Are you tired of removing weeds from your garden? I know exactly how you feel! These nuisances are very persistent and many people don’t know what to do, so they turn to chemical solutions.
Well, don’t surrender yet! I’ll show you how to make weed killer using just a few ingredients you almost certainly already have at home. You’ll also learn how and when to use it, as well as the potential risks.
Let’s see how to banish these pesky plants for good!
Weed Killer Recipe
Making weed killer doesn’t require any skill and it’s not time-consuming. The ingredients are simple:
• Salt
• Dish soap
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle
Here’s how to make and use the weed killer.
1. Take 2 cups of vinegar and pour it into a dish. Add 4 tbsp of salt and 2 tbsp of dish soap to the vinegar. Stir everything well and pour it into a spray bottle.
2. Wait until the weather is sunny, apply the solution to the weeds, and then wait approximately 24 hours.
3. Take a weeding tool, such as a hand hoe, and carefully dig out the weeds along with their roots.
Will Vinegar And Salt Harm Other Plants?
It has to be noted that this solution works best on patios. Vinegar is often used for this purpose and many mix it with baking soda to remove weeds from gravel.
The question is, can these ingredients be used on flower beds or lawns? Well, you need to be careful with this one because both vinegar and salt can damage plants and lawn grass.
The problem arises when salts build up in the soil, which can destroy plants. So, if you need to remove weeds from flower beds or borders, it’s better to use other methods for weed control.
The combination of vinegar, salt, and dish soap works great on young weeds. It will kill the weed plant parts above the soil line in a very short time.
However, if you’re dealing with mature or perennial weed plants, this solution might not be enough.
The upper part of the plant may die but the tap roots are robust and will most likely survive.
DIY Weed Killer To Use In Flower Beds
There are 4 DIY weed control methods to use in flower beds. Let’s go through each.
Cardboard
This is one of the easiest ways to suppress weed growth. However, you need to be extra careful if you use dyed cardboard or you’re unsure if there are harmful substances on it.
Any substance which can reach the soil has the potential to harm your plants, so the best thing you can do is remove the cardboard once the weeds are dead and you can pull out the roots.
Boiling Water
This is one of the oldest methods for weed removal. Pour boiling water over the weeds and it will kill all the parts above the soil line.
This method works well on young, immature weeds with weak root systems.
Mulch
Adding a layer of mulch is another way to suppress weed growth. Another benefit of this method is that it will boost nutrient levels in the soil.
You can use compost, gravel, leaf mold, or any other natural material you typically use for fertilization.
Mulch won’t kill the weed roots, so you’ll most likely need to use your hands as well.
Solarization
The last DIY method that can help you with weeds is solarization. If you have a planting site full of weeds, purchase clear plastic sheeting and put it over the site.
We should thank the sun’s heat for this effect. The plastic will retain heat, killing the weeds and its seeds in the soil.
You’ll need to pull out the weed roots with this technique as well.
How To Remove Weeds Permanently
As you can see, none of the methods above will help you get rid of weed roots permanently.
Some gardeners and landscapers recommend using flame guns. This is pretty risky in terms of safety, but if you know how to use them, they will work perfectly on weeds. Just be careful not to burn surrounding flora!
So, how do you remove these nuisances once and for all? The only answer is prevention. If you have young weeds, use the methods above. You can also grow some weed-killing plants.
For mature weeds, pull them out using your hands and as soon as you spot new growth, act immediately.
Regular maintenance can help you avoid many issues in your garden, including weeds.
Good luck and until next time!