Southern Ag Brush Killer 8.8% Triclopyr (Vines, Hard-to-Cont

The Verdict

If you’ve fought multiflora rose, poison ivy, or wild blackberry thickets with glyphosate and lost, the Southern Ag Brush Killer is the chemical you’ve been missing. This is a serious herbicide for serious infestations — not a weekend-warrior weed spray. At 8.8% triclopyr (the same active ingredient in Brush-B-Gone and Garlon), it’s formulated to kill woody plants that ordinary weed killers merely annoy.

What you actually get
The quart bottle looks unassuming, but the math matters: one quart of concentrate mixes at 6–8 ounces per gallon of water for most brush, yielding 8–13 gallons of ready-to-spray solution. That’s enough to treat a substantial fence line or a couple of acres of scattered brambles. The label is thorough — it lists specific targets (oak, maple, sweetgum, kudzu, poison ivy) and gives clear rates for cut-stump, basal bark, and foliar applications. As shown in the product image, the bottle has a measuring cap, but you’ll want a dedicated sprayer; don’t use one you also use for food crops.

Performance in the real world
Triclopyr works by mimicking plant hormones, causing uncontrolled growth that kills the plant. In practice, expect to see wilting within 7–14 days on actively growing vines, with full dieback in 3–4 weeks. The biggest advantage over glyphosate: triclopyr is rainfast in 2–4 hours (check the label) and remains effective at temperatures as low as 40°F. That makes it a fall or early spring option when Roundup turns useless. One reviewer noted, “I sprayed Virginia creeper and poison ivy in late October when temps were in the 50s. By spring, everything was dead — the glyphosate I tried in July didn’t do squat.”

What buyers consistently praise
The 4.2-star rating across 210 reviews reflects a pattern: people who use it correctly love it. Common praise includes “kills blackberries to the root” and “finally got rid of the honeysuckle that was strangling my trees.” The concentration is a frequent highlight — one reviewer calculated it’s “half the price per gallon of ready-to-use sprays,” a fair point since you’re diluting it yourself. Several users also mention it’s safe around established trees when applied carefully to the foliage of target vines.

Where it falls short
First, it doesn’t come with a surfactant. Triclopyr needs a non-ionic wetting agent to penetrate waxy leaves — without it, you’ll get spotty results, especially on mature brush. That’s an extra $10–15 purchase and an easy thing to miss. Second, the odor is pungent and lingering; mix outdoors and wash your sprayer thoroughly. Third, it’s non-selective — any drift will kill ornamentals and grass. One reviewer lost a prized azalea from overspray, so windless days and a shielded nozzle are non-negotiable. Finally, the quart size might be overkill for someone with a single patch of poison ivy; the 8-ounce bottle would be more practical, but it’s not always in stock.

Who should buy this

• Rural landowners with fencelines, overgrown ditches, or invasive vine thickets — this is your workhorse.
• Gardeners battling woody weeds like wild grape, trumpet vine, or English ivy that have laughed off other sprays.
• Fall clean-up folks who need a herbicide that works in cooler weather.

Skip it if you only have a few dandelions or clover — that’s overkill, and you’ll waste money. Also skip if you’re not comfortable mixing chemicals and measuring accurately; this isn’t a grab-and-go trigger spray.

FAQ

Q: Can I use this on my lawn without killing the grass?
A: No. It kills broadleaf plants, including clover and most weeds, but it will also nuke your turf if you spray indiscriminately. Spot-treat only, and keep it off Bermuda and St. Augustine grass — it can damage those even at low rates.

Q: How long until I see results?
A: Most users report visible wilting within 1–2 weeks on actively growing plants. Woody vines may take a full month to brown out completely. Don’t re-spray too soon — give it 30 days.

Q: Is it safe around vegetable gardens?
A: The label has a 0-day pre-harvest interval for some crops, but triclopyr can persist in soil and affect sensitive plants. Don’t spray near edibles, and don’t use the same sprayer for both. Better safe than sorry.

The Verdict
Buy it if you’re fighting woody vines, brambles, or invasive brush that glyphosate can’t handle — this is the right tool, and the concentration makes it economical for larger areas.
Skip it if you need a quick, foolproof spray for minor weeds, or if you’re unwilling to add a surfactant and follow mixing directions carefully.

Rating: 4.2/5 — Priced right, powerful, and effective when used as directed. The missing surfactant and non-selective nature dock it half a star, but for its intended job, it’s the best brush killer at this price point.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.