Have you ever wondered what a gardener’s most dreadful nightmare is? Perhaps, it could be weeds constantly growing on their land. Nobody benefits from having weeds in their gardens since these unwanted roots compete with plants for nutrients, sunlight, and water, thus hindering their growth, vigor, and yield. More so, weeds may deplete the aesthetics of your garden, as having woody outgrowths on your uniform flowerbeds may not look as beautiful as you intended.
Though herbicides have proven effective in dealing with weeds on the farm or garden, they also come with many detriments. Mankind has become more aware of the impact of chemicals on the environment, not to mention themselves. Thus, we know better than to pump our gardens full of round-up chemicals to kill those stubborn weeds. Some of these chemicals also threaten the growth of our plants since we can all make mistakes and spray the wrong greens while applying non-selective herbicides. This can potentially damage our plants, putting our efforts to waste. Studies have even shown that using herbicides on a farm will eventually increase the unhealthy chemicals we can get from any edibles grown from there, not to mention the direct contact we have from using them. In a way, using herbicides may be equally detrimental to having weeds in your garden, if not more.
4 Weed killers you can Make Yourself
So how can you exterminate weeds in your garden without putting your plants, the environment, or yourself and others at risk? We got you covered with some natural DIY homemade weed killers that effectively kill weeds without using harmful chemicals, their recipe, and how to make and use them.
Borax Homemade Weed Killer
Items Needed
- 10 ounces of Powdered Borax
- 2.5 gallons of water
That’s it! You can add powdered borax to the water and mix thoroughly. The entire mixture can be used to cover about 1000 sq. feet of lawn; any more will damage the soil and the plants. This mixture is especially effective for Creeping Charlie, a common lawn weed.
Vinegar-Based Homemade Weed Killer
Items Needed
- 1 gallon of vinegar (5% acetic acid)
- 1 cup of salt
- One tablespoon of dish soap
- Spray bottle
First, pour a gallon of the vinegar into a bucket and add the table salt. Stir the solution until the salt is completely dissolved. Then, you can add dish soap into the mix since it helps coat the weeds. After mixing it in, you can funnel the resulting liquid into a spray bottle, so you can easily apply it to the weeds.
However, there are a few things you must note. First, the mixture is non-selective; it will destroy your plants if it comes in contact with them, so you must be careful when applying it to the weeds. Also, adding salt to the mix is only advisable if you want to leave the spot fallow, as salt significantly impacts the soil and makes it unconducive for plant growth. The vinegar and liquid dish soap mixture is also a good weed killer.
Natural Weed Killer for Concrete, Driveways, and Sidewalks
Items Needed
- 2 quarts of Boiling Water
- One teaspoon of salt
As we said earlier, using salt to fight weeds may adversely affect your garden and arable soil. However, using salt and boiling water is the perfect solution for those annoying weeds growing at the crevices of your sidewalk or driveway. You don’t have to worry about spilling the recipe on your plants, so you can freely pour the mixture on the weed using a kettle. Of course, you can use salt alone, but the application will be easier with the mixture.
Organic Pre-Emergent Herbicide
For a more preventive approach to controlling weeds on your lawn, you may choose to apply corn gluten meal as a natural pre-emergent herbicide. Corn gluten meal is the byproduct of the milling process used to make cornmeal, so it is naturally rich in protein, nitrogen, and oils. This makes it suitable for killing weeds yet to sprout and fertilizing the lawn for planting. You can apply corn gluten meal by spreading it evenly and then watering the lawn lightly. This recipe is only effective for about 5 to 6 weeks.
You can use many other safe options to kill weeds on your lawn without endangering yourself, the soil, or your plants. Some of them are as follows:
- Weed Pullers: Instead of bending over and using the archaic method of pulling weed with your hand, you can try using manual weed pullers. They are pretty easy to use and take out the whole weed, including its roots.
- Mulching: Though this process may take weeks or months to show results, it is a very effective method for killing many weeds at once while protecting the soil. Mow down the area with the weeds and cover them in newspaper or plastic. When you are about to plant, remove the mulch and begin.
- Torching: This alternative is effective but has the same cautions as using salt to kill weeds. Thus, you can use them strictly on driveways and sidewalks.
Conclusion
Now you know a better method of killing stubborn weeds on your lawn. When using natural weed killers instead of herbicides, you no longer have to worry about the adverse effects on your property and yourself. Don’t forget that the application methods are just as important as the recipe, as you can damage your plants too. Happy gardening!
