Last Updated on June 19, 2023 by Grow with Bovees
When it comes to ground cover in your outdoor space, you’ve got several options to choose from like low-growing shrubs, wood chips, grass, vines, and even recycled rubber strips.
However, many homeowners choose gravel as their best bet, for at least part of their yard for several reasons including rock landscaping is easy to maintain, stands up to foot traffic, can improve drainage, and doesn’t attract pests.
But weeds in gravel can be an eyesore and nightmare for any homeowner and a daunting task to get rid of, to say the least. However, the task of eliminating weeds in gravel isn’t impossible, thanks to myriad different natural solutions, herbicides, and similar products available.
With so many choices, buying the best weed killer for gravel can be a bit overwhelming. But I’ve taken the time to check out several products, and bring you the lowdown on 6 effective weed killers for gravel.
We’ve also included a buying guide that includes application rates, and how to apply these fantastic formulas with a sprayer for broadleaf weeds and stubborn weeds around fences and gravel paths without damaging plants, flower beds, and soil.
6 of the Best Weed Killers for Stubborn Weeds in Gravel
1. Ortho GroundClear – Best All-Round Weed Killer for Gravel Driveways and Toughest Weeds
If you’re looking to get rid of weeds at the root level in gravel, Ortho GroundClear is perhaps the only product that guarantees to do just that.
It can be ordered in a choice of three sizes and is a powerful product that starts to kill weeds, broadleaf nuisance plants, and unwanted plants in an hour.
Furthermore, Ortho GroundClear weed killer can be used on gravel areas, driveways, sidewalks, under decks, and along fences, curbs and bushes.
It’s easy to use and comes with a comfort wand, which serves as a built-in sprayer, so you don’t have to buy a tank sprayer separately.
Pros
- Fast-acting formula
- Rainproof in 1 hour
- Spot treatment with the included wand
- Can be used on gravel areas, driveways and sidewalks
Cons
- 2 applications may be needed for long-term effects
2. Roundup Weed and Grass Killer III – Best Ready to Use Weed Killer for Gravel with Contoured Sprayer Wand
The Roundup weed and grass killer III is a ready-to-use fast-acting product in driveways, walkways, patios, and mulched beds.
It is rainproof in just 10 minutes and shows visible results in just 3 hours. Adding to this, Roundup is absorbed by the leaves, so it kills weeds and unwanted grass at their roots.
Roundup comes with a unique comfort wand, which offers an extended reach to kill weeds in hard-to-reach areas such as cracks in driveways and around desirable flowers.
One bottle of product treats up to 400 square feet, which is enough for a small to a fairly large driveway and gravel path.
Roundup is backed by a money-back guarantee, so you return the product if it doesn’t deliver great results.
Pros
- Visible results in 3 hours
- Rainproof in 10 minutes after application
- Kills the toughest weeds and grasses at their roots
- Comes with an easy to use the extended-reach wand for great flexibility in application
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- The wand doesn’t generate a strong spray
3. Compare-N-Save 75325 Herbicide – Best Budget Weed Killer for Gravel
The Compare-N-Save gravel and driveway weed killer is a potent formula and well-known brand that makes 210 gallons of ready-to-use spray, which equates to 630,000 square feet of coverage.
This concentrated formula, once diluted, can be sprayed on gravel areas and driveways, and even on fence lines and fence rows where weeds are present.
Even though you don’t get a choice of sizes, Compare-N-Save works in just 24 to 48 hours after application and contains 41 percent glyphosate, which is a non-selective weed killer that kills most unwanted plants and unwanted vegetation.
Once applied properly, Compare-N-Save weed killer works for a long period of time, and is rainproof in 2 hours after application.
Pros
- Can be used along driveways, walkways, flowerbeds, fences, trees and shrubs
- Rainproof in just 2 hours
- Makes up to 210 gallons/630,000 square feet of coverage
- Contains 41 percent glyphosate
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a sprayer
- Doesn’t kill all types of weeds
- Must be diluted with a gallon of water or so (please check the label)
- No residual activity, (pre-emergent weed killer) meaning doesn’t prevent new or future growth
4. Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed Killer – Best Organic Weed Killer for Gravel
For a weed killer that’s safe for your family and environment, the Green Gobbler organic weed killer is hard to beat. It contains just 20 percent acetic acid, making it safe to use for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes.
This organic and environment-friendly weed killer for gravel areas gets to work in less than 24 hours, and can be used against crabgrass, dandelions, white clover, clover weeds, moss, etc.
Made in America, the Green Gobbler extended control formula doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals and comes with a sprayer for uniform application.
The Green Gobbler vinegar weed and grass killer is backed by a manufacturer’s 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can rest assured of your purchase.
Pros
- Safe to use anywhere
- Kills any type of weed within hours of application
- Doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals
- Comes with sprayer
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not as effective as other products in this segment
5. Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer – Best Pet-Friendly Weed Killer for Gravel
Natural Armor weed killer slots in at the #5 position in this review of the best weed killers for gravel for several reasons, starting with its perfect ingredient list that contains no chemical herbicides like glyphosate.
Customer reviews indicate that the Natural Armor weed killer for gravel and similar areas is 100 percent safe to use around pets, kids, and for the environment,
There’s no daunting task of mixing this chemical-free product with a gallon of liquid, but simply spray with the included sprayer, and experience great results within a few hours.
The Natural Armor convenient, no-mix formula can be used around driveways, rock walls, pathway pavers, and even around flower trees.
This excellent weed killer for driveways and much more can be used with the included trigger sprayer or with a pump sprayer and comes with a no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Natural highly-effective solution shows results in 24 hours or less
- Comes with a trigger sprayer
- No-mixing, simply spray on the troublesome weeds and/or unwanted types of plants
- Doesn’t contain glysophate
- Safe to use around kids and pets
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Pump sprayer not included with purchase
6. Southern Ag Crossbow Specialty Herbicide – Best Heavy-Duty Weed Killer for Gravel
The Southern Ag Crossbow is a much more potent formula compared to products such as the ortho GroundClear vegetation killer concentrate and is recommended for use with tough weeds such as creeping charlie.
It is a concentrated product that can be mixed with a surfactant or with water and contains 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, butoxyethyl ester, and Triclopyr BEE.
You have to be careful when using the Southern AG Crossbow, because a wrong application can be harmful to pets and kids, so you’ll have to keep them away during and after use.
On a brighter note, this 1-quart jug of Southern Ag Crossbow kills weeds quickly, and after mixing can be sprayed directly on the unwanted plants.
Pros
- Controls most unwanted weeds
- Can be mixed with surfactant or water
- Kills weeds and unwanted broadleaf vegetation quickly
- 1-quart jug lasts a while
Cons
- Cap may be a bit challenging to get off
Best Weed Killer for Gravel Buying Guide
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best weed killer for gravel. most notably:
Natural or Chemical Formula
With regards to weed killers, you have two options to choose from, natural and chemical weed killers for gravel, each having its own pros and cons.
Just as the name would suggest, natural weed killers either do not contain any harmful chemical ingredients or are homemade formulas that contain some sort of salt, vinegar, and/or soap ingredients.
These natural ingredients are environment friendly and kid and pet friendly too, meaning they won’t harm humans or animals. If you want to avoid the use of chemicals altogether, natural weed killers are a great option.
However, there are a couple of downsides to natural weed killers for gravel such as their ineffectiveness towards perennial weeds and larger weeds.
Adding to this, they can be easily blown or washed away, which is why most manufacturers recommend that you apply them in conditions with no rain or wind.
Also known as herbicides, chemical weed killers are available in several different forms like contact herbicides and post-emergent herbicides.
They are available in several different sizes including a 3.7-liter solution, and even a smaller 7.4-ounce solution bottle, and are extremely effective for killing weeds.
Most chemical weed killers need to be diluted with a gallon of water or so and can impact the soil by staying longer to prevent new weeds from cropping up in the future.
One of the biggest disadvantages of chemical weed killers is that you will have to do some research to choose the right product such as between selective and non-selective herbicides.
Even though chemical weed killers can eliminate many different types of weeds, you risk killing surrounding desirable plants, flower beds, and flower trees if not used properly.
You have to store chemical weed killers with caution because some products contain active ingredients like dimethylamine salt, which can be dangerous if ingested.
Well, the answer to both those questions depends on the weed killer you’re using, where some may require one or more applications and others kill weeds the very first time.
Application times also vary across products, with some hardcore weeds which require repeat applications.
Ready to Use or Concentrated Weed Killers for Gravel
With ready-to-use weed killers, you can get to work quickly, but you’ll have to put in the extra work of mixing if you choose a concentrated weed killer.
Concentrated weed killers are more potent than ready to use, and can be diluted with water or a surfactant according to the strength you need. Therefore, they tend to last longer.
Type of Weeds it Can Kill
Whether you choose a herbicide or natural weed killer, remember that not all are formulated to kill all types of weeds.
Check the manufacturer label to ensure that the weed killer is able to eliminate the weeds on your property.
Resistant to Water
While there’s no shortage of cheap weed killers, you don’t want to buy a product that will wash away as soon as it rains. Most of the best weed killers for gravel are rainfast, quick-drying, and long-lasting.
Preventative Measure Weed Killers vs. Instant Weed Killers
There’s often confusion between a weed preventer and a weed killer. But to explain briefly, use a weed preventer, AKA pre-emergent weed killer if your gravel paths, driveways, and sidewalks don’t have any weed growth yet, and a post emergent weed killer for existing weeds.
How Do I Get Rid of Weeds in My Gravel Driveway?
Gravel walkways and rock mulch beds can offer a rustic charm to your home, but those with light foot traffic or ones that are neglected can quickly become plagued with weeds.
The best way to get rid of weeds in gravel is with a weed killer that can kill both annual and deep-rooted perennial garden weeds.
You can pull out short-rooted weeds by hand, that’s if you have a small area and your back and knees can cope.
Rather than using your hands to pull up weeds from gravel, you can use a weed puller for removing long-rooted weeds from gravel or a corkscrew weeder to remove tap-rooted weeds.
Will Bleach Kill Weeds in Gravel?
You can use chlorine bleach, whether undiluted and sprayed or undiluted and smeared between cracks in slabs and paving on gravel driveways. With proper application, bleach will kill the weeds growing in the gravel permanently.
Bleach, however, may not kill invasive ground weeds like brambles, ivy, wild grape vines and knotweed. It’s important to use bleach carefully because when overused can kill favorable plants and trees.
Will Straight Vinegar Kill Weeds?
Vinegar is an effective weed killer, but it is a non-selective herbicide, it will kill your weeds and your beautiful petunias if not used properly.
Another downside to vinegar is that it has no residual action, so it doesn’t stop new weed growth. Permanent removal is generally a better solution for weeds in gravel pathways and drives as well as in cracks and crevices in sidewalks and walkways.
The good news is that you can use vinegar along with common table salt and dish soap to destroy weeds for good in troubled areas.
When absorbed by the plant root systems, table salt kills weeds, and dish soap serves as a surfactant and helps the vinegar and salt solution stick to the weeds more efficiently.
- Mix a gallon of white vinegar (everyday 5-percent household white vinegar is fine) and roughly 1 cup of table salt in a bucket.
- Stir thoroughly until the salt dissolves completely, and then add 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Blend thoroughly.
- On a dry, sunny day, drench the weeds with this solution, making sure you coat all surfaces. It may take two to three days to kill weed permanently with this lower concentration solution, but they will be gone for good eventually.
How long does it take to apply weed killer for gravel driveways, and how often do I need to apply it?
Well, the answer to both those questions depends on the weed killer you’re using, where some may require one or more applications and others kill weeds the very first time.
Application times also vary across products, with some tough-to-kill weeds requiring more than one application.
Best Weed Killer for Sidewalks
Spectracide is billed as the best weed killer for sidewalks. It provides visible results as soon as 3 hours and can resist rain or water up to 15 minutes after application.
How to Stop Weeds in Gravel?
Weeds are a common sight in gravel driveways, and can quickly multiply if you’ve not laid a good, weed control fabric foundation or you’ve simply not paid attention to removing those weeds.
The best way to prevent weed growth in gravel or your gravel driveway is by laying down a landscape fabric/weed control membrane before you’ve actually laid any gravel.
If laid down already, you can move the gravel out of the way, however, the process is a bit tricky. Dig out the area of your driveway, clear and level the soil, and ensure the irrigation from your lawn isn’t running into the gravel.
Roll the landscape fabric, cut it to the size of your driveway, and secure it with landscape fabric staples. Lastly, cover the whole area with gravel, making sure you cover all areas of the landscape fabric.
There’s a lot of work involved with this task, so it’s best to commission professional help to get the job done right.
Final Thoughts on The Best Weed Killer For Gravel
Weeds can show up anywhere, even on gravel patios and asphalt driveways. The most effective way to eliminate weeds from gravel is by using some type of weed killer.
Hand-pulling weeds isn’t the best option for everyone, and can in fact be a very tiresome process.
References:
https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/endanger/litstatus/effects/triclopyr/attach-f.pdf
https://www.biolinscientific.com/blog/what-are-surfactants-and-how-do-they-work
