Weeds are a constant battle.
I try to be as natural as possible when it comes to gardening and battling the weeds. I spend a lot of time pulling weeds by hand and using a special tool to remove dandelions (including their roots). I use landscaping fabric and mulch.
However, weeds pop up everywhere, and I can’t seem to keep up.
This natural mixture is a good way to kill weeds naturally.
Things to Keep in Mind
Be careful with this mixture. Even though it is natural – take care not to get this on your skin.
This mixture will kill grass or any plant! So be careful about where you apply this. If it sprays or washes on to grass or other plants, it will kill them.
This mixture may only kill the top layer of the plant. It is always best to try to remove the root or soak into the root zone so that the salt can help to destroy the entire weed. I started using this in smaller quantities, and found that I went through it quickly, so you may want to think about making a big batch depending on how much you need.
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What You Will Need
2 cups white vinegar
2 Tablespoons salt
1/2 teaspoon Dawn dish soap
Spray bottle
Directions
You can make a big batch of this, or use in a small spray bottle.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly. You will want to make sure that the salt has completely dissolved in the mixture in order to be effective.
Spray the weeds thoroughly. This is best done on a sunny day, or even better, a time when there are several sunny days in a row.
I have had luck with weeds shriveling up and dying in the same day.
Some other natural ways to deal with weeds
- Corn gluten – corn gluten is a good way to attack weeds, but it is a preventative, so you have to apply to emergent weeds, not after they have grown.
- Pulling out by hand – there are lots of great tools out there for removing weeds. One of my favorites is a dandelion puller, which is a good way to get down to the root. I have a stand up dandelion weed puller, which makes it easy to get to lots of dandelions! You can also use a pair of quality gardening gloves with good dexterity to pull weeds, such as crabgrass and other weeds.
- Mulch & landscaping fabric – by adding several inches of mulch to an area, you can suppress weeds. You can use this in conjunction with landscaping fabric, to help block any weeds. Make sure to get a good quality landscaping fabric, as I have had weeds push through thin fabric.
- Boiling water – pouring boiling water on weeds can help destroy the plants down through the root.
- Natural weed killer – aside from making your own, there are lots of natural products out there designed to kill weeds, including formulas with stronger percentages of vinegar.
I’m one of those weirdos who like dandelions lol! It drives my spouse crazy. This is a good option vs chemicals though.
I have lots of weeds so I will have to try this out. I like that it’s natural!
Your DIY natural weed killer is a lifesaver! Tried it in my garden, and it’s a game-changer. Your clear instructions and cost-effective solution make gardening much easier. Thanks for sharing this eco-friendly alternative – my plants and I are truly grateful!
I have a lot of weeds, so I’ll have to give this a try. I hope it works for my yard. Thanks for this. I can’t wait to give it a try.
I love using this weed killer. It does a good job on killing the weeds.
This DIY Natural Weed Killer post is a true gardening lifesaver! The simple yet effective approach to tackling weeds without harsh chemicals is a breath of fresh air.
This is interesting and useful to know. I would rather use natural where possible when we move house as I’ll hope to be growing fruit and veg.
I’ve done this before and remarkably it works! Definitely try it if you are in a pinch and need something to kill the weeds.
This is a really great and very informative post! I’m gonna share this with my husband
I love it when there are DIY, organic house and lawn care options. I’ll have to give this recipe a try in my own garden!
This is perfect I really need this weed killer! Thanks for sharing this with us
wow! With only few simple ingredients I can do a magic mix for my home! Must try!
But why the dandelion though 😀 I love them. I think this mixture will also alter soil ph.
I am all for leaving natural areas (with dandelions!). I use this on my patio or along the foundation of the house where I don’t want anything growing.
we do get weeds often in our garden and i don’t like to use chemicals so often we just clean it up manually.. but this sounds perfect and natural so will try it out
I really enjoyed reading this post and found it very informative! Thank you so much for sharing this DIY weed killer
A natural weed killer is the way to go, without a doubt. I certainly don’t want to use toxic chemicals to kill those weeds.
I have a lot of weeks in my yard, The natural weed killer is the best think. This is something that I would use on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
I’ll have to make this recipe next spring. We have had a brutal summer here in Texas and everything is dead.
OOOOOH!!! Thank you!!! I have grown to love dandelions because THEY’RE PRETTY and my guinea pigs LOVE to eat them! But all the other weeds, especially in our walkway and driveway, are going to be doused with this ASAP!
Such a great alternative to get rid of weeds and ensure pets and kids stay safe while playing outside!
This is such a clever way to kill weeds and it works! Its nice to have an alternative to commercial weed sprays.