Safer Store-Bought Weed Killer Alternatives To Glyphosate

Is your garden overrun with weeds, and is pulling them out manually becoming too much of a chore? Although glyphosate is effective and popular, it's a weed killer that you should think twice about using due to the harm it may have on the soil environment. So, in trying to avoid using a toxic herbicide, you might be wondering if there are safer alternatives that you can purchase. Luckily, herbicide manufacturers have considered many of the concerns surrounding glyphosate and produced a range of weed killers that are less harmful. Some non-glyphosate OMRI-certified products include FinalSan, AvengerAG, Green Gobbler, and Dr. Earth Final Stop.

OMRI certified products are those that have been tested and are safe to use in organic farming. Many of these herbicides are based on botanical oils, herbicidal soaps, or vinegar and are best used as a contact control. This means they must be applied directly to the weeds you want to kill. In most cases, they'll kill the living parts but won't leave any residue in the soil. You'll still have to take care when applying them to avoid spray drifting onto other plants. Plus, you should always follow the manufacturer's directions on the package and wear protective gear when treating your weeds.

FinalSan is a non-selective weed killer based on herbicidal soaps, with the active ingredient being ammoniated soap of fatty acids. It kills weeds through leaf absorption, which causes cell damage and leads to dehydration and death. FinalSan by Neudorff is a good alternative for treating weeds and moss in paths, driveways, or graveled areas. As it causes no harm to mature, woody trees, it can also be safely sprayed around the base of these. However, if you plan to use it as a weed control in your vegetable or flower beds, it's best to apply it as a spot treatment only. On the plus side, products based on herbicidal soaps are one of the safest types of weed killers to use in your vegetable garden.

Another non-selective herbicide is AvengerAG by Avenger Organics. It has d-Limonene, or citrus oil, as its active ingredient. Keep in mind that you need to apply it carefully to avoid getting any spray on desired plants when treating your weeds. It acts quickly to kill both broadleaf weeds and grasses. To get the best results with this product, it's recommended that you apply it when temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. AvengerAG is acceptable to use around trees and food crops but is not to be applied on any type of berries in California as per the instructions on the label.

Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer, manufactured by PurposeBuilt Brands, is a vinegar-based weed killer made from 100% corn. It's useful for killing both perennial and annual weeds, such as crabgrass and dandelions, in agricultural areas, mulch beds, and sidewalks. As a non-selective herbicide, you do have to be careful when spraying it around your yard so you don't accidentally get it on any plants that you want to protect.

For a product that contains no synthetic ingredients, you could consider Dr. Earth Final Stop. It's another non-selective weed killer that includes essential oils of cinnamon, clove, rosemary, sesame, and thyme as its active ingredients. It can safely be used around your edible crops up to harvest day. Final Stop effectively controls many different types of broadleaf weeds and grasses, such as foxtail and crabgrass. 

Apart from these store-bought herbicides, which are convenient to use, you might also want to explore some of the least harmful ways to kill weeds in your lawn and garden beds, such as using mulch, torching them, or using everyday household products such as vinegar or alcohol.