Best Insect Killer for Lawns (Updated 2022)

If you are looking to get rid of unwanted insects on your lawn, then applying an insect killer is the way to go. But, what are the best insect killers for lawns?

In this post, I will help you find the best lawn insect killers and show you how to use them. I will provide reviews on the best insect killers for lawns, from the brands that are best known in the world.

Insect KillerBrandPrice
Spectracide Triazicide Insect KillerSpectracideView
Bonide (BND60360)Bonide View
Scotts GrubEx1Scotts View
BioAdvanced 700280BBayerView
EcoSMART Insect KillerEcoSMARTView

Best Insect Killers for Lawns Reviews

We are aware that there are a lot of yard bug sprays out there. However, after considering several factors and customer reviews we recommend the following best yard insect killers.

Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawns

The Spectracide Triazicide is one of the fastest and most reliable lawn insect killers, trees, flower beds, and vegetables. Its special formulation ensures instant kill by contact. The chemical eliminates over 260 insect types including fleas, deer ticks, Japanese beetle grubs, and European crane flies among others. This formulation is non-staining to home siding, ensuring your walls retain their original color. What’s more, you are guaranteed results or your money back. 

Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawns

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The best lawn insect killer appears in diluted formulation ready for use, and dilutable version which you add water before application

Features

  • 32-ounce formulation
  • Appears in dilutable and ready to use forms
  • Kills 260+ insects
  • For outdoor use on lawns, flowers, trees, etc
  • Non-staining spray
  • Results guaranteed/ money back
  • Kills by contact

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fast-acting and reliable spray
  • No residue or bad odor
  • Kills a variety of common insect
  • One application provides security for months

 Cons

  • Harmful to pets and children when wet
  • Toxic to aquatic life

Bonide (BND60360) – Insect and Grub Control, Outdoor Insecticide/Pesticide

Don’t let unforgiving insects turn your lawn into their buffet. It’s time to act using this Bonide insect killer. Its special formulation is lethal to insects such as ticks, fleas, spiders, crickets, roaches, and other common species.  What’s amazing about this insect killer is that it works within 24 hours and stays actively protecting your lawn for three months.

Bonide BND60360 - Insect and Grub Control - best lawn insect killers

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This outdoor use formulation is fast-acting, has long-lasting effects, and protects the lawn and the garden. It helps control insects below and above the surface of the soil making it ideal for lawns. It is applied through creating a barrier around the lawn or spread throughout the lawn using a fertilizer spreader.

Features

  • 6 lbs. granular pesticide
  • Lethal on many insect species
  • For outdoor use only
  • The formulation acts in 24 hours
  • Protects your lawn for three months after application
  • Kills insects above and below the soil

Pros

  • Safe on pest after watering the treated area
  • Is not affected by rain
  • Offers long-lasting protection
  • Kills insect instantly
  • Creates an insect barrier on your lawn thus keeping away insects
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • The formulation has an unpleasant smell
  • It does not do much to flying insects

Scotts GrubEx1 – Grub Killer for Lawns, Kills White Grubs, Sod Webworms, and Larvae of Japanese Beetles

The Scotts Grub killer is a powerful and efficient formulation that stops insect infestation instantly. It features a blend of active ingredients that kills 25 % more grub types. After application, the insect killer protects your lawn for about four months. This chemical prevents turf damage and kills grubs even in their young stages.

Scotts GrubEx1 Season Long Grub Killer - best insect killer for lawns

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The 28.7 lb. formulation treats about 10000 sq. ft. thus protecting it for a long time. It also prevents root damage, thanks to its technology that kills even undeveloped pests.

The best lawn insect killer eradicates a variety of insects including worms, Japanese beetles, white grubs, and more. Additionally, its efficiency is guaranteed and if it doesn’t work, you get your money back.

You use this insect killer by applying to a dry lawn, then watering thoroughly to activate.

Features 

  • 28.7 lbs. formulation for 10000 sq. ft.
  • The best insect killer for lawns kills 25% more grub
  • Designed to work with Scott spreaders
  • Stays active for 4 months
  • Kills a variety of Insect
  • Money-back guarantee

Pros

  • Prevents root and turf damage
  • The best lawn insect killers kill bugs in their early stages
  • The powerful insecticide is an efficient and powerful formulation
  • Easy to use
  • It’s not destroyed by water.

Cons

  • Contains harmful chemicals
  • Must be used with a Scott spreader

Types of Insect Killers for Lawns

There are three main insect killer types for lawns – classified based on the method they use to kill lawn insects.

Before discussing these types, it is important to know that there are natural methods for lawn pest control. These include killing the insects physically or using other harmless insects to eat the harmful ones.

Inorganic insect lawn killer

This is typically the chemical spray for yard bugs which comes as either powder or liquid.

In most cases, you need to add water to make it enough for your yard.

Inorganic insect killers contain chemicals such as bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and cypermethrin.

These chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, or aquatic life. It’s advisable to always use the safety guidelines on the packing when using inorganic lawn pest control.

Organic insect lawn killer

These are natural formulations that kill lawn insects. They are less effective but very harmless to the environment.

Organic insecticides include clove oil, thyme oil, and others. If you are for environmentally friendly ways of killing lawn insects, the organic method is the way to go.

Electric pest control for lawns

These are devices that use various technologies to kill lawn insects. For example, some use ultraviolet rays to eradicate insects and pests from your lawn. It is important to note that these devices are powered by electricity.

When should I put the insect killer on my lawn?

As much as garden insect killers are very effective methods of eradicating lawn insects, they are affected by climatic conditions. Before using any insect killer on your lawn, first of all, ensure your lawn is infested with pests to avoid unnecessary spraying.

If your lawn is full of insects, the next step is to choose a suitable day to do the spraying. Note that earlier mornings are recommendable for effectiveness. This is because the midday sun evaporates the insect killer before it can act on your targets.

Another factor to avoid is heavy rainfall. The rain may wash the insecticide away or even dilute it to a harmless form.

Before the actual spraying, you should mow your lawn first. This ensures fewer hiding places for insects thus ensuring maximum contact of the pesticide with your target and consequently ensuring effective insect control.

After spraying, keep people and pets out of newly treated areas. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how long you should keep the lawn isolated. It is also important to ensure the safe disposal of insect killer containers to prevent them from finding their way into water bodies – marine life preservation.

Best Insect Killers for Lawns Buying Guide

Are you looking for the right spray for yard bugs? Well, there are a lot of formulations out there. But choosing the right one depends on the following factors.

Best Insect Killers for Lawns

Types of insects to eliminate

Different types of insect killers are meant for killing different types of insects depending. For example, roaches paste cannot be used to kill ants and vice versa. It is therefore vital to determine the type of insect that has infested your lawn for you to get a suitable formulation. Seek advice from an expert on what chemical insecticides you should buy.

Area to be treated

The size of the land determines the type and the amount of insect killer to buy. If you are to treat a small area, for example, granules or powder insect killer is useful. However, you cannot use powder on a large piece of land since it’s labor-intensive. For bigger lawns, liquid insecticides would be the ideal choice for easy application using a sprayer.

Reliability and ease of application

You do not want a chemical that is very exhausting to apply. On the contrary, you need something that you can apply within minutes to avoid too much exposure to the chemicals. Additionally, the formulation should be reliable enough to eliminate insects within the first application. On reliability still, ensure you use an insect killer that can stay active for some months.

Safety considerations

Some chemicals are harmful to the environment. Continuous use may destroy the soil and plants, not to mention pets and humans. Ensure you buy less harmful chemicals and follow safety application procedures drafted by the manufacturer. Also, check if the safety measures highlighted in the label are practical before buying the chemical.

FAQs

What is an insect killer?

Insect killers are useful chemicals for both killing pests and preventing unwanted insect infestations. Most insecticides will kill most pest insects, including bees, wasps, mosquitoes, flies, and spiders. Because insecticides kill insects, they are also effective at preventing pest insect infestations in the first place.

When should I put insect killer on my lawn?

To prevent infestation, apply insecticides early or spring or summer. To kill pets, apply insecticides at the first sign of insect activity or damage.

What can I spray on my lawn to kill bugs?

Even though you can use soap concentration to kill bugs, the surest way to deal with bugs is spray an insecticide like Bonide (BND60360).

Conclusion

Insect killers are very effective in eliminating bugs and other insects that may distribute you, harm your pets, and destroy your lawn.

However, some of the best lawn insect killers contain very harmful chemicals and thus should be used with care.

As a rule of thumb, always keep chemicals out of children rich.