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Crabgrass is the opportunist of the lawn world—it fills every thin spot, bare patch, and stressed area with coarse, clumping blades that stand out like a sore thumb.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I’ve spent years cross-referencing herbicide labels, owner-test results, and university extension trials to separate products that actually suppress crabgrass from those that only kill the broadleaf weeds around it.
After reviewing the five most popular ready-to-use and concentrate options, this guide walks through the specific chemistry and coverage tradeoffs to help you find the right spray for crabgrass without guessing at the label.
How To Choose The Best Spray For Crabgrass
Picking the wrong crabgrass spray is the fastest way to brown out your lawn while the crabgrass laughs it off. The decision comes down to three factors: the active ingredient, the formulation type, and whether your grass type can tolerate the chemistry.
Active Ingredient: Quinclorac vs. Glyphosate
Quinclorac is the only selective herbicide that reliably kills emerged crabgrass in cool-season and warm-season lawns like Bermuda, Fescue, and Kentucky Bluegrass without damaging them. Glyphosate is non-selective and kills everything—including your lawn. If you want to spot-treat crabgrass without creating dead circles, Quinclorac is the active to hunt for on the front label.
Ready-to-Use vs. Concentrate
Ready-to-use (RTU) bottles save time and remove mixing errors, but they cost more per square foot and the sprayer wand often fails before the bottle empties. Concentrates mix into a hose-end or pump sprayer and give you far more coverage per dollar, but you must measure accurately—too weak does nothing, too strong can scorch turf.
Grass-Type Compatibility Check
St. Augustine and Centipede grass are extremely sensitive to many herbicides. Even a “lawn-safe” label can damage these southern turf types. Always check the product’s approved grass list before spraying. If your lawn is St. Augustine and you see crabgrass, look for a formula with lower Quinclorac loading or use a physical removal method instead.
Quick Comparison
On smaller screens, swipe sideways to see the full table.
| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GORDON’S Trimec Plus | Concentrate | Large lawns with heavy infestation | 32 fl oz treats ~10,000 sq ft | Amazon |
| Fertilome Weed-Out | RTU Spray | Spot-treating in Bermuda/Kentucky Bluegrass | Quinclorac + Dicamba blend | Amazon |
| Ortho WeedClear Comfort Wand | RTU Spray | Quick spot treatments across large lawns | 1.33 gal covers ~10,644 sq ft | Amazon |
| Monterey Remuda | Concentrate | Bare-soil or gravel area total kill | 41% Glyphosate concentrate | Amazon |
| Scotts TouchUp | RTU Spray | Light clover/dandelion + crabgrass in small yards | 24 fl oz, no mixing | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. GORDON’S Trimec Plus Crabgrass Killer Concentrate
The Trimec Plus uses a three-way herbicide blend—2,4-D, MCPP, and Dicamba—plus Quinclorac, making it one of the few concentrates that targets emerged crabgrass alongside broadleaf weeds like dandelion and plantain in a single pass. Owner reports confirm visible wilting in roughly two days and full kill within a week on Bermuda grass lawns, even after heavy seed infestation from monsoon flooding. At 32 ounces of concentrate that dilutes to cover roughly 10,000 square feet, the cost-per-treatment lands in mid-range territory while delivering premium-level chemistry.
This is a post-emergent killer only—it won’t prevent new crabgrass seeds from germinating, so pair it with a pre-emergent in early spring if you want season-long control. The concentrated formulation requires a separate sprayer and careful measuring, but it allows you to dial in the exact strength your turf needs. Users who ignored the dilution ratio and mixed it stronger damaged their grass, so follow the label exactly.
Best for homeowners with medium-to-large lawns who already own a pump or hose-end sprayer and want the most weed hits per dollar. The 3-way chemistry also handles henbit and creeping Charlie, making this a true all-in-one for warm-season turf managers.
What works
- Visible wilting in 48 hours on crabgrass in Bermuda
- Controls over 200 grassy and broadleaf weed species
- Excellent value per square foot for medium-to-large lawns
What doesn’t
- Must dilute and mix yourself—not a grab-and-go option
- Does not kill seeds, only emerged plants
- Over-concentration can burn your grass
2. Fertilome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Killer RTS
The Fertilome Weed-Out is one of the few ready-to-spray bottles that pairs Quinclorac with Dicamba, giving it a genuine dual punch against both crabgrass and broadleaf weeds like clover and ground ivy. The 32-ounce ready-to-use bottle claims to cover 2,500 square feet, but owners report best results on smaller patches where you can drench each weed until runoff. The label lists compatibility with Bermuda, Buffalo, Kentucky Bluegrass, and several other turf species, making it a safe choice for most northern and transition-zone lawns.
A subset of owner reviews note that the formula felt weaker in 2019 than in earlier years, requiring two applications for creeping Charlie and only suppressing—not killing—some broadleaf weeds. This variability could be batch-related or due to weed maturity at time of spray. For crabgrass specifically, the Quinclorac loading is adequate when applied early in the season while the weeds are small and actively growing.
The biggest drawback is the price per square foot: at roughly the same ticket as the GORDON’S concentrate, you get a quarter of the coverage. It’s best for small lawns or targeted patch work where you want a no-mix, no-sprayer approach. Keep a second bottle on hand for a follow-up spray two weeks later on stubborn crabgrass clumps.
What works
- Dual-active chemistry tackles crabgrass and broadleaf weeds
- Ready-to-spray bottle requires no mixing or measuring
- Safe on Bermuda, Buffalo, and Fescue lawns
What doesn’t
- Some users report reduced efficacy on tough broadleaf weeds
- Coverage limited to 2,500 sq ft per bottle
- May need two applications for complete crabgrass kill
3. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer with Comfort Wand
The Ortho WeedClear comes in a massive 1.33-gallon container connected to a battery-powered Comfort Wand sprayer, making it the most convenient option for spot-treating a large lawn without refilling. The formula is selective for lawn grasses like Fescue, Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda, and Zoysia, and it kills crabgrass, dandelion, clover, chickweed, and creeping Charlie down to the root. Owners consistently report that it works slowly but thoroughly—dandelions often take a full month to vanish completely.
The battery-powered wand removes the hand-pumping fatigue that comes with traditional sprayers, which is a real benefit when you’re walking a half-acre yard. However, the wand’s battery life and trigger durability have drawn mixed feedback: some users finish the whole jug without issue, while others find the wand stops spraying before the chemical runs out. The slow-acting nature means you won’t see wilting in 24 hours—be patient and wait for the root kill to finish.
This is the top pick for anyone who hates mixing concentrate and wants to cover a full-size lawn with one purchase. The per-square-foot cost lands squarely in the mid-range, but the convenience factor is unmatched in this category. Avoid it if you have St. Augustine grass or if you want immediate visual results.
What works
- Battery wand eliminates hand-pumping on large lawns
- Enormous coverage from a single container
- Selective formula safe on most common cool/warm-season grasses
What doesn’t
- Very slow acting—full kill can take up to a month
- Wand battery may fail before chemical runs out
- Not suitable for St. Augustine grass
4. Monterey Remuda Grass and Weed Killer Concentrate
Monterey Remuda is a 41% Glyphosate concentrate—the same active ingredient found in major brand-name non-selective killers, but at a significant per-ounce savings. The bundled measuring spoon simplifies mixing, which is important because Glyphosate must be applied at precise ratios to avoid waste. Owners report visible results in about five days and complete kill in roughly two weeks, matching the performance of premium Glyphosate brands at a fraction of the cost.
This is strictly a non-selective killer: it destroys any vegetation it touches, including your lawn grass. Use it only on bare-soil areas, gravel driveways, patios, or spots where you plan to reseed after the weeds die. The 16-ounce bottle concentrates into roughly 1,500 square feet of heavy-duty treatment, which means this product is best for targeted spot work rather than whole-lawn applications. One owner noted that a single bottle lasted over a year for touch-ups.
Because this is a high-concentration Glyphosate, the surfactant is already blended in, which improves leaf adhesion and rain-fastness within a couple hours. Avoid overspray onto desirable plants, and do not use it on St. Augustine or Centipede lawns unless you intend to kill them. If your goal is total vegetation removal in non-turf areas, this is the most cost-effective option in the lineup.
What works
- High 41% Glyphosate at a budget-friendly per-ounce cost
- Includes measuring spoon for accurate mixing
- Fast visible kill within five days on most weeds
What doesn’t
- Non-selective—will kill any grass it touches
- Small bottle covers only ~1,500 sq ft at heavy rate
- Not for spot-treating crabgrass inside your lawn
5. Scotts TouchUp Weed Control for Lawn
The Scotts TouchUp is a 24-ounce ready-to-use spray marketed primarily for dandelion and clover, with crabgrass listed as a secondary target. Owner feedback is split: customers who used it on clover and dandelion report good results after a three-to-four-week waiting period, while those who tried it on crabgrass or more mature broadleaf weeds saw no effect at all. The active chemistry appears weaker than the Quinclorac-based options, making this a better fit for very light weed pressure in small yards.
The biggest criticism from verified buyers is the price-to-performance ratio—the 24-ounce bottle carries a premium ticket for the amount of coverage it delivers, and the active ingredients don’t always match the label claims on tougher weeds. One owner reported zero browning after two sprays on dandelions, with new flowers appearing despite thorough application. This inconsistency suggests batch variability or a formula that works best on very young, small weeds.
If you have a postage-stamp lawn with just a few clover patches and the occasional crabgrass sprout, the grab-and-go convenience might be worth it. For anyone dealing with a real crabgrass infestation, skip this and step up to a Quinclorac-based concentrate or the Fertilome Weed-Out for better kill rates per dollar.
What works
- No mixing required—spray straight from the bottle
- Safe on lawns when used as directed
- Works reliably on clover and dandelion with patience
What doesn’t
- Inconsistent results on crabgrass and mature dandelions
- Very expensive per square foot
- Small 24 oz bottle covers very little area
Hardware & Specs Guide
Post-Emergent vs. Pre-Emergent
A post-emergent spray kills weeds that are already visible above the soil. All five products in this guide are post-emergent formulas. Pre-emergent herbicides (like Prodiamine or Dithiopyr) form a chemical barrier in the soil that stops crabgrass seeds from germinating. You need both—pre-emergent in early spring before soil temps hit 55°F, then post-emergent spot-spray on any survivors that emerge later.
Surfactant Technology
Surfactants reduce the surface tension of the spray droplets so the herbicide spreads evenly across the waxy crabgrass leaf instead of beading up and rolling off. Some concentrates (like Monterey Remuda) have surfactant pre-mixed. Others require you to add a separate non-ionic surfactant. Check the label—if no surfactant is listed, buy a bottle of surfactant adjuvant for better leaf adhesion, especially in hot, dry conditions.
FAQ
Can I use a crabgrass spray on St. Augustine grass?
How long does it take for crabgrass spray to work?
Can I reseed after spraying for crabgrass?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the spray for crabgrass winner is the GORDON’S Trimec Plus because the three-way herbicide blend plus Quinclorac gives the best kill rate per dollar on both crabgrass and broadleaf weeds across large lawns. If you want ready-to-use convenience with a battery-powered wand, grab the Ortho WeedClear. And for total vegetation removal on bare soil or gravel, nothing beats the Monterey Remuda concentrate.