From my research and testing, I’ve learnt that one can use these pet-friendly weed killers on patios, driveways, paths, gravel, most other hard surfaces and also some flowerbeds. If you do decide to go with a weed killer, and you have small children and pets, avoid anything that has glyphosate, chloroform, sethoxydim, etc. and instead get a vinegar-based one or one that has a lot of acetic acid as the main ingredient, as these are the safer options. Dicamba – effective against broadleaf weeds like milkweed, as well as woodier plants like brambles. On the plus side, the fact that this product isn’t left in the ground means that the treated areas can be sown or planted again relatively soon after using the product. Even some organic weed killers can contain things that aren’t 100% pet friendly, so you do really need to be careful and research the effects of any ingredients that you are unsure about. Generally speaking, though, large quantities of acetic acid or vinegar in a weed killer are a good sign that it is safe for pets, and chemicals like chloroform and glyphosate are ones to avoid.

Like most weed killers I’ve tested, this product does contain glyphosate which isn’t wildlife friendly. Flower heads should be cut off weeds first, especially dandelions. As with Roundup Natural, use this product on soil, grass (to kill the grass), gravel, and fences. Neudorff WeedFree will kill almost all plants, so keep it away from anything you want to keep. The glyphosate amount is the same as found in professional weedkillers so the weed-killing ability isn’t diluted. While glyphosate is still technically labelled as being pet-safe, and the amount used in a shop-bought weed killer is likely to be too low to have a real effect, the WHO says it is carcinogenic to humans, so we wouldn’t recommend risking it.It seems to work best in hot, dry weather, and certainly shouldn’t be applied when rain is forecast for the same day; the longer the weed killer stays on the weeds, the more effective it will be. These ingredients are used because they specifically target certain types of plants. Therefore, they are often found in selective weed killers as they shouldn’t kill of grass or other vegetation that they’re not intended for.

An organic product using only natural ingredients, it’s a ready to use, fast action spray solution to be used on gardens, patios, paths and gravel, and gives the best results on smaller weeds of 10cm or less.Longevity: Any weed killers that needed to be reapplied after rain were significantly marked down, as this doubled the time you’d have to spend on weed killing. Weed killers that killed the entire plant, including the roots, were rated the best, as these are the only products that ensure long-lasting results. Florasalum – effective against dandelions, white clover and daisies before the plants have reached maturity. The Pump ‘N Go Ready to Use spray deserves some explanation. Ready to Use shows that the solution comes pre-mixed in the 5-litre bottle. You don’t have to measure anything out. The bottle is also refillable, so that’s a cost saving for you. The Pump ‘N Go part is an included pressure sprayer that comes with a hose and wand that you operate with one hand. The one-touch trigger is easy on your hand with regard to fatigue. The spray refers to the nozzle that comes with the pump. After you’ve primed the pump (by pumping) you can spray continuously for three minutes. During my testing, I found that all it took is a 5-second blast, and the weeds wilted and then dies off within a week. The ingredients dictate what type of weed killer it is, and often a combination of ingredients are used.

If you do decide to use a standard weedkiller containing glyphosate, you need to keep pets and children away from the area for at least a few days, maybe even longer. In my opinion, if you have pets and small children and you want them to use the garden, use an organic weed killer or a pet-friendly one, or simply dig the weeds out by hand. If it’s the lawn you could always use a lawn weed and feed. If you’re looking for an option as close as you can get to a standard weed killer, our recommendation is WeedKil’s Glyphosate-Free Solution, which is one of the only products on the market to advertise itself as child and pet friendly! Here we will delve a little deeper into your options when it comes to dealing with weeds. As you will see, although weed killer is a very effective method, it is not the only one to choose from. Weed membranes Available as a ready-to-use product or in concentrate form, this pet-friendly weed killer from Neudorff contains both Pelargonic acid and Maleic Hydrazide. Some people also choose to use homemade natural weed killers, using a solution of white vinegar, salt and liquid dish soap.Here we will look at the ingredients of weed killers, based on what type of weed killer they’re most commonly used in. There are selective weed killers (only targeting certain plans), non-selective weed killers (not fussy about what plants they kill) and organic weed killers (using ingredients from nature). Once the product has dried, children and pets can use the treated area. It can take a few hours for the product to dry, so your garden may be out of action for this time. One of the best things about this weed killer is that it’s fairly simple to apply. There’s a ‘flexi spray’ that clips out of the body, with the pipe clipping to the lid. There’s two spray functions, a jet spray and a fine spray. You will need to touch the nozzle, so gloves are required. This weed control is exceptionally strong, with a single 2 L bottle treating up to 3332 sqm. It would be ideal for those with a badly overgrown allotment or garden, but it’s also a good choice if you’re after a super strong weed killer for deep-rooted weeds.

Taking its inspiration from homemade weed killing solutions, WeedKil utilises 60g of acetic acid in its ingredients, one of the main components found in vinegar, making it a safe and easy way to handle annual and perennial weeds.Killing your weeds is obviously not an exact science. A great deal depends on how you mix the weedkiller and the water, how you apply it, what the weather is on the day, what the weather is on the following day and how tough your weeds are. And all this is before you look at the quality of the weedkiller itself. I tested various weed killers to identify the best of the best, so you don’t have to. I was looking for the most effective and eco-friendly weed killer, so I conducted a comprehensive test assessing the following factors: