Is Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer Worth It?
Worth it, for hardscape you never want green again
By Maya Bennett, kitchen & home · updated 2026-07-22
Worth it, if you want bare ground and mean it for a year.
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You know the crack in your driveway where the same weed keeps pushing through, no matter how many times you pull it out by the root. Satisfying for about ten days, then it's back like nothing happened. Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer is built for that exact fight, and the real question is whether killing the weed you see is enough, or whether you need the ground itself to stay empty.
Here's the distinction that matters: this is labeled a vegetation killer, not a weed killer, and that's not just marketing language. A typical weed killer knocks down the plant and stops there, leaving bare soil ready for the next seed that blows in on the wind or gets tracked in on a shoe. GroundClear works in two stages. First it acts fast on whatever's already growing, and it's rainproof within an hour, so a surprise shower right after spraying won't undo the work. Second, it leaves the treated soil inhospitable to new growth, which is why it's rated to keep ground bare for up to a year rather than a season. That two-stage approach also explains the coverage math: you mix 24 fl. oz. of concentrate into a gallon of water to treat 300 sq. ft. with a tank sprayer, but one full gallon of concentrate stretches across 1,600 sq. ft. because you're diluting it fresh every time you refill. It also explains where the label points you, driveways, gravel, fence lines, paver patios, walkways: anywhere the goal is nothing growing, ever, not a garden bed you'll want to replant.
So you're not really buying a faster way to kill a dandelion, you're buying bare ground with a year-long lease on staying that way. That's a genuine trade: convenient at the crack in your driveway or along a fence line, a real problem if you decide next spring that you wanted flowers there after all.
Worth it if
- You're treating driveways, gravel, or fence lines where you want nothing growing, ever
- You want one application to last through the season instead of respraying every few weeks
- You're okay with the treated area staying bare for up to a year
Skip it if
- You might want to plant in that spot within the next year
- You need a selective killer that spares grass or nearby plants
- You're treating a small area where a ready-to-use spray would be simpler
If the fight is the same gravel path or driveway seam every summer, this is a quiet yes, one application and you're mostly off the hook for the season. If there's any chance you'll want to plant something in that spot within the next year, skip it, the whole point of this product is that nothing will grow there, including whatever you plant.
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Before you go
Does Ortho Ground Clear really work for a year?
It's built specifically for that duration: it knocks down existing growth fast, then keeps the treated soil inhospitable to new growth for up to twelve months, as long as you're using it on hardscape rather than open garden soil.
How long does ortho ground clear stay in the soil?
Ortho rates it to prevent regrowth in treated ground for up to a year, which is why it's meant for driveways and gravel areas rather than beds you plan to replant soon.
How much ortho GroundClear year long per gallon of water?
Mix 24 fl. oz. of concentrate into a gallon of water for use in a tank sprayer, which treats up to 300 sq. ft., and one full gallon of concentrate covers up to 1,600 sq. ft. once diluted.
Full spec sheet
| Brand | Ortho |
|---|---|
| Liquid Volume | 1 Gallons |
| Item Form | Liquid |
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