5 Ways to Kill Weeds With Stuff You Have Around the House

by HouseLogic.com

Easy

Want to avoid chemicals to kill weeds? Here are ways to stop weeds with weapons you already have.

Image: HouseLogic.com

1. Newspaper. It blocks sunlight and oxygen from reaching the soil. Cover the newspaper with mulch. And add more layers if weeds pop up.

2. Old shower curtains and carpet samples. Spread in garden paths or between rows. Cover with mulch.

3. Corn gluten meal. This corn by-product stops seeds from growing into weeds. So use it around established plants After harvest, spread the meal to prevent late-season weeds.

4. Vinegar. The acetic acid in 5% vinegar sucks the life out of plant leaves. It's most destructive to young plants with immature roots. For tough weeds, you might need a stronger vinegar solution (20%).

Tip: To target the vinegar so you don't spray the plants you want to keep, cut the bottom out of a 2-liter plastic soda bottle and put it around the weed. Then spray vinegar into the bottle so there's no splatter.

5. Vodka. Mix 1 ounce with 2 cups of water and a couple of drops of dish soap to dry out weeds that live in the sun. Doesn't work that well on shade-loving weeds. Protect your good plants, because vodka will dry them out, too.

Have you tried any of these treatments? Was it worth it?

You can check out our original post here: http://goo.gl/5lOY27

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3 questions

Sandpiper@access comments. ca on Jun 23, 2017

What about those humungous dandelions ( in amongst the grass), that seem immortal?

4
Kim on May 17, 2019

Do you know how to kill creeping Charlie? I've spent a small Fortune on all types of killers. Besides borax, I want to keep the good grass that I do have

0
Brenda Cochran Haley on Jan 23, 2020

Our yard is covered with stickers. Our pets are having a hard time going out to use the bathroom. Any advice?

4

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Sophia on Jul 08, 2018

the paper, even heavy black plastic won't stop bamboo. Trust me, it grows right through heavy black plastic. I have been unable to kill it no matter what I do.

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- Gabrielle Falk on Apr 17, 2020
  
  From Sydney, Australia: Hello: To get rid of bamboo, which is so intrusive and destructive; I think you will have to "bite the bullet" and hire someone to come in and use an excavating machine, to dig out the area that has been over-run with bamboo. The soil will need to be totally and deeply. - dug out. And after a while, making sure that there is no re-growth of the bamboo, then, and only then, put new soil down to plant whatever sort of greenery you wish. Apart from that, "blow it up" - pardon my levity. Bamboo has such long roots, and if you don't get rid of the soil where it was growing, (as with other almost indestructible plants that we don't want in our gardens), it will only recur, and then it will be even more difficult to eradicate. Bamboo, really should be classed as a world wide noxious plant pest!! If you try and cut it back, that is the worst thing you can do. It only encourages the bamboo to grow. However, the garden gurus!!! say that there is a species of bamboo, that can be planted in a garden. Or you can put the bamboo in a pot, and bury it in the garden; HOWEVER......always, remember that pots have drainage holes; and BAMBOO is intrinsically and universally known, as a 'plant' that is aggressive, and will over-take all and sundry in its path. Even if declared 'safe'!!!!! to plant, or 'safe'!!!! to put in a pot. NAH. I would not put bamboo in a 'whisker's breath' of my garden. Have seen this plant, absolutely over-take cleared areas of land, only to see it re-vegitate after a short time. My opinion is - DON'T PLANT THIS 'PLANT', IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, NO MATTER WHAT THE NURSERY PEOPLE SAY. After all, they are only there to sell 'STUFF'.
  
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- Sue on May 20, 2021
  
  From the US here. Before pandemic we laid old pond liner (heavy THICK) black plastic and covered w mulch. Also big dog decided one part was good to pee. Still have crop of weeds strong as before!
  
  BTW re bamboo: for past year have switched to bamboo toilet paper. Sounds rough but isn't. Renewable resource and—bonus, the tube at core is also bamboo and so strong. White and clean. Great for storing electric cords or for kid games. Easy to paint on and build with!
  
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Lila A on May 19, 2020

I would be very careful with laying newspaper near your plants or trees. The ink in newspaper can be very toxic to some sensitive plants. I actually tried this in my front yard and ended up killing 2 beautiful expensive trees.

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