Herbicide that Kills Everything but Bermuda Grass [5 Top Solutions]

To kill all varieties of weeds in your yard without harming Bermuda grass, apply a herbicide that contains 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Quinclorac. These active ingredients combine to kill broadleaf weeds (dandelions, clover, etc.) and grassy weeds (crabgrass). Even better, they are safe for use on Bermuda grass.

A herbicide that contains these products will wipe out invasive weeds and pest grasses in one shot, leaving your Bermuda lawn free to thrive.

Top Herbicide that Kills Everything But Bermuda Grass

Our number one choice for a herbicide that kills all types of weeds but won’t harm Bermuda grass is Ortho WeedClear.

Ortho WeedClear contains 3 post-emergent herbicides as active ingredients. The first 2 are 2,4-D and Dicamba, which attack broadleaf weeds growing in the grass. The third active ingredient is Quinclorac, which kills crabgrass and sedge grass.

• Contains 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Quinclorac, to kill a broad spectrum of weeds and grasses.
• Will not harm Bermuda grass.
• Post-emergent herbicide used to kill actively growing weeds.

With just one product, you can have total weed control in your Bermuda lawn. Wipe out all common weeds and tough invasive grasses at once. By spraying your entire lawn with Ortho WeedClear, you can reclaim an overgrown yard. Once the weeds are dead, properly cared for Bermuda grass will grow thicker to resist future weed invasions.

Alternative Herbicides for Bermuda Grass

Several post-emergent herbicide formulations can be effective at killing all types of weeds in Bermuda grass. The following products yield very good results. However, some products require specialized timing in order to keep Bermuda grass safe, making them more specialized weed killers.

BioAdvanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer

BioAdvanced’s competitor to Ortho WeedClear contains the same 3 active ingredients: 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Quinclorac. This provides both grassy and broadleaf weed control without killing Bermuda grass.

• Contains 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Quinclorac at different rates than Ortho WeedClear.
• Safe for Bermuda grass.
• Weed killing spray for actively growing weeds.

Bioadvanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer does have a different formulation than Ortho WeedClear. It contains lower levels of 2,4-D and higher levels of Quinclorac, so it may perform better against crabgrass and sedge, but be less effective at killing broadleaf annual and perennial weeds.

If you’re mostly battling grassy weeds in your lawn, this is an excellent choice.

Roundup (on Dormant Bermuda Grass)

Roundup contains glyphosate, an active ingredient that kills all plants and grasses. If used on a green and growing Bermuda lawn, it will kill your grass. However, Roundup sprayed on dormant Bermuda grass will only attack actively growing weeds and grasses. The dormant grass won’t absorb the herbicide.

• Will kill all actively growing weeds and grasses.
• Won’t harm your lawn if it is applied while Bermuda grass is dormant.

This option is perfect for fall or winter when your Bermuda has already entered winter dormancy. Roundup applied at this time can be used to attack winter weeds, such as annual bluegrass and chickweed. Do not apply when the grass is green or you will harm your lawn.

Ortho GroundClear (on Dormant Bermuda Grass)

If you want to attack all species of weeds and grasses in your dormant lawn but don’t want to use a glyphosate-based product, Ortho GroundClear is a perfect substitute for Roundup.

This non-selective herbicide kills all weed and grass types but contains no glyphosate. Like Roundup, it can be applied only to dormant Bermuda lawns to kill any weeds or grasses still growing there. Do not apply to green Bermuda lawns or the weed killer will attack the Bermuda grass.

• Glyphosate-free product for killing all weeds and grasses.
• Will not attack dormant Bermuda grass.
• Do not use in regions where Bermuda does not enter winter dormancy.

If you live in a region where Bermuda grass remains green year-round, do not use Roundup or Ortho GroundClear. These products can only be applied to dormant grass.

Preen Crabgrass Control

Pre-emergent herbicide is an essential product when it comes to weed control in Bermuda lawns. Preen Crabgrass Control is the best weed preventer on the market. Not only does it require less precise timing than other pre-emergents, but it stops all weeds and grass seeds from sprouting in your yard for 8–12 weeks after application.

• Kills weed seeds as they sprout.
• Works for 8–12 weeks after application.
• Does not kill established weeds.

For best results, make an initial application in mid-February through mid-March, when soil temperatures climb up to 55℉ (13℃). Then, make a second application 8–10 weeks after the first. This will stop summer annual weeds from sprouting. Preen won’t kill actively growing weeds, but it will stop any new weeds and grasses from sprouting in your Bermuda lawn. Do not use Preen if you recently laid new grass seed.

What Herbicide Kills Everything but Bermuda Grass?

The best sprays for weeds in Bermuda contain the post-emergent herbicides 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Quinclorac mixed together. Products such as Ortho WeedClear and BioAdvanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer meet these criteria. They will wipe out weeds but leave Bermuda Grass unharmed.

If Bermuda grass is dormant, it can be sprayed with non-selective weed killers, such as Roundup and Ortho GroundClear. These products will only attack green and growing plants, but will not be absorbed by dormant Bermuda Grass. Preen Crabgrass Control is an excellent weed preventer. It kills weed seeds as they sprout, but won’t harm your Bermuda grass.