Wondering which non toxic weed killers actually work? In the chart below, you can compare natural and organic herbicides. See customer ratings, price comparisons, ingredients and which ones will get rid of weeds fast…
Natural Weed Killers |
Rating 1-5 | Cost Breakdown | Concentrate | Active Ingredients | Notes & Special Features |
Green Gobbler
|
4.5 | about 21 cents per ounce, not diluted | No | 20% Acetic Acid | This comes as an extra-concentrated vinegar weed killer. Plus, add a few squirts of dish soap to the gallon to enhance this natural herbicide’s effect. See more about Green Gobbler. |
Calyptus 45%
|
4.7 | about 17 cents per ounce when diluted | Yes | 45% Acetic Acid | This ultra concentrated vinegar is 9X the acidity of the regular store bought version. Dilute it to 30% and get 1.5 gallons for the same price as what you’d pay for 1 gallon of 30% vinegar. Plus, you can buy a 4-pack and save even more money. Buy Calyptus 45% Vinegar here. |
EcoSmart Weed
|
4.0 | about 31 cents per ounce, not diluted | No | Rosemary Oil, Octanoic Acid, Vinegar | This natural herbicide contains rosemary oil, which also acts as an insect repellent (including mosquitoes, spiders, ants, ticks and more!) Read full Ecosmart review. |
Burnout Weed Killer
|
3.9 | about 7 cents per ounce when diluted (concentrate formula) | Both | Citric Acid, Clove Oil | This product combines multiple natural herbicides to maximize its weed killing ability. It works fast, plus it is rainproof once it dries. Read Burnout Weed Control review. |
Avenger Organic
|
3.7 | about 24 cents per ounce when diluted | Yes | d-Limonene (citrus oil) | The active ingredient, emulsified citrus oil, works as a natural degreaser. Hence, it naturally strips the plant of its waxy cuticle. See Avenger Weed Killer Review. |
Natural Armor
|
4.2 | about 19 cents per ounce, not diluted | No | Citric Acid, Clove Oil, Vinegar | Contains multiple herbicidal acids and oils, plus a foaming agent enhance product’s effectiveness. In addition, special bulk pricing lowers cost down to 15 cents per ounce. Also read complete Natural Armor Weed Killer review. |
Biosafe Weed Control
|
3.7 | about 7 cents per ounce when diluted | Yes | Ammonium Nonanoate 40% | Some users report herbicide not effective, therefore you may want to try mixing at a higher concentration. Someone reported that it harms bees, however, I read on the USDA website that it does not. Also see review of Biosafe Weed Control here. |
Information Not Included on the Natural Herbicide Chart:
First of all, the products shown above control virtually all weeds (broadleaf and grasses). Plus, they are not selective. (In other words, they will harm whatever plants you spray). Therefore, be careful of overspray and spot-treating in lawns.
Second, all natural herbicides listed above will not harm kids, pets, wildlife or the environment. In most cases, they quickly biodegrade. Therefore, you can make new plantings in the same area within hours or days (depending on product) of using the herbicide.
Tips on Natural Herbicides and Making Your Own:
Through trial and error, I have discovered a variety of potent (yet safe) natural herbicides that you can use to get rid of weeds. However, the “errors” I came across typically came down to a mixture that was not strong enough. In other words, I had watered down the solution too much.
Therefore, I usually recommend using full strength with natural weed killer ingredients that you use. I also noticed that many non-toxic herbicide products contain a higher concentration than what you can mix yourself.
For instance, store-bought table vinegar typically has a 5% acidity. On the other hand, Organic weed killers that contain acetic acid (vinegar) can have a 20% or even 30% acidity level.
Therefore, take this into account when comparing product prices VS the DIY method. For example, the cost of a gallon of brand-name vinegar-based weed killer may actually equal 6 gallons of regular distilled vinegar.
Note: Some people ask about Natria Grass & Weed Control. For instance, it looks natural from the labeling and the product name. However, it contains an ingredient called maleic hydrazide.
According to a research study on PubMed titled “Cytotoxic effects of maleic hydrazide”, this component showed low toxicity to mammals but decreased the fertility of rats. The reported carcinogenic effects in mice and rats raise the question of its risks to humans.
