Weeds are simply annoying plants for me, I find them to actually disturb my garden. Furthermore, I can’t use any kind of treatment. I don’t want to harm my plants. Thus, I did some research and find out some homemade herbicides as perfect as natural alternatives. As you already know, the most environmentally friendly method would be just pulling them up. Then, digging up the roots and let the area dry in the sun. However, I don’t have that time especially with a big area of weeds. Thus, if you are looking for a quicker option, look no further. Try out one of these 3 DIY homemade herbicides to get rid of weeds. Keep reading.
1. Boiling water to wet thoroughly
This I the simplest method I have tried so far. Not to mention, is the least harmful solution to both people and the environment.
All you have to do is boil a big pot of water. Then, simply pour it over the leaves and stems of the weeds you wish to get rid of.
This boiling water is a great method to get rid of the weeds from places such as sidewalk or driveway cracks. In my case, it also worked perfectly fine over a larger area.
However, make sure you apply it strictly to the area of weeds because you don’t want to harm your flowers or vegetable plants.
2. Use common table salt
The common table salt is an effective ingredient to use in a homemade solution because it prevents any herb from growing.
Again, because it has this detrimental effect on the soil, you should apply it strictly to only weeds areas, directly on the leaves. Also, it is important to not soak the soil with it because you don’t want to harm the garden beds or the plants surrounding the weeds.
Thus, all you have to do is start dissolving 1 part salt in 8 parts hot water. You can even make the solution stronger by using 1 part salt to 3 parts water. Then, you can add a small amount of liquid dish soap and pour everything into a spray bottle.
To apply this solution, cover the nearby plants so you won’t harm them and then spray the leaves of the weeds. Also, you should keep in mind that this solution might cause discoloration on the cement sidewalks or driveways, so make sure you don’t go there. Also, you will need several applications of this mixture until you get the results you want.
3. Apply vinegar
Yes, another common household ingredient. It is very strong for the weeds so it will help you tremendously in getting rid of them.
For this, you will need about 5% acetic acid of white vinegar which is sold basically in every grocery stores and it is strong enough to kill the weeds.
However, you could also use a stronger version of up to 20% acetic acid. It might be harmful to you, though, so if you chose this, make sure you cover your skin, eyes, and mouth so you won’t inhale.
You can easily apply the vinegar by spraying full strength onto the leaves of the weeds. Also, make sure you don’t get near plants or vegetables with this solution. You can also add a little liquid dish detergent to improve the effectiveness of this homemade herbicide.