DIY Weed Killer

Andrea Fabry
by Andrea Fabry
With the increasing controversy surrounding the health effects of glyphosate, why not skip the Roundup and try this 100% natural weed killer?
Many DIY weed killers use white vinegar. I have found our weeds to be too hardy for white vinegar. I have had better success with horticultural vinegar!
White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid compound while horticultural is a 20% acetic acid product. White vinegar is obviously much cheaper, but I have found a little goes a long way with the 20% solution.


You can also dilute the 20% with an equal amount of water to create a 10% solution. (10% may be enough for your weeds.)
Recipe:


-2 cups horticultural vinegar


-splash of citrus oil


The citrus oil contains d-limonene, which naturally strips away the waxy plant cuticle, adding to the dehydration of the plant. (I don't use my expensive orange or lemon essential oils for this. I like this affordable natural orange oil.)


Blend the two in a spray bottle and apply directly to weeds. Be sure to spray only the plants you are seeking to eliminate as this will kill any living plant in its path.


(See my blog post for a second recipe using liquid castile soap!)
Andrea Fabry
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 54 questions
  • Tom Tom on May 22, 2020

    Again...where do I get the orange weed killer?

  • Claudia Stein Claudia Stein on May 22, 2020

    Where can i get Horticultural vinegar?

  • Marty Marty on Jun 04, 2020

    Will this kill youpon?

Comments
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  • Rensart Rensart on May 20, 2021

    Be careful with the salt! Using salt may keep ANYTHING from growing there for a very long time. Hence the thing that soldiers used to do to their enemies: Salt their fields as they went through, leaving them with no crops for ages.

  • Lau79252753 Lau79252753 on Jun 11, 2023

    Despite the signal word danger on most such labels, gardeners may instead just see vinegar and be careless. Sobering details: In concentrations over 11%, acetic acid can burn skin and cause eye damage, and concentrations of 20% and above are corrosive to tin, aluminum, iron, and concrete and can even cause blindness. Such herbicides should be applied while wearing goggles and protective clothing.

    And then, Gillman says, there is potential environmental damage — such as to the toad or salamander shading itself beneath those weeds. "If you’re talking about just-sprouted seedlings, and you go after them right away with household vinegar, fine," says Gillman. Otherwise, it’s better to reach for a hand cultivator than a spray bottle.

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