How to Prevent Weeds With Natural, Non-Toxic Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural alternative to harsh herbicides..

Vinegar is an all-natural substance used for many applications in the household. In addition to its many uses in cooking and cleaning, it can also be used to get rid of pesky weeds cluttering gardens, walkways and patios. Vinegar is a natural substance that won't harm the environment or change the pH of the soil, making it appropriate to use again and again.

Things You'll Need

• Household or distilled vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Paintbrush
• Glass bowl

Instructions

1. Identify the weeds you want to get rid of in your yard. If you have only small weeds or Canada thistle, you can use household vinegar. If you have larger weeds or unidentified weeds, use distilled vinegar with a 10 to 30 percent acetic acid concentration, which is much more effective at killing larger stubborn weeds.

2. Fill a spray bottle with undiluted vinegar and spray in the desired area. Do not dilute. When sprayed on, household or distilled vinegar can be liberally sprayed to larger or small areas to remove all weeds and unwanted greenery in its path. It does not adhere well to larger leaves and surfaces, so be sure to spray liberally to larger green surface areas for best results. This technique works especially well for paved areas, spreading garden beds, walkways, sidewalks, paver stones and patios. This technique does not work well for closely planted gardens, flower beds or lawns because the vinegar may kill grass or flowers.

3. Pour distilled vinegar into a glass bowl or cup to remove weeds integrated in your lawn or closely planted flower beds or gardens. Paint each leaf of the weed you want to kill with the vinegar and a 1-inch paintbrush, saturating leaves on the front and back. This is a painstaking process that may take more than one application, but it does prevent harsh chemicals from entering the soil.

4. Check the weeds in 24 hours. They should be drying out, drooping or curling up. If not, reapply the vinegar solution. Continue checking every 24 hours and reapply as needed until they are completely dead.

5. Check every week or two to ensure your garden, walkways and lawn are weed-free. Because vinegar is natural and non-toxic, you can apply it as needed without worrying about damaging the soil or environment.

References

• Mom Goes Green: Weeds & Vinegar--A Lethal (But Safe!) Combination
• Moscow Food Coop; Vinegar as an Organic Weed Killer; Patricia Diaz; July 2002