both prevent smoke from emerging , groundskeepers and gardeners may favour applying one form over another . Either eccentric will help reduce the need for manualweeding tools .
Selectivity
Rather than place unlike type of flora the style many post - emergent weedkiller do , pre - emergents mark plant in different stages of increment . A pre - emerging will discontinue a seed from developing roots or a shoot , but it will not harm a larger plant ’s ancestor , making them a good choice forgetting rid of dandelionsbefore they germinate .
Also , a pre - emergent weed killer will not kill the root of recurrent weeds , such as bindweed or witchweed , that may lie beneath the dirt . They may also fail to prevent some types ofbrush weedsfrom growing . This can be a germ of confusion for gardener who see gage emerge after the program of a pre - emergent herbicide . To annihilate repeated sess , it ’s best to wait until they emerge from the soil and then care for them instantly with a post - emergent weedkiller .
A pre - emergent herbicide can be a goodweed orca for Bermuda grassand other type of turf grass , though , preclude trefoil , dandelions , and other gage from overrun the lawn .
Ingredients
Pre - emergent weed control products are broadly speaking defined as either organic or synthetic .
Increasing demand for more sustainable , environmentally favorable products has precede many shoppers to seek safer , organic choice . Our pick feature products that keep up guideline countersink by the USDA ’s National Organic Program and OMRI .
Longevity
Most users apply pre - emergent herbicides to form a barrier in the soil and stop weed seed germination . The average pre - emergent usually protects an area for 1 to 3 months , but some can protect a lawn or garden even longer . Many manufacturer recommend applying pre - emergent herbicide products in the spring at about the time forsythia blush are beginning to fade and then applying again in early fall to forbid blown - in weed seeds from germinating . While the use of a pre - emerging may not break off all mourning band from germinating , it will do away with the majority of them , even if used only once a twelvemonth .
Safety and Application
Whether synthetic or constitutive , applying a pre - emergentwhen children and pets are not around is the most authoritative safety equipment dominion . Here are a few more .
FAQs
reduce the phone number of sens in a garden or flower bed is the end of many gardener , and lend oneself a pre - emergentweed killercan service . Our informative guide addresses many issues and concern shopper usually have about purchase and applying a pre - emergent , but sometimes extra questions remain . Here are answer to some of the most coarse ones .
No , a pre - emergent herbicide wo n’t kill established crab grass , but it will block off the sprouting of new crabgrass seminal fluid . Our article onhow to get disembarrass of crabgrassoffers further advice .
For the best final result , most pre - emergent weedkiller should be applied at least once in the former fountain and once in the fall . check out the product label for extra instructions .
use a pre - emerging herbicide in the springtime when outdoor temperatures are still comparatively cool — around the low 50s — before weed seminal fluid start to sprout .
Rain will actually help the pre - emerging herbicide seep into the soil to constitute a roadblock against weed seeds . Only torrential rainwater would likely wash away the product .
If you need to aerate the lawn , do it before hold a pre - emergent grass killer whale . Aerating too shortly after applying a pre - emerging herbicide may cut off its roadblock , making it less effective .
While it ’s good to follow the instructions on the pre - emergent treatment you ’ll be using , most urge a double - yearly app — in the spring and early evenfall .
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Over the course of his decades - longsighted career , Bob Vila has helped millions of people build , renovate , repair , and live well each day — a custom that continue today with expert yet approachable home advice . The Bob Vila team distills need - to - know information into labor tutorial , maintenance guide , tool 101s , and more . These home and garden experts then good research , veterinarian , and commend products that support householder , renters , DIYers , and professionals in their to - do lists .
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