Looking for easy ways to get rid of weeds naturally? There are lots of simple ways to suppress or kill weeds without herbicides. This post shares a simple recipe for homemade weed killer with vinegar that works, plus some bonus methods to naturally kill weeds.
Weeds: the uninvited guests that pop up everywhere. They’re persistent, annoying, and seemingly impossible to eradicate completely. Keeping up with them can feel like a never-ending battle.
With our new house came expansive gardens and a plethora of potential weed havens. I’m committed to organic gardening, so hand-pulling and hoeing are my go-to methods. However, with two ponds, two dogs, a family, a well, and a nearby brook, responsible pesticide use is crucial.
While hand-pulling is effective, it’s not always feasible, especially for large areas like patios and pathways. That’s why I’ve turned to simple, homemade weed killers and natural methods.
If you crave a beautiful garden and lawn without resorting to harsh chemicals, keep reading. I’ll share how to kill weeds using everyday household items and a pet-safe weed killer recipe that actually works!
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How to Manage Weeds Naturally in the Garden
What’s the best method for managing weeds in the garden? For starters, use a combination of pulling weeds and planting smart. Grow plants slightly closer together to help crowd out weeds or use ground covers to help keep them from popping up. Add lots of mulch and make it a priority to keep plants healthy.
In addition to planting smart, pull weeds as you see them and be sure to get at them from the root. If you walk your gardens every day, pull what you see when you see them. Don’t wait to remove them because weeds can get out of control pretty quickly. I love to use THIS hand tool and THIS stand-up weeding tool to help get plants out with the root.
Still, even the most prudent weed pullers sometimes need a little extra help. As part of a multifaceted approach to removing, killing, and suppressing weeds, it’s also effective to use homemade weed killers.
When I use this kind of product, I look for a pet-safe homemade weed killer that uses simple ingredients I already have on hand. If this is what you’re looking for in a natural weed solution, then you’ll love my easy recipe. I’ve got two dogs and lots of wildlife and pollinators here, so I want to be careful when using anything in the gardens.
A word of caution about homemade weed killers though. Use these methods sparingly because they are non-selective (which means they will also kill other plants, including your lawn) and they can also kill the good microbes in your soil, too.
Simple Recipe for Homemade Weed Killer That Works
This homemade weed killer with vinegar recipe is my go-to method when I don’t want to pull them or just need a little extra weed management support. It is vinegar-based and covers large areas in a reasonable amount of time. And with the size of my patios, pathways, and garden areas, I need to cover more ground.
What I love most about this recipe is there is NO NEED to use synthetic pesticides to get the same effect. So if you are looking for ways to kill weeds organically without having to pull them, try this simple recipe for homemade weed killer instead.
But like I said before, keep in mind it is non-selective and kills both bad and good microbes. For me, I only use this in hardscaped areas and protect my plants if they are nearby.
Ingredients for Homemade Weed Killer
Not much is needed to make your own homemade weed killer recipe and you likely already have the ingredients laying around your house.
Here’s what you need:
- Distilled, apple cider, or cleaning vinegar
- Salt
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
The main ingredient is vinegar. While you can use any distilled or apple cider vinegar, vinegars containing more than 11% acetic acid will work best to burn and kill weeds.
While any dish soap will do, I think Dawn dish soap works best. But why do you need dish soap if vinegar is the acting ingredient? Because the dish soap helps the vinegar stay on the surface longer.
Bonus Tip: Be sure to apply this recipe on a sunny day so it does not get washed away.
How to Make Homemade Weed Killer with Vinegar
Making homemade weed killer is very simple. Gather your ingredients and a spray bottle and follow these instructions:
- Start with a gallon of vinegar.
- Add one cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of dish soap.
- Simply pour the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well.
How to Apply Vinegar Weed Killer
Before applying, wear gloves and protective eyewear. It is best to apply the vinegar method on a dry sunny day with little to no wind, so the rain does not wash it away. The sun helps dry out and kill the weeds so timing is everything.
It’s also best to apply on a non-windy day so the overspray does not hit other plants and vegetation you want to keep!
To apply, spray directly on weeds and the foliage. Try to get all of the plant, including the base so the solution gets to the root as well.
This solution is non-selective so be careful not to spray other plants. Use a piece of cardboard or something to keep the overspray from hitting other plants if need be.
Why Homemade Weed Killer Works
While vinegar is the active ingredient in this homemade weed killer, all three of the ingredients play an important role.
Vinegar
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is a desiccant. This means that when sprayed on the surface of a plant, it draws moisture out of the leaves and kills the top growth. It’s also a good choice for a natural weed killer because acetic acid breaks down quickly in the soil, so any negative impact from the vinegar is short-lived.
Salt
Salt is also a desiccant and helps kill some plants that vinegar won’t kill. It’s important to make sure the salt dissolves fully in the vinegar so it is applied evenly to weeds (and doesn’t clog up your spray bottle).
Dish Soap
Unlike vinegar and salt, dish soap is a surfactant. This is a fancy way of saying it helps the vinegar and salt attach to the surface of the weed. It can also help break down the waxy protective layers of some leaves, allowing the desiccants to work more effectively.
How Many Days Does It Take Vinegar to Kill Weeds?
Vinegar can start to kill the top growth of weeds in as little as a few hours. Some browning is typically seen almost immediately. You can see in the image above that after 12 hours the weed I sprayed is starting to die. It can take up to a few days for the weed to be fully suppressed.
How long does vinegar keep weeds from growing?
This homemade weed killer with vinegar is not a permanent solution, and weeds will likely grow back in a few weeks. You can apply the solution again when you start to notice growth returning or combine with other, longer-lasting weed management techniques.
4 More Ways to Kill Weeds Naturally in Your Garden
If you want to try killing or suppressing weeds without having to pull or hoe them out, give one of these methods a try. While these are all pet-safe weed killers, each method is non-selective meaning it will kill anything around it so be mindful with the application of each.
They are easy to do and you likely have the products on hand in your home.
- Boiling Water
- Propane Torch
- Rubbing Alcohol Solution
- Corn Gluten
Boiling Water Method to Kill Weeds
If you have a few weeds to remove, boiling water is an easy way to kill them. I tend to use this method on small pathways and patio areas because there isn’t vegetation I want to protect around it.
It’s not as easy to use when you have more weeds to get at or larger areas to weed because you have to keep going in and out to boil water. But it is a very effective method that works quickly.
Simply boil water and pour it on the weeds on a warm, dry sunny day. That’s it!
Propane Torch Method to Killing Weeds
I’ve tried this method before and it takes a little more doing so it’s my least favorite. And to be honest, I prefer not to do it. If you want to try it though, you’ll need a propane torch like THIS that is specifically made for killing weeds. The idea behind it, is you burn the weed down to the root.
Last year, I tried this in my driveway where lots of weeds were sprouting, and found the process to be a bit laborious.
It took a while to burn each weed, I had a lot of weeds to deal with, and you go through the propane pretty quickly. Plus, it took some doing to get the torch going.
Now it could have been the amount and/or type of weeds I had, but to me, it was more work standing there holding the torch and waiting for each weed to burn and die before moving on to the next one.
This method just wasn’t for me.
The Rubbing Alcohol Method
If you’d rather go with another homemade weed-killer solution, a rubbing alcohol mix is pretty straightforward to make. To prepare it, simply mix one quart of water to dilute two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
Note: Before applying this method to weeds, wear gloves and protective eyewear.
Simply apply the rubbing alcohol mixture on a dry sunny day without wind. Saturate the foliage, stem, and plant base to get at the roots. I don’t typically use this method but it does work.
How to Use Corn Gluten to Suppress Weeds
Unlike the aforementioned approaches to weed control, corn gluten does not kill weeds but rather helps suppress them when applied at the right time.
It is most commonly used to keep crabgrass at bay in the lawn, but can also be applied in garden beds between plants to help keep weed seeds from germinating. For this method to be effective though, it must be applied with crabgrass seed germination.
How do you know when that is?
In spring when the forsythia starts blooming in your area until the last bloom drops, is the right time to apply it. Simply spread it over the soil and water it in well after.
Although it’s important to water it in after applying it, you’ll want to apply corn gluten on a dry day with a few dry days in the forecast so it has a chance to work without getting washed out by inclement weather.
How to Kill Weeds Without Killing Grass and Plants
As you’ve likely noticed, many weed control methods, including homemade vinegar solutions, can be harmful to desirable plants. So, how can you eliminate weeds without damaging your garden?
While herbicides offer one solution, a more natural approach involves consistent hand-pulling. This becomes more manageable after an initial application of vinegar weed killer, which targets the majority of weeds. Regular weeding then helps to address any new growth.
Alternatively, you can use a cardboard barrier to protect specific plants while applying weed killer. This is why I primarily reserve these methods for hardscaped areas, minimizing any risk to my lawn and garden.
Long-Term Weed Management
The key to long-term weed management isn’t one perfect solution. Instead, the best way to control weeds naturally is by using a multifaceted approach. Combine pulling weeds by hand, natural weed killers, smart planting, and ground covers like mulch to help keep weeds at bay on your property long term.
Final Thoughts About Making Homemade Weedkillers
In short, homemade weed killers are non-selective, meaning they can harm any plant they touch, including your lawn. Use them with caution, and avoid repeated applications as they can alter soil composition.
Always wear protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection when handling herbicides. If you have any questions, reach out to your local cooperative extension or master gardener helpline for advice tailored to your area.
While there are many weed control methods, hand-pulling is often the best for garden beds. It’s organic, effective, and eliminates the risk of harming nearby plants. Though it requires some effort, regular weeding keeps it manageable and benefits your garden in the long run.
Have you ever made your own homemade weedkillers before? If so, what have you used? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Want to learn more about homemade vinegar recipes and more? I was interviewed about this very topic by USA Today. You can read the article here.
To drill down on more beginner gardening techniques and tips, please read these posts:
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
