Broadleaf Weeds Have No Chance Against 2, 4-D Weed Killer (2024)

“2, 4-D" looks like a weird mashup of letters and numbers to the average American. However, to those who are in the agricultural industry or are turf and lawn experts, 2, 4-D is regarded as one of the most helpful chemicals in eliminating troublesome broadleaf weeds.

2, 4-D is perhaps the most utilized broadleaf weed killer worldwide and is among the top three most used herbicide for residential and commercial lands. 2, 4-D comes in a variety of different formulations--from liquids to dusts and granules.

Solutions Pest & Lawn is proud to carry 2, 4-D Amine Selective Weed Killer, which is one of our best-selling herbicides, and for good reason, it works!

Learn more about the history and science behind this tremendous herbicide in this informative article.

The Origins of 2, 4-D

There is an interesting story of how 2, 4-D came to be. The chemical mixture was believed to be developed by scientist Dr. Franklin D. Jones who initially wasn’t trying to come up with the weed killer for the motivation of making money, but rather was trying to combat the effects of poison ivy that was growing in his yard which his children were very sensitive to the plant.

His experimentation led him to the naturally occurring plant growth hormone, indoleacetic acid (IAA). However, Dr. Jones found that the chemical was far too unstable. A synthetic alternative was needed, something that was stable that he could experiment with. The synthetic version he developed was 2, 4-D.

What Dr. Jones developed was more than just the world’s first selective herbicide. What he created was a fantastic solution to human problems such as food scarcity, infrastructure management, and invasive and potentially poisonous weeds.

The development of 2, 4-D is regarded as one of the top 75 innovations in the last 75 years by the Henry Ford Organization. 2, 4-D continues its tackling of weed problems as one of the most widely-used herbicides around the world.

Over the years since it’s development in the early 1940s, 2, 4-D has evolved scientifically to meet regulations set by the US EPA, the European Commission, and other regulators. In the last 60 years, there have been over 40,000 different research studies done on 2, 4-D, going down as one of the most researched chemicals in history. This large amount of research was not just for its role in pioneering in the field of selective herbicides but to also make sure it meets the world’s modern human health standard.

2, 4-D: The First “Selective” Herbicide

2, 4-D is regarded as the world’s first selective herbicides because of the fact that when applied to plants, it suppressed "dicots" (plants with two seed leaves, also known as broadleaf plants) while leaving "monocots" unaffected (plants with one seed leaf or thin leaves).

This basically means that it isn’t a kill-all herbicide and can be sprayed on grasses and plants like wheat, corn, rice and other crops without harming them. It only kills the broadleaf weeds.

Why 2, 4-D Weed Killer is so Effective

The way 2, 4-D works as a weed killer of broadleaf weeds is quite fascinating. It essentially creates a disorder to the broadleaf plant it is sprayed upon, as it causes the plant to grow uncontrollably to the point that it dies. The way this occurs is the chemical creates a sort of unregulated growth that leads to the destruction of the broadleaf weeds vital tissues that it needs to survive.

2, 4-D is a selective weed killer which means it only affects broadleaf weeds and not grasses because these two different classifications of plants work differently when it comes to chemicals that move through its leaves. While broadleaf weeds have their growing point at the tips of the leaves, grasses grow from the base. Thus, the 2, 4-D herbicide is able to kill broadleaf weeds while sparing desired grasses.

Another reason that 2, 4-D is such a popular product is because it is very affordably priced and works quickly to kill problem weeds. There are over 1,500 herbicide products that contain 2. 4-D, and it's often mixed with other active ingredients like dicamba.

A typical application of 2,4-D can kill weeds like dandelion, clover, crabgrass and other invasive grassy and broadleaf weed species in as quickly as 2 months.

Toxicity Concerns of 2, 4-D

As noted earlier, 2, 4-D has been studied and widely researched by scientists and concerns have been raised about the toxicity of 2, 4-D and how it can affect the health of the environment as well as humans. Some have stated that using 2, 4-D carry the risk of spreading carcinogens which can “possibly” cause cancer.

However, there have been conflicting reports and in fact, 2, 4-D Amine has relatively low toxicity compared to other pesticides.

2, 4-D Amine is safe to use and as long as you wear the proper safety gear and equipment when handling this product, you will have nothing to worry about when applying it to your lawns.

Key Takeaways

What weeds does 2,4-D Kill?

• Whether it’s a harmful weed like poison ivy, or just an unsightly broadleaf weed like dandelion, stinkweed or clover, using 2, 4-D Amine Selective weed killer is highly recommended to keep your lawn looking neat and uniform.

How does 2,4-D Work?

• Use 2,4-D as a spot treatment on any emerging weeds you don’t want growing on your property. They should die within a span of 2 weeks.

• Solutions Pest & Lawn offers 2,4-D at an amazing value so if you’re in a weed tackling mood, you can’t go wrong with 2, 4-D Amine. Equip yourself with 2, 4-D Amine today and get to killing those pesky weeds!

Want more Information on 2,4-D?

• If you need any further DIY advice on how to best apply 2,4-D herbicides to your lawn, we are always available to help you out either via phone, online live chat or email.