What's in this guide
What Is Honcho K6?
Honcho K6 is a professional-strength glyphosate herbicide with 48.7% active ingredient. Glyphosate works by traveling from the leaves all the way down through the stem and into the roots, so the whole plant dies, not just the top growth you can see.
That's the key difference between Honcho K6 and a contact herbicide. A contact killer burns what it touches. Honcho K6 gets absorbed and moves through the entire plant, which means even deep-rooted perennial weeds, woody brush, and invasive vines don't come back after a proper application.
It leaves no residual activity in the soil. Once it's broken down, you can reseed or replant the area. That makes it useful for land clearing before establishing new grass or a garden bed, something you can't do with many other strong herbicides.
Honcho K6 does not know the difference between a weed and your grass. It will kill whatever it lands on. Do not use it in your lawn unless you plan to fully reseed that area. Use it on driveways, fence lines, field edges, and areas where you want everything gone.
What Does Honcho K6 Kill?
Because glyphosate is non-selective, Honcho K6 will kill virtually any plant it contacts, annual weeds, perennial weeds, grasses, brush, vines, and even small trees. It's one of the few products that can actually handle woody vegetation and deep-rooted invasive plants that standard lawn herbicides won't touch.
Honcho K6 really shines on tough jobs, fence line clearing, overgrown field edges, driveways, gravel paths, around farm buildings, and anywhere you're dealing with established brush or invasive vines. In areas like Marquette MI, where thick brush and mixed-species undergrowth come back hard every season, a high-concentration glyphosate like this is often the only thing that gets the job done. For selective weed control in an active lawn, check out selective broadleaf killers instead.
Mixing Rates & Application
Honcho K6 is a concentrate, you mix it with water before spraying. The amount you use depends on what you're trying to kill. Tougher targets like woody brush and deep-rooted perennial weeds need a higher concentration than soft annual weeds.
Always add the herbicide to the water, not the other way around. Use a clean sprayer dedicated to herbicide use. Apply when the weather is calm, wind will carry the spray onto plants you don't want to kill.
| Target | Mix Rate (per gallon of water) | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual weeds (soft, young) | 1.5 oz / gallon | 300–400 sq ft | Low Rate |
| Perennial weeds (established) | 2.5 oz / gallon | 300–400 sq ft | Standard Rate |
| Grasses & lawn renovation | 2.5 oz / gallon | 300–400 sq ft | Standard Rate |
| Woody brush & shrubs | 5 oz / gallon | Spot treat | Higher Rate |
| Vines & brambles | 5 oz / gallon | Spot treat | Higher Rate |
| Small trees & saplings | 5–7.5 oz / gallon | Spot treat | Max Rate |
| Farmstead / non-crop areas | 2.5–5 oz / gallon | Broadcast | Varies by target |
Application Tips
Spray until the leaves are well coated but not dripping. You don't need to soak the plant, just get good coverage on the foliage. For woody brush, make sure you get the leaves, not just the bark.
Results start to show in 2–4 days for annual weeds and soft-stemmed plants. Woody brush and deep-rooted perennials may take 1–3 weeks to show full dieback. Don't re-apply too soon, the product needs time to move through the root system.
Honcho K6 needs at least 4–6 hours to absorb before rain. Ideally, wait for a dry day with no rain in the forecast for 6+ hours. Applying before rain will wash the product off before it can work. See our guide on how long to wait after applying weed killer for more details.
Honcho K6 Mixing Rate Calculator
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When to Use Honcho K6
Glyphosate works best when plants are actively growing and have plenty of green leaf surface for the product to absorb into. That means late spring through early fall is the best window, but the exact timing depends on what you're targeting.
Best Time of Year
For most annual weeds and grasses, spray when they're young and actively growing. Young plants absorb herbicide faster and die more reliably. Once weeds go to seed, it's too late to stop spread, but Honcho K6 will still kill the existing plants.
For perennial weeds and brush, late summer to early fall is often the most effective window. Plants are moving energy down into their root systems at that time of year, which means the glyphosate travels deeper and kills more of the root system. This is especially true for tough targets like thistle, bindweed, and invasive shrubs. In warm climates like Macon GA, where kudzu and other fast-growing vines stay active well into October, you have a much longer spray window compared to northern states.
Conditions to Avoid
Don't spray when temperatures are above 90°F, the herbicide evaporates faster and can drift as vapor. Don't spray when wind is over 10 mph. Don't spray if rain is expected within 6 hours. And don't spray on drought-stressed plants, a plant that isn't actively growing won't absorb the product as well.
Because Honcho K6 has no soil residual activity, you can typically reseed or replant as soon as the treated vegetation has fully died back, usually 1–2 weeks after application. This makes it a popular choice for lawn renovation and field prep before overseeding.
Honcho K6 Application Timing by Metro
When to spray depends a lot on where you live. Glyphosate needs actively growing plants to work, so the right spray window shifts quite a bit between a short northern summer and a long southern growing season.
The two metros with the highest search interest for Honcho K6 right now show just how different those windows can be.
| Metro | Best Spray Window | Top Targets | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette MI | Late May – September | Woody brush, brambles, invasive shrubs, mixed undergrowth | Short growing season, aim for June–August peak. Brush regrowth is aggressive after winter. |
| Macon GA | March – October | Kudzu, privet, wild vines, bermudagrass, field weeds | Long warm season means multiple applications may be needed. Kudzu can regrow quickly, treat in late summer for best root kill. |
Marquette MI. What to Expect
The Upper Peninsula has a shorter window than most of the country. Vegetation comes out hard in spring and grows fast through summer. Target brush and invasive shrubs in June and July when plants are fully leafed out and absorbing well. By late September, plants start going dormant and glyphosate moves through them more slowly.
For fence lines and property edges around Marquette, the combination of heavy snowmelt and dense mixed vegetation means annual treatments are often needed to keep brush from coming back.
Macon GA. What to Expect
Central Georgia has one of the longest weed seasons in the US. Kudzu is the big one, it can grow a foot a day in summer and climbs over trees and structures if left unchecked. Honcho K6 at the higher brush rate (5 oz per gallon) applied in late summer, when the vine is putting energy back into roots, gives the deepest kill.
Bermudagrass and perennial field weeds are also common around Macon. For lawn renovation or field clearing, spray in spring before summer heat sets in, wait for full dieback, then reseed or replant.
Safety & What You Need to Know Before Using It
Honcho K6 is a commercial-strength herbicide. That means it works well, but it also means you need to handle it carefully. Here are the key things to know before you mix and spray.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The label requires: long-sleeve shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, and eye protection. When mixing the concentrate (before diluting), also wear a face shield or safety glasses with side protection. Closed-toe shoes are a must.
Don't cut corners on PPE. The concentrate is much stronger than the final spray mix, and skin contact during pouring and mixing is where most exposure happens.
Keep People and Pets Away
Once the sprayed area is dry, it's generally safe for people and pets to re-enter. Drying time is typically a few hours under normal conditions. Don't let children or pets walk through wet spray. Keep treated clippings away from compost piles used for food gardens.
Don't Spray Near Water
Honcho K6 is not labeled for use near bodies of water. Don't spray close to ponds, streams, ditches, or wetlands. Drift and runoff can affect aquatic life. Check the label for exact buffer distances.
Store Properly
Store in the original container in a cool, dry place away from children and animals. Do not store near food, feed, or drinking water. Properly dispose of empty containers according to your local regulations.
This guide covers general use information. Always read the full product label before mixing or applying. The label is the law, it tells you exactly what you can treat, where you can apply it, and what precautions are required in your specific situation.
Pros & Cons
What We Like
- Very high 48.7% glyphosate concentration, more active ingredient per dollar
- Kills the whole plant including roots, not just top growth
- Works on tough targets: woody brush, vines, brambles, small trees
- No soil residual, you can replant after treated vegetation dies
- Versatile, effective on a huge range of annual and perennial plants
- Post-emergent action, spray weeds you can actually see
Things to Consider
- Non-selective, kills any plant it contacts, including your lawn and garden
- Requires careful mixing, concentrate is potent
- Not for use near water bodies
- Needs 4–6 hours dry time before rain
- Slow on very woody targets, may need 2–3 weeks for full dieback
- No pre-emergent action, won't stop new weeds from germinating
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are glyphosate herbicides, but Honcho K6 has a much higher concentration of active ingredient, 48.7% compared to typical consumer Roundup products which range from 1–18%. That means Honcho K6 is a more powerful product, better suited to difficult targets like woody brush, vines, and established perennial weeds. It also works out to less cost per treated area when you're covering large properties.
No. Honcho K6 is non-selective, which means it will kill your grass along with the weeds. If you need a weed killer that's safe to use in your lawn, look for a selective broadleaf herbicide. Honcho K6 is best used where you want everything removed, driveways, fence lines, gravel areas, and bare spots you plan to reseed.
Honcho K6 has no soil residual activity, which means it doesn't stay in the soil and prevent new plants from growing. Once the treated vegetation has fully died back, usually 1–2 weeks after application, you can reseed. Most people wait until the dead plant material has been removed or mowed down before overseeding for best seed-to-soil contact.
Yes. Glyphosate is effective on poison ivy and poison oak. Apply at the higher brush rate (5 oz per gallon) directly to the leaves. Wear full PPE during application and when handling dead plant material afterward, the oils that cause the rash remain active even in dead, dry plant material. Multiple applications may be needed for large, established patches.
You'll usually see the first signs of yellowing and wilting within 2–4 days for soft annual weeds and grasses. Established perennial weeds typically take 1–2 weeks to show full dieback. Woody brush, brambles, and small trees can take 2–3 weeks or longer for complete kill. Don't spray again too quickly, the product needs time to move through the root system. If you don't see results after 3 weeks, a second application may be needed.
Honcho K6 already contains surfactant in the formula, so you don't need to add a separate one in most situations. For very waxy or hairy-leaved plants (like certain broadleaf weeds), adding a small amount of non-ionic surfactant can improve coverage and absorption. Check the product label for specific guidance on your target plants.
Honcho K6 is primarily a US product and is not widely available through Canadian retailers. Canadian homeowners looking for a comparable product should search for other registered glyphosate herbicides available in their province. Check out our best weed killers in Canada guide for locally available options.