Using Vinegar to Kill Weeds: Basic Guide

White vinegar is commonly used for cleaning purposes and as a versatile ingredient in cooking. Its acetic acid can also kill weeds.

Regular household vinegar (5% acetic acid) works on young, small weeds. However, a higher acetic acid content works better for general weed control.

There are also a few things to know about using vinegar to kill weeds.

Type of Vinegar

Standard white vinegar typically contains 4–7% acetic acid, while horticultural vinegar contains 20% acetic acid [1]. Using horticultural vinegar on mature weeds that are harder to kill is best.

Killing Weeds Naturally with Vinegar

Vinegar is excellent at keeping your garden weed-free, especially on warm days. It is also cheap and non-toxic.

To make your homemade weed killer, you only need three ingredients and a sprayer to apply the solution.

A pump sprayer with an extended nozzle and hose is best for large areas, while you can use a hand sprayer or paintbrush for small areas. Paintbrushes will also prevent you from accidentally killing your grass.

Combine one part water with four parts vinegar to kill weeds with vinegar. You can also add a tablespoon of liquid soap. Shake well and spray the solution on the weeds.

However, how often you apply it depends on how resistant the weeds are to the vinegar solution. It works best on weeds that have recently germinated.

Apply the solution and check on the plants 8 hours later. If a second application is needed, do so and check back 24 hours later. Mature weeds may require multiple applications for a few days before their roots die.

You can also use hot vinegar to spray and kill weeds permanently. The heat of the boiling liquid will start killing the plants right away.

When to Use

Apply the solution before annual weeds like crabgrass go to seed. Success is easier with young plants than with older, mature ones.

Horticultural vinegar is best for perennials and more mature weeds. The solution must be applied directly to the roots for fast results.

Additionally, apply your garden vinegar when it’s warm and sunny for the best results.

How Long Does it Take to Work?

It takes about a day to start seeing dead weeds.

If your vinegar weed killer is used correctly, it can effectively remove them and maintain control. Just use it at the right time and in the right amount. As mentioned, you may need to use this home remedy more than once to see the results.

However, please note that it is non-selective. It will burn the leaves of any plant it touches, including your vegetables, fruit trees, grass, and flowers, so be careful when applying it.

How Long Does Vinegar Last in the Soil?

It only stays in until it rains or there’s a saturation of irrigation water. Excess water will dilute it and wash it out of the soil.

Vinegar and Salt

Try a different recipe if you feel household vinegar and soap aren’t working fast enough. Some gardeners have been mixing vinegar and salt to kill weeds.

To make this salt and vinegar weed killer, mix one cup of table salt (or two cups of Epsom salt) with one tablespoon of liquid soap. Then, add one gallon of household vinegar to the container.

Stir well. Let the solution dissolve completely before adding it to a sprayer.

Finally, use the solution to coat the weeds. However, do not pour it on the soil.

Cost-Effectiveness 

This natural weed killer is cheap because it costs less than most synthetic herbicides. It also doesn’t take a lot to cover a large area.

Even with salt or liquid soap added, it’s still cheaper than most commercial herbicides. It’s even more affordable than paying someone to pull out weeds for you. The only thing cheaper is hand-pulling them yourself.

By using the right amount at the right time, vinegar can be a very effective natural method of combating weeds in your vegetable garden. You can also use it on weeds in cracks, between pavers, walkways, and the driveway.

Precautions

Due to its acidic nature, agricultural vinegar is treated as an herbicide.

Yes, it’s a natural herbicide, but it can still hurt, even injure, if not handled properly.

It can harm not only the plants you want to keep but also people and animals. It may irritate the eyes, skin, throat, and nose.

Wear gloves and a mask to avoid injury when using this weed control method, especially the horticultural grade.

Additionally, it is best to wear goggles, as using a sprayer or paintbrush can result in splashes on the face.

Takeaway

Vinegar is a beneficial home remedy for killing weeds. Some even say it’s one of the best natural weed killers. Moreover, it is non-toxic and very easy to obtain.

If you can’t be bothered with these DIY concoctions, Phydura is an alternative. This product uses natural ingredients like vinegar. So, it works well as an organic contact weed killer.