DIY Weed Killer
With the increasing controversy surrounding the health effects of glyphosate, why not skip the Roundup and try this 100% natural weed killer?
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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!)
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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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Again...where do I get the orange weed killer?
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