Are you tired of battling weeds in your garden, driveway, or block paving? Traditional chemical weed killers can be harsh on the environment and harmful to pets and children. A natural alternative is gaining popularity: a homemade weed killer made with simple ingredients you probably already have at home.
The Ingredients:
- White vinegar: A natural acetic acid solution that dehydrates weeds. (see below for the different types of vinegar)
- Salt: Draws moisture from the weeds, making them more susceptible to the vinegar’s effects.
- Dish soap: Acts as a surfactant, helping the vinegar and salt penetrate the weed’s leaves.
Instructions:
- Mix the ingredients: In a spray bottle, combine equal parts white vinegar and water. Add a tablespoon of salt and a few drops of dish soap. Shake well to mix.
- Apply to weeds: Spray the mixture directly onto the weeds, ensuring it covers the leaves and stems. Avoid spraying the mixture on desired plants, as it can also harm them.
- Repeat as needed: For stubborn weeds, you may need to reapply the mixture a few times.
Watch our follow along guide
Watch my YouTube video on how to make child and pet safe natural weed killer and some examples of how effective it is.
Natural Weed Killer: A Versatile Solution
- Garden paths: For paver or stone paths, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds between the joints. This will target the weeds without damaging the surrounding pavers or stones.
- Driveways: To control weeds growing in cracks in concrete driveways, apply the mixture directly to the weeds. For stubborn weeds, you may need to repeat the application several times.
- Block paving: For block paving areas, spray the mixture into the joints between the blocks. This will help to prevent weeds from taking root and damaging the block paving.
- Patio areas: For patio slabs or tiles, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds that are growing between the joints. This will help to control weeds and keep your patio looking clean and tidy.
- Fences and walls: To eliminate weeds growing at the base of fences or walls, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds. Be careful to avoid spraying the fence or wall itself, as this can cause damage.
- Gravel areas: For gravel driveways or pathways, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds. This will help to control weeds without disturbing the gravel.
- Container gardens: To prevent weeds from growing in container gardens, spray the mixture around the base of the plants. This will help to keep the soil weed-free and promote healthy plant growth.
- Outdoor furniture: To control weeds that are growing around or under outdoor furniture, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds. Be careful to avoid spraying the furniture itself.
- Outdoor pots: For outdoor pots or planters, spray the mixture directly onto the weeds that are growing in the soil. This will help to prevent weeds from taking over the pot and harming the plants.
- Lawns (spot treatment): For small areas of weeds in lawns, apply the mixture directly to the weeds, avoiding spraying the surrounding grass. This will help to control weeds without damaging the lawn.
Safety Considerations for Natural Weed Killer
While this homemade weed killer is generally safe for children and pets, it’s essential to take precautions:
- Keep out of reach: Store the spray bottle in a secure location, away from children and pets.
- Avoid contact: Wash hands thoroughly after handling the mixture.
- Protect pets: Prevent pets from accessing the treated area until the mixture has dried completely.
Additional Tips:
- Timing is key: Apply the weed killer on a sunny day when the weeds are actively growing. The heat will help the vinegar and salt penetrate the plant’s cells more effectively.
- Target specific weeds: For particularly stubborn weeds, you may need to apply the mixture directly to the root system.
- Consider alternative methods: For large areas or persistent weeds, consider combining this homemade weed killer with other methods, such as hand-pulling, mulching, or using a flame weeder.
White Vinegar vs. Distilled Vinegar: A Quick Comparison
White vinegar and distilled vinegar are both types of vinegar, but they have some key differences:
- Production:
- White vinegar: Typically made from fermented sugar cane extract or by combining acetic acid with water.
- Distilled vinegar: Produced by distilling any type of vinegar, which separates the ethanol from the base mixture.
- Acetic Acid Content:
- White vinegar: Contains 5% to 20% acetic acid.
- Distilled vinegar: Contains 5% to 8% acetic acid.
- Uses:
- White vinegar: More versatile, used for cooking, cleaning, food preservation, and other purposes.
- Distilled vinegar: Often used for cleaning and disinfecting due to its higher acetic acid content.
In summary, while both white vinegar and distilled vinegar are effective cleaning agents, distilled vinegar has a slightly higher concentration of acetic acid, making it more potent for certain cleaning tasks. However, white vinegar is more versatile and can be used for a wider range of purposes.
*For the weed killer recipe, either white vinegar or distilled vinegar can be used. The higher acetic acid content of distilled vinegar may make it slightly more effective, but both will work well.
Conclusion
Weed killers that have been tested by gardeners world
You can look for natural weed killers to buy from B&Q
The ingrediencies are very cheap and can be bought from your local food stores such as Asda or Tesco
By making your own natural weed killer, you can save money, protect the environment, and keep your garden, driveway, and block paving looking their best. It’s a safe and effective solution that’s easy on the planet and hard on weeds.
