The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Imazapyr (isopropylamine salt)
- Chemical class
- Imidazolinone; WSSA Group 2 acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor.[2][1]
- Mode of action
- WSSA Group 2: Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors (imidazolinones)[2][1]
- Signal word
- GC 2762 (sold as Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer): Warning[1]
Keep it away from tree and shrub roots
The label bans use on lawns and on or around fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees, including over their root zones. Stay back at least twice the distance from a trunk to its drip line, because roots may reach that far.[1]
Don't spray on slopes, where it can move across the soil to plants downhill. Skip fence lines with desirable plants on the far side.[1]
How imazapyr works
WSSA Group 2 herbicides block acetolactate synthase, an enzyme plants need to make the amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine. The pelargonic acid in this product is a second active ingredient at 5%.[2][1]
Where it is used
Water the day before if the soil is dry. Spray on a sunny day above 60°F, and cut down weeds taller than 6 inches and clear the debris first.[1]
Let the spray soak into the ground without running off toward plants you want to keep. Don't stretch one gallon of mix past 300 square feet.[1]
Building a patio, play area or asphalt drive? The label allows spraying the ground before you lay the surface material, to keep listed weeds from coming up through it.[1]
In heavy clay soil, nothing may grow for more than a year. Only use it where you want bare ground for at least that long.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC 2762 (sold as Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer)[1] | The Scotts Company d/b/a The Ortho Group | 239-2777 | 0.47% | liquid concentrate (bottle or single-dose pouch), with 5% pelargonic acid | Warning |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| GC 2762 (sold as Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer) | Driveways, sidewalks, paver patios, walkways, gravel areas, rock landscapes, under decks and along fences and curbs | All existing vegetation (weeds and grasses) and regrowth | 24 fl oz product per 300 sq ft[1] Mix 24 fl oz into 1 gallon of water and spray no more than 300 sq ft with it. One application per year is the label maximum. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word WARNING: it causes substantial but temporary eye injury. Wear goggles, keep it off clothing, and wash with soap and water after handling.[1]
Pets
Keep people and pets out of the area while you spray, and never apply it so that it reaches a person or pet directly or as drift.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label gives no bee or pollinator warning. Its environmental cautions are about harm to plants and runoff.[1]
Fish and water
The label calls it toxic to plants and warns that drift and runoff may harm plants in water next to treated areas. Keep it out of storm drains, ditches, gutters and surface water.[1]
Common questions
- Can I plant in an area treated with GroundClear Year Long?
- Not for a while. The label says it stays active in soil for up to one year, so don't use it where you plan to plant lawns, vegetables, flowers or other plants.[1]
- Is it safe to spray near my trees?
- No. Stay back from trees and shrubs at least twice the distance from trunk to drip line. The label warns roots may be within that area.[1]
- How long does it keep weeds away?
- The label claims it kills existing vegetation and prevents regrowth for up to one year, with one application allowed per year.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “GC 2762 (Ortho GroundClear Year Long Vegetation Killer) label, EPA Reg. No. 239-2777 (EPA-stamped, Sept. 22, 2022).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/000239-02777-20220922.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Weed Science Society of America, “Summary of Herbicide Mechanism of Action According to the Weed Science Society of America.” wssa.net/wp-content/uploads/WSSA-Mechanism-of-Action.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)