Weeds are a battle every gardener will have to contend with at some point.
They take up important nutrients that would otherwise go to our plants not to mention they are unsightly.
Using dangerous chemicals to combat them has never really been appealing to me. Now that I have children, even more so.
An effective method I have found for dealing with weeds is an all-natural alternative that most of us have available in our pantry.
Read on to learn how you can create your own safe weed-killing mixture by using just a few ingredients.
Weeds are not only unsightly but they steal important nutrients from the plants we are actually trying to grow. Using harmful chemicals to kill weeds is not only bad for the environment they are bad for our health. Using vinegar, a little salt, and dishwashing liquid is very effective at killing weeds without harmful chemicals.
About the Ingredients
Vinegar: Vinegar is a popular choice for a weed killer. It’s considered a non-selective herbicide. This means that it will kill both desirable and undesirable plants alike. The acetic acid found in vinegar is the active ingredient that will dry out the leaves and roots of plants.
Dishwashing Liquid: The second ingredient on our list is dishwashing liquid. Many weeds have a protectant film that does not always allow the vinegar to penetrate. Rather, the vinegar will pool up and roll off the weeds. Dishwashing liquid acts as a surfactant, which means it reduces the surface tension of the water and allows the vinegar to spread more evenly across the weed’s leaves.
Epsom Salt: Our final ingredient to our deadly weed killer is Epsom salt. While we do not always add Epsom salt to our weed killer list, it does an effective job in helping to kill larger and more troublesome weeds. The Epsom salt encourages plants to absorb the vinegar allowing the vinegar to penetrate the plant more effectively.
Helpful Products from Amazon to Kill Weeds Using Vinegar
How to Kill Weeds Using Vinegar
This is my go-to recipe for spraying around sidewalks, in my driveway, as well edges around the lawn. It’s a strong mixture and should be applied on a sunny day.
The sun helps the effectiveness of the mixture and you should begin to start seeing the wilting of weeds within a couple of hours.
Some persistent weeds may need to be sprayed again to fully eradicate them.
Be sure to only spray the weeds you are trying to rid. This spray does not discriminate and will.
All Natural Weed Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- White vinegar (5-6% acetic acid)
- Dish soap
- Water
Instructions:
- In a garden sprayer, mix together 1 gallon of white vinegar with 1 cup of dish soap.
- Add enough water to fill the sprayer to the top, leaving some space for shaking.
- Shake the sprayer well to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- On a dry, sunny day, spray the weed-killer mixture directly onto the leaves of the weeds you want to kill. Be sure to saturate the leaves thoroughly.
- Allow the mixture to dry on the leaves for a few hours, then check to see if the weeds are starting to wilt and turn brown.
- If necessary, reapply the mixture every few days until the weeds are completely dead.
Note: This weed killer may also kill other plants if it comes into contact with them, so be careful when spraying and avoid using it in areas where you want other plants to grow.
Additionally, this recipe works best on young and small weeds and may not be as effective on larger, more established weeds.
Recipe for Larger More Established Weeds
For larger and more established weeds, a stronger recipe may be needed to effectively kill them.
Ingredients:
- White vinegar (10-20% acetic acid)
- Salt (Epsom or Table)
- Dish soap
Instructions:
- Mix together 1 gallon of white vinegar with 2 cups of table salt and 1/4 cup of dish soap in a garden sprayer.
- Stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved.
- On a dry, sunny day, spray the mixture directly onto the leaves of the weeds you want to kill. Be sure to saturate the leaves thoroughly.
- Allow the mixture to dry on the leaves for a few hours, then check to see if the weeds are starting to wilt and turn brown.
- If necessary, reapply the mixture every few days until the weeds are completely dead.
Note: This stronger recipe may also kill other plants if it comes into contact with them, so be careful when spraying and avoid using it in areas where you want other plants to grow.
Additionally, be aware that using salt in your weed killer can potentially harm soil health and future plant growth, so use this recipe sparingly and consider other methods for weed control in the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Vinegar As and Herbicide
Will vinegar kill all types of weeds?
Vinegar is effective at killing many types of weeds, but it may not be effective against all species. Some weeds may require multiple applications or a stronger concentration of vinegar to be killed.
How strong should the vinegar be for weed killing?
A solution of vinegar with 5% acetic acid concentration is often recommended for weed killing. Stronger concentrations of vinegar, such as those found in cleaning vinegar or industrial vinegar, may be too harsh and can damage soil and desirable plants.
How should vinegar be applied to weeds?
Vinegar should be applied directly to the leaves and stems of weeds, avoiding contact with desirable plants. It’s important to apply vinegar on a dry, sunny day when there is no rain forecast for at least 24 hours, as rain can wash away the vinegar before it has a chance to be effective.
Is vinegar safe to use around pets and children?
Vinegar is generally considered safe for use around pets and children, as it is a natural, non-toxic substance. However, it’s important to keep pets and children away from the area being treated until the vinegar has dried.
Can vinegar harm soil or other plants?
Vinegar can be harmful to soil and other plants if used in excessive amounts or if it comes into contact with desirable plants. It’s important to use vinegar sparingly and to avoid getting it on other plants or in the soil.
Final Thoughts
Troublesome weeds can easily be combated with a natural alternative to harmful chemicals.
Try this all natural alternative and let us know in the comments what you think.
