Homemade natural weed killers are eco-friendly options to use in place of harmful chemicals. Non-toxic ingredients such as vinegar, salt, and even boiling water can kill off pesky weeds. Using homemade weed control methods means you can avoid using products such as Roundup, which contains potentially harmful glyphosate. In addition to DIY weed killers, using mulch, newspaper, and bio-degradable landscaping fabric can help prevent weeds in the first place.
Cutting, pulling and trimming can sometimes be very useful, but they are indeed time-consuming. Pulling garden weeds is easy and cheap, but only if you don’t value your time. Thus, we decided to show you a list of other inexpensive methods for weed control, which you can try in a blink of an eye.
1. White Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural, chemical-free herbicide. Pour the white vinegar in a spray bottle and sprinkle the parts of your garden inhabited with weeds. But, be careful and spray selectively, separating your flowers from the garden weeds.
It’s recommendable to sprinkle the weeds with vinegar in the early morning, when the weather is calm and sunny, as the sunrays increase the effect of this natural herbicide. And of course, as the logic implies, you should avoid doing this on cloudy and rainy days.
2. Hot Water
Hot water destroys weeds. It’s ideal for clearing the corners around the entrance gate and the stairs, and for all those parts that are filled with dust and soil.
Pour the hot water carefully on top of the unwanted plant. If it comes to plants with a deeper root, you may have to repeat the treatment several times. Be persistent, and you’ll succeed!
3. Salt
A solution of salt and water can help you get rid of weeds. Mix 1 part of salt and 3 parts of water, and pour the solution on the paved area of your yard. For stubborn weeds, you can sprinkle a little bit of dry salt directly on them.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is an excellent weed-control ingredient. Get a pack of baking soda and sprinkle it generously all over the areas inhabited with garden weeds. What’s also great is that you can also use it when the weather it cloudy, and when it’s raining. Repeat the treatment once a month.
5. Dishwashing Soap And Vinegar
You can also make your very own solution, out of dishwashing soap and white vinegar. Add 5 ml of dishwashing soap in 1 liter of white vinegar. Gently stir the mixture. Be careful not to make foam. Pour the resulting mixture all over the cracks in your patio.
6. Newspaper
Wet your soil, then place a layer of newspaper down over your weeds. Wet it once more and cover with some mulch. This keeps out the sunlight so your weeds can’t grow and also provides a warm shelter for earthworms. Bonus points because you’re also recycling.
7. Organic Cornmeal
Sprinkling your garden with cornmeal will prevent weed seeds from germinating. However, it will also prevent all seeds from growing into plants so you will want to wait to use this trick until all your plants are established and you’ve finished planting your seeds.
How To Prevent Garden Weeds From Growing Again
Once you clean your garden of weeds, you don’t want them to grow back. Thus, you should do the following:
– Regularly wash the cracks on your patio with water. It’s recommendable to use a power washer, directed at the cracks for about a minute.
– Weeds grow from seedlings, which fall onto the patio in your yard. Therefore, you should swap it several times a week.
– Fill the cracks with polymeric sand.
– Proper drainage is a must have.
– Regularly trim the grass in your garden.
– Pull out the newly grown weeds with your hands, and make sure to remove the roots as well.