Best Homemade Weed Killers to Use in Your Garden

Chemical herbicides are a big no for a ‘green’ gardener who wants to keep their landscape safe for everyone, including their plants, wildlife, pets, kids, and others. Commercial weed killers contaminate the soil, groundwater, harm wildlife, insects, and pollinators. And the chemicals present in them can also be toxic for the fruits and vegetable plants growing in the garden. But keeping their landscape weed-free is also essential. They want to achieve weed control without using harsh chemicals. You can use DIY homemade weed killers that not only control the weeds but also keep their gardens and lawns looking well-manicured. Homemade weed killers are safe and effective against weeds without harming the environment. These quick and easy homemade herbicides are a great alternative to commercial herbicides.

Top DIY Weed Killers

Instead of using expensive store-bought herbicides that contain harsh chemicals, use homemade weed killers and natural methods to banish the pesky weeds quickly and effectively from your landscape. The DIY weed killers will clear annoying weeds and invasive plant species from your garden quickly, and the best part is that you already have these ingredients in your pantry. Here the top DIY natural weed killer ideas to make at home to remove the weeds from your landscape:

1. Vinegar

This common household item is a strong homemade weed killer. Super easy to prepare, vinegar for weed kill is effective against a wide variety of weeds. To make this 3-ingredient homemade weed killer, mix vinegar with a surfactant such as ordinary dish soap and water in a spray bottle and spray directly on the weeds.  Be careful to avoid your other plants and spray vinegar on sunny days. Rain will wash away the vinegar, and the weeds will continue to grow.

2. Lemons

Lemon is an easy and effective weed killer to banish those pesky weeds from your landscape. Just squeeze some lemons and mix them with tap water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture on the weeds and see them vanish from your beautiful garden.

3. Straw

Straw is a natural weed killer that suppresses and prevents the growth of unwanted plants or weeds in your garden. Lay down the straw layer in your lawn or garden to keep the weeds out. Make sure there is space in the straw layer around your plants to ensure the water can reach the roots of the plants. This great substance not only keeps the weeds away but also becomes a natural fertilizer for your plants when it decomposes. You can also grow vegetables and other plants directly in straw bales.

4. Baking Soda

Another valuable pantry item for weed control is baking soda. Baking soda is a great weed killer that doesn’t harm the grass around your garden. There is no need to mix baking soda with anything else. It is to be used directly on the weeds and invasive plants. Just sprinkle baking soda into the cracks where the weeds grow, and it will instantly get rid of the pesky weeds.

5. Newspapers

Instead of throwing away your old newspaper, use them to combat the weeds and other unwanted vegetation in your garden. Using newspapers can make your weeds disappear quickly, which helps for at least an entire season. It would help if you covered low-growing weeds such as crabgrass or clover with the newspaper. The lack of sunlight will exterminate the weeds eventually. When the newspapers decompose, they also feed the soil and make it richer.

6. Mulching

Mulching helps eliminate weeds from your landscape. It acts as a barrier between the weeds and the sun and stops the growth of weeds. Layering your soil with 2 to 3 inches of mulch prevents the weeds from taking root. To improve the effectiveness of mulch, layer the soil with newspaper or cardboard first and then put a layer of mulch. It will act as a double-layer against the sunlight and block it further from reaching the weeds. Mulching not only eliminates the present weeds but also stops the growth of the next generation of weeds.

7. Landscape Fabric

Using a protective cover is a good strategy for people thinking of doing serious gardening. Using a layer of landscape fabric in your garden also protects you in many ways. Landscape fabrics squash and kill the weeds present in the garden and prevents new weeds from growing, and at the same time provide a good base for your garden.  This DIY method of weed-killing doesn’t use any chemicals to keep the weeds away.

8. Salt

Salt is an effective and cheap way to get rids of weeds. Using salt directly on the weeds or unwanted plants will suffocate them and kill them. When killing weeds with salt, remember to use it only on weeds and not on other plants, as it can harm any plant. To eliminate the possibility of salt damaging other plants, instead of directly using salt, use a salt mixture with water and spray it on the weeds. This affordable means of killing weeds can eliminate them from your garden with minimal effort. However, remember to use table salt or sodium chloride and not Epsom salt for killing weeds. Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate doesn’t work as a weed killer. It makes the plants healthier and is often used as a soil additive for better growth.

9. Borax

Borax is commonly used to clean clothes. However, you can also use this natural powder to remove unwanted plants from your garden. It also helps kill ants. It would be best to use this potent weed killer with caution as it may damage or destroy your vegetable or flower growth. Avoid overuse of borax.

10. Boiling Water

Boiling water is one of the most effective and cheapest natural weed killers. However, this potent weed killer should only be used for a large patch of weeds or weeds away from your other plants. Pouring boiling water on any plant eradicates it, so when using for weeds, remember to pour the water only on weeds and not on nearby plants.

11. Clove Oil

Clove oil is one of the best all-natural weed killers which you can make from your pantry. To make clove oil weed killer, mix clove oil and water in a spray bottle and spray directly on the unwanted weeds. However, clove oil is more beneficial for seedlings than on fully grown weeds. So, use clove oil on weed seedlings before it becomes a giant weed.

12. Rubbing Alcohol

Use that rubbing alcohol stored in your bathroom cabinet to get rid of the pesky weeds in your garden. To make a DIY weed killer from rubbing alcohol, mix two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with one quart of water in a spray bottle. The astringent present in the alcohol removes the moisture from the weed’s foliage. The weeds need moisture to survive, and deprived of their moisture, they die. Remember to spray it on sunny days and directly on the weeds to avoid the other plants.

13. Cornmeal Gluten

Cornmeal gluten prevents many weeds from growing, and it is majorly used as a weed suppressor than a killer. This organic herbicide works by just sprinkling it on the soil and makes it impossible for the weeds to grow again on the same site.

14. Lawn Edging

Lawn edgings are a long-lasting solution to create physical barriers to keep the weeds away. A continuous edge created from “pikes” made from decking boards is a simple and cheap method to stop the growth of weeds.

15. Propane torch

Propane torch kills weeds similar to boiling water. It scorches the weeds entirely and thereby killing them. Be extremely cautious while using a propane torch to avoid burning other plants or operating in bushy areas.

You can learn how to make homemade weed killers from your pantry items to weed out those pesky weeds from your garden. Homemade weed killers will ensure your environment is safe from the harsh effects of chemicals.

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