Weeds come about in full force this time of year, emerging in the driveway cracks, between patio pavers, and, impressively, through the thick garden bed mulch.
I've never gone to extensive lengths to treat weeds with chemicals (we have kids and pets) but Spruce is different, and the R+D specialists and chemists at P&G who spoke with me about the new product made it known. It is, quite honestly, one of those products that isn't complicated, but works really, really well.
Mary Jane Watson, a Senior Scientist on the Spruce team, acknowledged that climate change is making common weed control even harder. “One area we are keeping a close eye on is climate change and how weeds are not only adapting to these different weather patterns, but what new challenges may present themselves for homeowners looking to control them,” she shared. “These seasonal shifts are already changing the weed landscape, driving a deeper need for a product like Spruce, which starts working on contact to dehydrate the weed from the top down.”
If you're at the store and choosing between different weed killers, you're probably looking at the ingredient list. And really, you should be. When you do, notice that Spruce packaging lists a very short ingredient list with things you can actually name. It also boasts some strong claims about how quickly and thoroughly it works as a non-selective herbicide.
A New Weed Control Formula
Most weed killers come with warnings, not transparency. Spruce is flipping that. It has clear packaging and uses nine familiar ingredients that dry weeds out on a cellular level. In their own words, "weeds dehydrate to death."
No confusing chemicals, no mystery formulas. So, what's in it that works so well?
- Geraniol, an essential oil that is described to "disrupt cell membranes."
- Cornmint oil, another essential oil, this one "dehydrates" as a natural weed killer.
- Sodium Laurel Sulfate. This might sound like a toxic chemical until you realize it's also used in products like shampoo and soap, as well as toothpaste and even marshmallows. In this product, it helps ingredients in the weed killer coat and penetrate the targeted weeds.
- Urea, trisodium citrate dihydrate, and citric acid all help balance and stabilize the pH.
- Plus, water, isopropyl alcohol, and triethyl citrate, all of which simply "hold ingredients together."
The label calls out each active ingredient and what it does. And unlike many alternatives, they promised that I wouldn't have to wait days to know it’s working. Spruce starts killing on contact, with visible changes to the plant in just one hour.
It's also worth noting that there's no strong odor. It's minty, not chemical-y, and really like that the 64 oz. refill helps consumers cut down on plastic waste.
Gone for Good
Spruce isn’t selective, meaning it kills a variety of weeds—and grass, too (so be careful, unless of course it's stray grass you're trying to kill); but when it comes to driveways, patios, or garden plots, that’s exactly what you want.
One of the biggest problems with traditional weed killers is regrowth. According to the research and development team, 67% of weeds grow back after treatment. That’s why Spruce focuses on drying them out from the inside... the ingredients in the weed killer spray target the part of the weed that would normally help it recover.
I tested it on some new, broadleaf weed growth that popped up in my mulch this spring and saw results within minutes of application; the weeds appeared fully dead within several hours of application. I left them as-is. A month later? Still no regrowth.
If you’ve been skeptical about weed killers because they rarely seem to work long-term, you might be interested in trying this one.
Is Spruce For You? Probably
Spruce was built with a few specific users in mind—and if you’re one of them, get on board.
- Families or pet-owners who play around the home
- New homeowners trying to clean up their outdoor space (you have enough other projects to get to... just spray the tough weeds and move on).
- Gardeners who want fewer chemicals around fruit and vegetable gardens
- Anyone tired of perennial weeds popping back up again and again
- People who prefer ingredients they can pronounce
Cleaner Lawns, No Mystery
Weed killers don’t have to include harmful ingredients to work, and you shouldn't have to be worried about tip-toeing around harsh chemicals after application, either. We really like the fast results, but always like using products with ingredients that make sense. If you've been putting off spraying because you're not sure what’s in the bottle, this one was made with you in mind.
