home-made-weed-killers

15 Home-Made Weed Killers You Should Go For

Building a beautiful garden is a challenging task, and the abundance of weeds invading your soil does not make it any easier. Weed killers are essential in a garden.

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Unfortunately, the cost of repeatedly purchasing weed killers can put a lot of strain on your wallet during the warmer season- especially if you have a large property to cover. Not to mention, the harsh chemicals store-bought weed killers contain often damage vegetation in the area it is used. Some will even damage your grass.

Learn how to make your own weed killer at home to cut costs and even get rid of weeds safely without interfering with other intentional plant life. Sometimes the solution can be made of simple items you’d find around the house.

weeding

1. Dish Soap Spray

This is a simple recipe that can be made directly in a spray bottle for easy application. Combine dish soap, water, salt, and vinegar. Do not take the mixture too seriously, the proportions do not need to be exact. This solution will wilt any vegetation it is sprayed on so be careful spraying around your own plants.

2. Vodka and Water

Vodka may be enjoyed by humans, but not so much by weeds. The alcohol content will kill any plants that soak its juices up. Use this mixture around the base of plants you want to get rid of, wait a few hours, and they will soon be gone.

Tip: Apply the mixture on a hot, sunny day for best results.

3. Boiling Water

This solution to killing weeds only needs one ingredient that can be found with ease in most homes- water. Use your stovetop to make a pan of boiling water. Once at its bubbling, steamy state, pour the contents on the desired weed.

This is not something plants have to deal with in nature, so the extreme conditions devastate them. Do not let the water cool down substantially because the hotter it is, the better of a job it will do.

This can be challenging if there is not an area to heat water directly near the weeds. If you are seeking weed control on a farm or lake, it is best to access how large the problem is before you can take steps in remedying it.

4. Mulch

Mulch is relatively easy to make, but will take some preparation time. For those planting flowers in a more mature state than seeds, mulch is an addition to be taken advantage of. Mulch blocks sunlight for young budding weeds while providing nourishment to the rest of your garden. Mulch can get expensive at the store, but fortunately, all the ingredients are probably already in your backyard.

Using a lawnmower, or a wood chipper for bigger branches, break down leaves grass and small sticks. It is easiest to collect the mulched material with a lawnmower bag. Pile the material and leave it to start to decompose. Turn the pile with a shovel regularly and keep it slightly moist. Hot weather will turn the decaying yard waste into mulch fastest.

Tip: Mulch can be left over winter to use in the spring as well so preparing it the year before will help you get a head start on your garden.

5. Landscaping Fabric

Landscaping fabric is a wonderful invention in which sheets are spread across the garden before the spreading of topsoil. You will have to make holes for the plants you want, but other weak budding weeds will not be able to break through or even receive sunlight. Commercial brands can be expensive, but the same thing can be done with old newspaper.

Tip: Keep in mind, this will have to be replaced from year to year.

6. Salt

Use iodized salt to destroy weeds. The chemical compound of sodium chloride (salt) in small doses through the ground can be beneficial, but larger servings will easily break down any plant. Use salt sparingly so you don’t ruin the soil but a little mixed in will be okay. Consider spraying plants with salt water instead of just dumping salt on top.

7. Cornmeal

Using cornmeal prevents weed seeds from germinating. Scatter any type of store-bought cornmeal on the soil were weeds are invading the space.

Tip: It is best to have the weeds pulled already at this point. While cornmeal will suffocate weeds slowly, it works best as a preventative measure rather than a killer.

8. Hydrogen Peroxide and Water

Plants need natural bacteria in order to grow. Anyone who has used it to disinfect a scrape knows it eliminates any unwanted germs quickly and sharply. The same goes for those in your garden, so be careful, this is another one that can hurt the plants you want as well.

9. Vinegar

Vinegar has a low PH balance which is dangerous for plants, thus it will commonly kill most large weeds with ease. However, be careful, showering your whole garden to get every little weed will introduce too much acidity into your soil making it hard for your plants to grow successfully in the future.

10. Edging

Keeping your garden separate from the world around it gives a gardener just a little more control. Using rocks, spare bricks, or scrap wood create a perimeter around your garden to keep grass and weeds from spilling over into your garden soil is a great option for those who love to add design elements to their property. This can become fun and any rocks or bricks you already have on your land can be utilized in DIY edging techniques.

11. Cover Them

Covering low to the ground weeds that are hard to pick is a great way to eliminate them. All plants need sunlight to survive and depriving them of it will stop them from stealing your plant’s precious resources. This may take a little time to fully wipe out the weeds so be sure if you're using something light to anchor it down to keep it from blowing away and freeing the weed.

Tip: Use natural resources like stones to cover weeds and add a little accent to your garden.

12. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great choice for weeds that are close to healthy grass or other vegetation. It will kill the weed, but still, keep your desired plants in good shape. The powder works well in deep cracks in sidewalks, etc.

13. A Controlled Burn

Now, this is perhaps the most dangerous option on the list, but it does an amazing job in clearing large areas. Fire will break down every plant in the area and leave behind ash that fertilizes the area. This method can easily get out of control and spread to other nearby plants or structures, so always remain vigilant.

Check your local laws to be sure of any specific regulations on this and always use extreme caution and safety measures when dealing with fire.

14. Other Plants

In the garden, competition for sunlight and nutrients is fierce. Larger plants will naturally overtake the weeds. This method works best in large gardens that you want a thick beautiful array of flowers and does not mind planting cover plants for added design. If the plants in your garden are too sparse, there will be enough resources for the weeds as well.

15. You!

Make a salad or use certain weeds as a garnish. Watercrest and Dandelions are both edible and common in yards overpowered by weeds. Most people don't think to use their weeds this way, but you might be happy you fulfilled today’s to-do-list and are having a healthy snack.

You can also simply pick the weeds by hand. This is strenuous, but can be a sufficient step in deweeding.

Why Go Organic?

There are many advantages to an organic weed killer. These are made of natural substances found in nature. When purchasing an organic weed killer, know that they can come as strong as a weed killer filled with tough pesticides. Chemically strengthened weed killer will stick around in your garden and poison your future plants as well as essential wildlife in your garden like worms.

Trial and Error

Each of these methods may work better on certain plants. Since all of the ingredients are so attainable, be sure to use your discretion to test them. You may find some easier methods more convenient for you. Certain supplies may be at your disposal, or you’ve been dying to take your new torch for a spin. Certain concepts like mulching do not only pertain to weeding and can become a new exciting step to add to your gardening routine.

Fast DIY Weed-Killers!

The only options available for killing weeds are not commercial chemical pesticides. Consider making your own weed killer at home. Many simple ingredients can be found almost within reach to rid your yard of the pesky weeds. With using home remedies, it not only proves cheaper, but also can be much healthier for your growing garden.

About the Author Laura Bennett

Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.

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