How to Kill Garden Weeds Naturally
The chemicals from garden weed killers seep into the soil and can contaminate groundwater and damage the roots of neighboring plants. Root damage causes plant loss and may decrease the harvest in vegetable gardens. You can kill garden weeds naturally through preventative gardening practices and the application of nontoxic household items. Whether the pesky weeds are cropping up in the middle of the sidewalk or building a barrier between you and your favorite tomatoes, there are ways to combat the plants without spending hours pulling each little weed from the soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Spray bottle
- Corn gluten meal
- Newspaper
- Old rugs or carpeting
- Plastic tarp or sheeting
- Mulch
- Garden hoe
Instructions
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1
Pour or spray white vinegar on weeds growing in sidewalk cracks or stone patios, where other plants are not planted. Vinegar kills all types of plants, and will harm the desired plants as well as the weeds. Several applications may be necessary for full eradication.
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2
Sprinkle table salt onto sidewalks, patios, and driveways to keep weeds from growing. The salt is spread to the root systems as it is absorbed into the soil. To disperse the salt more quickly, spray it with water.
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3
Pull weeds from flower beds or vegetable gardens, or till the garden weeds with a hoe. Remove the weed seed heads from the garden so another generation of weeds will not germinate.
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4
Apply corn gluten meal to your lawn and garden to keep weeds from growing. Corn gluten meal keeps roots from developing as the weed seed germinates.
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5
Cover the areas you have made weed-free with newspapers, plastic tarp, or old carpeting to act as a barrier to weed growth. Top the barrier with a landscaping mulch.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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We are having a horrible problem with weeds this year. Has anyone tried of these things. I think I am going to try the vinegar.
