How to Kill Weeds Without Chemicals Using Salt

Salt can be used on weeds in concrete areas.

Salt (sodium chloride) is a way to kill weeds without coating your yard in chemicals that are harmful to the environment and down right dangerous if you have children or pets. A salt solution may be used to kill weeds that spring up in cracks in sidewalks, driveways and patios, but should not be used to kill weeds in planting beds, as salt can stunt and kill plants as well as prevent plants from growing in the area in the future.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 cups water
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Heat water and salt in a saucepan until salt is completely dissolved.

2. When the salt brine is cool, pour it into the spray bottle.

3. Spray the whole plant, make sure the leaves and stem are soaked all the way to the ground. Do not spray into the ground or on to the grass.

4. Repeat 24 hours later.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray as little onto the ground as possible. Salt will discourage all growth, including grass.

• Salt was formerly used as a weed killer around asparagus, as the plant has a high salt tolerance, but is no longer recommended.

References

• University of New Hampshire Extension: Winter Ice Melters
• Ohio Stte University Extension: Growing Asparagus in the Home Garden