How to Make Nontoxic Weed Killer

Pull weeds manually to reduce their numbers.

While weeds make a pesky addition to your flower or vegetable garden, spraying weeds with chemical weed killers can prove harmful to the environment once they leach into the ground and subsequently affect soil, animals and groundwater. Inhaling chemical weed killers can also prove harmful to your health as well as that of your family and pets, such as when pets nibble on weeds that have been sprayed with weed killer. Use nontoxic methods of weed control such as a solution that uses vinegar. The acidic nature of vinegar kills weeds as well as any plant or grass it touches.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Salt
• Liquid dish soap
• Large spray bottle or watering can
• Cornmeal

Instructions

1. Mix a gallon of vinegar with 1 cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a large spray bottle or plastic watering can. Weed sprayers from garden supply stores are another option. Mix the solution thoroughly as the salt needs to dissolve completely before use.

2. Spray the solution directly on unwanted plants, particularly on a hot day for best results. Do not get the mixture on any plants you want to keep. If you are concerned about your weed killer ending up on wanted flowers and plants, use a cloth to wipe the weed killer on the leaves of unwanted plants. Wear gloves if using this method to protect your hands from the acidity of the vinegar.

3. Use the spray as often as needed until weeds have disappeared. Once dead weeds have been removed, cover the area with cornmeal to prevent new weed seeds from sprouting. Note that cornmeal also prevents wanted plant seeds from sprouting, so take special care when utilizing cornmeal.

Tips & Warnings

• Boiling water works as another nontoxic weed killer.

• Rubbing alcohol is another nontoxic alternative. Use 1 tablespoon of alcohol for every cup of water used and either spray the mixture on weeds or rub the mixture on weed leaves.

• If you don't see results, do not reapply immediately! Wait at least 10 days. Over-generous repeat applications can spread through the soil and kill things you don't want to kill.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Homemade Weed Killer; Andrew Bicknell
• Provident Planning: 6 Cheap, Homemade, Natural and Organic Weed Killer Recipes
• Chem Tox: Chemical Pesticides Health Effects Research