It would be helpful to have some more information. You're assuming you have to have weeds and use weed killers. You don't have to have weeds, so if you could answer some questions we could figure out why have have weeds to begin with. Where do you live? What kind of grass do you have? What weeds do you have (grassy or broadleaf)? How are you watering (how often and for how long)? How high/low are you mowing? When were the last 2 times you fertilized and what did you use? I absolutely agree with organics. If you're concerned about the water then you might be concerned about using Milorganite. Milorganite is semi-processed sewage from Milwaukee. I use alfalfa pellets (rabbit chow) because it is rather inexpensive for me. You might use soybean meal if that is less expensive. The application rate is 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. You can use it as often as you want.

Sorry. This will be a long one. It always is with me. (blushing) I'm with the OP on this one. Even if no one but me ever saw my lawn, I would want it to be dark, rich green GRASS...and nothing else. (I'm known for wanting everything to be beautiful. I'm also a bit of a home body, and enjoy spending time in my yard. Many guests have remarked that, no matter where they look (on my property), there's always something beautiful. I'm always taken aback by those comments, since while that was MY goal, I never expected others to pick up on it.) Case in point about the intentional act of putting down grass, and not other (lower maintenance) plants. I own a small, remote island. I made the decision to create a lawn area and, once you include the slow-moving barge fees (3 days to get from its port to the island), labour, equipment, and materials, that lawn cost me $14,000. That obviously begs the question, why, on earth, would anyone spend a nickel putting in expensive, high-maintenance grass, only to let it be taken over by clover and other weeds??? My husband and I recently purchased a 19th century farmhouse in need of roof-to-foundation renovation. As such, I inherited a lawn that is EASILY 70% weeds, including clover so thoroughly interwoven, it would be impossible to pull by hand. I pride myself on my beautiful lawns and gardens, and can spend/have sent hours, each day, ensuring everything is healthy and how I want it. At my last home, I developed a bit of a reputation for being out weeding my lawn by hand for hours, plus how awesome my expansive lawn was. My point is, I want my lawn and gardens to be a certain way; plant the plants I want; pull the plants I don't want; unafraid to put-in the effort to achieve that. I prefer not to use any kinds of "chemicals", other than the ammonia and mild soap I include in my homemade fertilizer recipe. (My last home was a beach house. So, that only reinforced my desire to go chemical-free.) But this new-to-me house is demoralizing me...practically to the point of tears, much of it because of the state of the (laughing) "landscaping". Sure, mowing can cut off 60% of the sea of clover flowers that make my lawn look white (or dying...can't decide which). But there are still lower flowers that seem to sprout up to full height within the next 24hrs after a mow. These flowers last from late spring to fall. In short, I'm plagued by clover flowers throughout the entire season I want my lawn to look great. It's just such a shame the previous owners didn't nip the clover in the bud, when each plant was jut a little, round cluster. I love catching them early, knowing I've stopped additional infiltration. But I'm helpless, overall. Looks like I'll have to replace the entire lawn; start from scratch; do what the previous owners SHOULD have done, and pulled weeds when I first see them. I'm not really buying the whole "benefits of clover" thing, amidst a grass lawn. If I wanted a clover lawn, I would plant a clover lawn. Putting down and maintaining grass is an expense in time and resources. Clover is virtually free (since it shows up on the wind), and is seemingly mantenance-free. Since most sod and grass seed are sold with some guarantee of being weed- (and clover-) free, I just don't believe that most people who spend the money and effort to put in a grass lawn, are okay with losing any percentage of it to other, invasive, undesirable plants. I kind of liken it to suggesting that a Ferrari owner would be okay with someone switching it with a Cavalier, and just saying, 'They both get me from point A to point B, so I don't mind.' I can fully envision putting in other kinds of ground cover, and have considered it at past properties. Not being my first rodeo, I already have substantial plans to reduce the amount of lawn area, and increase planting beds. But much of this current property begs for a beautiful, thick, dark green lawn...of grass. No dandelions. No clover, but particularly no clover flowers. (I'd be more okay with clover, if not for the flowers.) The desperation was so great, I did something I thought I'd never do, and tried the iron-based WEED-B-GONE product. (Harsh, chemical herbicides have been banned in my area for years...resulting in public parks being taken over by weeds, for the most part. It's such a shame, in the sense that a healthy, well-maintained lawn is not only beautiful, but fantastic underfoot.) That is really my philosophy, beyond the aesthetic. A lawn should be cool, soft, and luxurious under bare feet. Weeds, even overgrown grass, also tend to make barefoot walking less than a joy. So far, I haven't found a way to get rid of mats of clover. The WEED-B-GONE did nothing I could notice. I'm at my rope's end on ths matter, and likely will have to pull up the entire lawn, to put down new, almost-weed-free sod, where I can physically manage pulling individual weeds as they appear. I guess I'd plead with people to pull unwanted clover plants when they're small... if not for yourself, then for the next property owner. Sure, it means time, every day, or every few days, combing the lawn, looking for weeds. Yes, it can be back-breaking and time-consuming. But that grass lawn didn't get there by accident. A grass lawn is intentional.

Been using it for years but did discover along the way, putting it on the day after a rain is extremely effective. It inhibits the growth that happens after a rain and kills the plant. Takes 1-3 days to kill the plants, but they don't come back On days when I'd put it on that were dry with little growth happening, it was like I never put it on. So wait till the day after a rain to apply it. Very effective. Most applications during spring time were effective all the time, summer applications were ineffective without rain the prior day. Basically, the plant has to be exhibiting growth for it to be effective. I'm in south Texas so nothing grows here during the summer, which is when the weeds are still there, but without the rain to cause a growth spurt, nothing happens.

TY for the update! Definitely still alive! Washing it off right away probably helped a lot. This should be inspirational, encouraging for whoever else might read this, from a similar situation. Accidental & "neighbor sprays" are pretty common. Putting a little mulch &/or compost around the base (but not touching trunks) is usually appreciated by any plant that's tall enough. Helps to moderate soil temp & moisture, increase fertility. A cute little border of bricks or whatever you'd like to look at can help keep grass from creeping in, mow with chute aimed away from bed areas. Doubtful these need water every day. I'd stop doing that unless it doesn't rain for a week or so or you see wilting. Too much water can make plants ill. Assuming they're still alive next year, shouldn't need to be watered unless it doesn't rain for more than 2-3 weeks during really hot weather. Good luck, lilacs!