Acetic acid is a terrific weed killer but it is also a terrific plant killer! Acetic acid works by drawing all of the moisture out of the weed or plant leaf. It is quick to work and it would be common to see a weed or plant brown up after only a few hours of having vinegar applied to its leaves in the full sun.
The most effective homemade option is a mixture of white vinegar, salt, and liquid dish soap. Each of these ingredients has special properties that combine to kill weeds. Both the salt and the vinegar contain acetic acid, which serves to dry out and kill the plants.
Glyphosate is systemic, will kill grass and pretty much every other plant it touches. Used to kill annuals, perennials, woody perennials and tree stumps - it is effective against ALL weeds. Glyphosate is used with 85% of GM crops grown globally.
Vinegar kills weeds quickly—usually within 24 hours—but does not discriminate between the weeds you want to kill and the plants you want to grow, so apply the vinegar carefully and in the right conditions. Vinegar's efficacy depends on the weather and the solution's concentration.
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and treat weeds at the sunniest time of day for best results. When looking for a natural alternative to herbicides, a cocktail of vinegar, salt and liquid dish soap has all of the ingredients needed to quickly kill weeds.
For a more permanent solution in an area you do not wish to plant in the future mix 1 gallon of vinegar with 1 cup of salt. Mix until salt dissolves. Add 2 tablespoons of dish soap and mix again. Spray onto the plants at the hottest/sunniest part of the day.
Glyphosate, the ingredient in Roundup and other products, is translocated from the leaves to the roots of a weed. Vinegar is not translocated. It is true that 5% vinegar (acetic acid) will kill young, tender weeds but it does little damage to established weeds.
Vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid tends to control weeds more effectively. Household vinegar is generally 5% acetic acid. Some herbicidal vinegar products are 20% or 30% acetic acid. In general, 20% or 30% acetic acid is more effective because it more completely kills young leaves and growing points.
Rock salt is actually a super-effective and totally natural weed killer that is ace at clearing a gravel driveway. Simply sprinkle some rock salt on the ground surrounding any weeds you can see and then sit back and watch as the salt kills the weeds in just a matter of days. It's almost unbelievable.
Grab an herbicide.
Plant-killing chemicals, or herbicides, are one of the best weapons against brushy weeds, because they can kill leaves, stems and roots when applied properly. They're especially helpful when you're faced with a large weedy area.
For more than 40 years, U.S. farmers have used glyphosate to kill weeds before planting corn feed for livestock.
Organic Roundup alternatives include herbicidal soaps that use fatty acids to kill weeds and industrial vinegar, which contains much higher levels of acetic acid than what you have in your kitchen. Acid-based herbicides burn down some young weeds. Corn gluten meal can kill grass weeds and broadleaf weeds.
Both white vinegar and bleach should kill existing weeds pretty quickly and stop new ones from sprouting in the garden. Gardeners could also make a homemade solution using salt and water to target the areas which need killing, as salt is thought to starve and dehydrate the weed.
While vinegar solutions may kill the top growth within a few hours, it might take days for the roots to die off. Boiling water is an effective way to kill weed roots. Try using a tea kettle to help direct the boiling water to the roots.
Undiluted bleach can zap weeds growing through the cracks in your walkway or driveway. Spray undiluted bleach on the weeds and let stand. The solution will kill existing weeds and help prevent new ones from sprouting. Bleach will kill grass, flowers, and other vegetation as well, so take care where you aim!
White vinegar with an acetic acid content of at least 5% will be required to kill most weeds effectively. Apple cider vinegar with the same acid content will also work, though, for tough perennial weeds, you may need a specialised horticultural vinegar with 20% acetic acid.
Once summer comes and weeds slow down, we switch to a mix of 1 part horticultural vinegar with 1 part water. We have found for general regular weed spraying in our driveways and paths, a 15% acidity rate does the job quite well. It also makes the spray even more economical.
Yes, using vinegar weed killer can help control weeds, which can be a win-win if you're looking for products that are less harsh on the environment than many synthetic herbicides. However, you wouldn't want to use this acidic liquid in all areas of your landscape because it could damage any plant it touches.
Even though vinegar is an acid, it breaks down quickly in the soil and, therefore, is not likely to accumulate enough to affect soil pH for more than a few days.
Is Bleach a Better Weed Killer Than Roundup? While bleach has some weed-killing properties, it falls short when compared to Roundup, a widely used herbicide. Roundup, also known by its active ingredient glyphosate, is designed specifically for effective weed control.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar
The main ingredient in natural organic homemade weed killer is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar includes acetic acid, which kills weeds. As the apple cider vinegar mixed in water, this solution will effectively kill weeds.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”