Do you want to know of an effective way to get rid of weeds naturally without spending a bunch of money? I’ve found that the vinegar and salt weed killer recipe really does work, but the secret is you need high potency.
In other words, don’t dilute your vinegar and use plenty of salt. Plus, adding a couple squirts of dish soap can enhance the effectiveness of your homemade weed killer even more!
Is Vinegar a Good Weed Killer?
I didn’t believe that this super simple vinegar weed killer recipe would really work until I tried it myself. (I actually thought it was a hoax because it was so cheap and easy.) Therefore, I don’t expect you to either.
However, for just a couple of bucks, you can see the results first hand for yourself. The evidence will sit right in front of you. I mean, there’s no reason not to try this.
DIY Vinegar-and-Salt Weed Killer Recipe:
- 1 Gallon White Vinegar
- 1 Cup Table Salt
- 2 Pumps Dish Soap
Buy a gallon jug of white distilled vinegar at your local big box store or supermarket for about $3-4. Then, get plain cheap table salt.
Next, add about a cup of the salt to 1 gallon of vinegar (the ratio doesn’t have to be perfect). Then, I add a couple squirts of dish soap. (Some people use Dawn.)
The soap acts as a surfactant, which basically increases the potency of mixture. It’s not essential, but if it helps, why not, right?
Finally, shake up your mixture and spray.
Note: I will take any free help I can get, so I like to spray my weeds during the warmest, sunniest time of the day. In addition, I like to make sure that the soil has dried out as much as possible so the unwanted weeds have minimal defense. I’m mean like that. =)
How Effective is Vinegar as a Weed Killer?
I was actually surprised at how well my vinegar and salt herbicidal mixture worked. I would say that the effectiveness equalled what I’ve seen in the past from Round Up.
Having said that, I think the most potent ingredient in this solution is the SALT. Therefore, make sure you don’t forget it and use plenty of it. =)
Does Vinegar and Epsom Salt Weed Killer Work?
I don’t know for sure because personally I haven’t tried it. However, I think that some people mix up epsom salt for table salt in vinegar and salt weed killer recipe. Just stick with regular salt.
How to Kill Weeds Naturally & Make the Wildlife Happy:
In my experience, this solution is just as effective and works just as fast as brands that contain glyphosate. Plus, you don’t have to worry about breathing in toxic chemicals or getting exposed to off-spray.
On top of not harming the environment, I think some of the wildlife in my yard might have actually enjoyed my natural weed killer.
Specifically, the deer that frequent my backyard walked through a day after I sprayed. Interestingly, they opted to eat the withering plants versus the live ones. I’m guessing they enjoyed the salt. Talk about being animal friendly! =)
My Favorite Sprayer for Killing Weeds Naturally:
Using non-toxic herbicides in your yard can improve your life, but honestly, so can your weed sprayer. I’m not kidding. And if you’ve used one of these gadgets, then you know what I’m talking about. =)
Unlike when you buy an herbicide at the store, when you make your own, you need to come up with a sprayer. I like using a large 2-Gallon Sprayer so that I can mix a large batch of weed killer at one time and spray the entire yard.
Alternatively, you can fill it only halfway for smaller jobs. In other words, this weed sprayer can handle larger projects like spraying a hillside or spot treatments in a lawn.
In any case, the combination carrying handle/pump makes the container comfortable to carry. It also quickly pressurizes the sprayer so that you can set the wand to a continuous spray.
Compared to a typical spray bottle, these larger sprayers make weed control a breeze! Not to mention, the wand measures 36″ in length, so you don’t have to continuously bend over to spray weeds.
More Non-Toxic Alternatives to Making Your Own Weed Killer:
Alternatively, you can purchase a safe high-strength vinegar that has more weed-killing power. For instance, 30% Pure Vinegar is 6 times more concentrated that the regular white vinegar you buy at the store.
Instead of mixing up different ingredients to create your own homemade weed killer, you can choose this option instead. Also, be sure to check out the Non-Toxic Weed Killer Comparison Chart to compare prices on various products and see which products work best.
These non-chemical, eco friendly natural weed killers actually work really well as getting rid of pesky plants. However, these pre-made formulas do cost more, due to the convenience factor and higher potency.
