Best Natural DIY Weed Killers?

Merin Porter
Merin Porter Posts: 1,026 admin
in Pest & Weed Problems/Solutions

I searched the forums but did not see a ton on this topic -- do any of you have a preferred recipe or common household ingredient(s) you use as a safer weed killer? I know you can pull weeds by hand and that, ideally, things would be mulched enough to prevent most weed growth.

That said, if you need something safer but effective to spray on weeds, what do you use? Bonus points if you can DIY it.

Thanks!

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Comments

  • annbeck62
    annbeck62 Posts: 994 ✭✭✭✭

    I usually pull weeds but try 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 C salt and 1 T liquid dish soap mixed together in a spray bottle and spray during the hottest, sunniest part of the day.

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  • marjstratton
    marjstratton Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭✭

    I generally hoe or pull my weeds. It seems to me that even the "natural" weed killers have the potential for killing things that are best left undisturbed for soil health.

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  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,501 admin

    I have a problem with a highly invasive form of buttercup. I have tried hoeing, pulling and forms of mechanical control but without any success. It seems that new plants start from the tiniest bit of root or stem left behind.

    My new solution that I will be trying later this week; a tiger torch.

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  • SuperC
    SuperC Posts: 916 ✭✭✭✭

    One gallon of distilled white vinegar, one cup of water, two table Of dishsoap. Mix well and apply on the weeds.

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  • Merin Porter
    Merin Porter Posts: 1,026 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/913755#Comment_913755

    Let us know how it goes! We are under Stage 1 fire restrictions here, so I'll have to save this method for the cooler/wetter parts of the year! :)

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  • jowitt.europe
    jowitt.europe Posts: 1,411 admin

    Areas where I do not plant anything I cover with cardboard or old linen and put mulch or wood shavings on top. It works very well and the soil can breath and let the rain through.

    for vegetable beds I use wood shavings. I put them round strawberries, brassica plants, cucumbers. It keeps slugs and weeds away. But I have to weed a lot, as there are so many herbs which I do not sow as they grow from seeds themselves like dill, rocket , savory, camomile… They do grow, but other ones as well, thus I have to sort out which ones are allowed and which ones not. If I know that my vegetables will take over, I do not bother weeding. Potatoes are now so strong, that no weed has a chance.

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,356 admin
    edited June 2022
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/913879#Comment_913879

    @torey I've watched videos on this and those folks claim that the best time to do this is as the young growth appears. This takes care of those and also scorches any exposed seeds.

    If I'm not mistaken, sometimes a second round is recommended after another week or so to get anything that may have been missed. It's supposed to work very well.

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