If you have ever had a weed problem in your yard or garden, chances are you have tried a store-bought weed killer. A 2016 study revealed that, since 1974, Americans had sprayed 1.8 million tons of glyphosphate, the key ingredient in many store-bought chemical herbicides. This has created a new generation of herbicide-tolerant weeds that do not always respond to chemicals, meaning that more and more chemicals are being added to herbicides, creating a vicious cycle.
In an effort to break this cycle, many people are turning to natural methods and home remedies for weed control. There are multiple alternatives available, using items you likely already keep in your household. Here are just a few to get you started.
Suffocate Them
You can head off weed growth in your garden before it even starts. Place a tarp, old carpet scraps, or an old shower liner or curtain between your planting rows and cover it with mulch.
Don’t have any scraps to spare? Try newspaper! Lay down newspaper in 10-sheet layers, wet it, and cover with an inch or two of mulch. This will smother weeds and keep them out of much-needed sunlight.
Pull Them Out
An old-fashioned solution that never goes out of style, pulling weeds out of the ground by hand is very effective. Use a stainless steel knife or hand-held shovel to dig the weeds out, and be sure to wear gloves when pulling them out to avoid irritation.
Boil Some Water
Weeds, like other plants, can die from overheating. The next time you are putting on the kettle, simply carry the rest of your boiling water outside and pour it over unwanted weeds in your garden. This will burn up the leaves and stems.
Try Vinegar
Ordinary 5% household vinegar contains acetic acid, which can destroy young plants with immature roots. The USDA suggests that 20% vinegar is more effective, but it can also be more harmful to the soil. So perhaps it would be wise to start with a weaker solution and work your way up to the stronger strength vinegar. Try one vinegar spritz right in the midsection of each plant, and another few spritzes right at the base. This method works best on dry days.
Get Salty
Salt is so effective at plant-killing that ancient folklore suggests it was once used to destroy the soils of conquered lands. You can eradicate weeds by mixing 1 cup of salt with 2 cups of boiling water. So you don’t destroy the soil, spray the mixture directly onto undesirable plants, being careful not to soak the ground.
Add Dish Soap
The oil in liquid dish detergent clings to and breaks down the surfaces of waxy or hairy plants, such as thistle or pennywort. Make sure to add a few drops of liquid dish soap to your homemade weed-killing solutions to increase effectiveness.
Keep Them From Coming Back
Once your weeds have been eradicated, ensure they don’t return with materials you can find right in your kitchen. Get that baking soda out from the back of your refrigerator and sprinkle handfuls between the cracks in your driveway and walkway. The added sodium will keep these environments inhospitable to future plants. You can also sprinkle corn gluten meal around the already established plants in your garden to keep unwanted seeds from germinating.
When it comes to weed control, there are several simple, homemade alternatives to store-bought chemicals. As with any garden and lawn treatment, however, the priority should be protecting your soil. Make sure you spot-treat smaller areas of your garden or lawn first before attempting something that could harm desirable grasses and plants.
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Sources: [Environmental Sciences Europe, Kiwi Hellenist, North Coast Gardening, Savvy Gardening, USDA]
