Homemade Weed Control
Pulling weeds from your garden or lawn is a backbreaking task, so some people rely on expensive, commercial chemical sprays to kill the weeds instead. However, others prefer to use homemade solutions to kill the weeds in their lawns and gardens. They do this to save money and to prevent the exposure of toxic chemicals to their children and pets. There are a number of non-toxic, homemade weed killers that you can make with products that are found around your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Teapot
- Bleach
- Spray bottle
- Vinegar
- Liquid dish detergent
- Salt
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cornmeal
- Gloves
Instructions
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Boil water in a teapot and then pour it directly on the weeds, taking care not to get burned by the scalding water or steam. You will not only kill the weeds, but the roots below the ground as well. For this reason, this is a good tactic primarily for weeds that grow out of sidewalks and driveways, as you could potentially burn surrounding plants.
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2
Pour some bleach into a spray bottle. Spray the undiluted bleach on the weeds, taking care not to over-spray on plants or grass. Also take care not to get it on your skin or your clothes. Bleach can burn your skin and will discolor your clothes.
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3
Pour straight white or apple cider vinegar on your weeds. This is a good solution for young, newly established weeds that don't have deep roots. For older weeds, you may need to pour it on over a few applications. You can also add 2 oz. of liquid dish detergent to 1 gallon of vinegar. The soap makes the vinegar stick to the plants and roots longer. Choose a day when no rain is predicted so the solution doesn't become diluted.
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4
Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the weeds; but take care if there are other plants or grass nearby. Wet the weed first so the salt will stick to it. You can also mix a solution of 1 part salt to 2 parts water and drizzle it on the weed. Another method is to combine 1 1/4 cups of table salt with 1 gallon of household vinegar. Or mix 1 qt. of vinegar, 1/4 cup of salt and 2 tsp. of liquid dish detergent; then spray this solution directly on the weeds. Keep in mind that salt ruins the soil, so you will not be able to plant anything in that location later.
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5
Spray rubbing alcohol directly on the weeds. Alcohol dries up the plant and roots. Don't let the alcohol touch other surrounding plants or their roots.
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Throw handfuls of cornmeal around the base of weeds; this will keep their seeds from germinating. This tactic is used as a preventive for future growth but will not kill the weed. It is useful in areas where you want to plant later on.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Avoid getting bleach on you or your clothes.
References
- Photo Credit common weed? image by MSImage from Fotolia.com
