Sasha CampbellYou can remove weeds with simple home remedies if they are taking over your garden, lawn, or pathways.
Weeds can be a hassle in flower beds, sprouting between patio stones, or competing with vegetables in your garden.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden, Lawn, and Driveway
Here are some of the best natural remedies gardeners use to control weeds.
1. Spray Vinegar
White vinegar can work as a contact weed killer. The acetic acid in vinegar causes the parts of the weed it touches to dry out [1].
Use a spray bottle for small areas or a garden sprayer for larger areas for the best results.
A common homemade mixture is 1 gallon of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Apply it carefully only to weed leaves, as it can damage nearby plants.
Keep in mind that household vinegar at a 5% strength may only kill young weeds.
Stronger gardening vinegar (20% acetic acid or higher) is often more effective on mature weeds. However, handle carefully, as they can cause skin and eye irritation.
This method can be useful for treating large areas with many weeds.
Note: Vinegar can damage any plant it touches, so be cautious when applying it.
2. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Baking soda may help control small weeds growing in cracks and crevices. It works best in areas where you do not want other plants to grow.
For garden use, apply baking soda carefully to avoid affecting surrounding plants.
3. Pour Boiling Water
Pour boiling water directly onto small weeds to damage their leaves and roots.
This method can quickly kill small weeds. It is excellent for hard-to-reach cracks and areas like walkways, driveways, and garden paths.
Just boil a pot of water and pour it directly over the weeds.
Tip: Use a kettle with a spout to help direct the water flow and avoid nearby plants that you want to keep.
4. Pull Weeds by Hand
Sometimes, the simplest method is best. Pull weeds out by the roots to prevent regrowth.
Hand-pulling is one of the simplest and most effective ways to remove weeds in small areas.
You can make this task easier by wetting the soil. Weeds are easier to pull from moist soil.
You could also hand-pull weeds after it rains or after watering the garden.
Note: This is one of the best ways to get rid of weeds naturally without killing grass. Carefully pull weeds from your lawn by hand, making sure to remove as much of the root as possible.
5. Apply Mulch
Mulching helps block sunlight from reaching weed seeds, reducing their chances of sprouting.
Organic mulches, like wood chips, straw, or tree leaves, are ideal for flower and garden beds.
6. Grow Cover Crops
Planting cover crops such as clover can help reduce weed growth by covering bare soil.
These “living mulches” create thick plant cover that makes it harder for weeds to grow [2].
7. Spray Lemon Juice
Because lemon juice contains citric acid, it can be used as a natural weed killer. It works similarly to vinegar by drying out weeds.
To make a DIY weed killer, squeeze fresh lemon juice or use bottled lemon juice.
Next, pour it into a spray bottle and apply it to the weeds’ leaves on a sunny day.
You may see weeds begin to wilt within a day or two, but some weeds may need repeated treatments.
8. Solarize the Soil
Covering a weed-infested area with clear plastic raises soil temperatures to levels that kill weeds and some weed seeds.
Leave the clear plastic in place for 4 to 8 weeks during the hottest part of the year. The heat can also kill some soil pests.
This method works best when the soil is moist before covering.
9. Use a Propane Torch
A propane weed torch heats and dries out weeds, causing them to wither and die.
However, flame weeding works best on young annual weeds. It may not completely kill established perennial weeds with large root systems. Flame weeding also does not work well on wet weeds.
Use caution and avoid areas with dry or flammable materials. Also, avoid using flame weeders during dry weather or near dry grass.
10. Plant Ground Covers
Low-growing plants, such as creeping thyme or creeping phlox, can choke out weeds.
These plants help reduce weeds by creating dense cover that blocks sunlight and leaves less space for weeds. Choose ground covers carefully because some can become invasive.
11. Avoid Watering Weeds
Watering only the plants you want, not the surrounding areas, can discourage weed growth.
Use targeted watering methods, such as drip irrigation, to avoid feeding weeds. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, leaving less moisture available for weeds [3].
12. Salt
Salt can dehydrate weeds. However, avoid using salt in garden beds because it can harm the soil and prevent future plants from growing.
Salt-based weed killers should only be used in places where you never plan to grow plants.
13. Essential Oils
Some essential oils, such as clove oil, may damage the leaves of young weeds [4].
Mix 30 drops of clove oil with 2 cups of water, then spray the mixture directly onto young weeds.
14. Newspaper or Brown Cardboard
Place dampened newspaper or brown cardboard on newly sprouted weeds to smother and kill them.
You can also use them to kill grass. Newspapers and cardboard are among the cheapest ways to kill grass and weeds.
15. Grow Plants Close Together
Planting crops close together leaves little space for weeds to grow, reducing the likelihood of weed invasion in your garden.
16. Vodka
Vodka can be used to kill broadleaf weeds, like dandelions.
Mix one ounce of vodka with two cups of water. Add a few drops of dish soap and apply the solution directly to the weeds.
This method works best on small, young weeds during warm, sunny weather because alcohol dries quickly in sunlight.
17. Eat the Edible Weeds
Certain weeds, like dandelions and purslane, are edible and nutritious. Harvest and enjoy them instead of letting them take over!
Only eat weeds that you can identify correctly.
18. Use Goats
Goats are natural weeders and can be helpful on large properties. They readily eat many weeds and brush plants.
However, goats may also eat garden plants along with weeds if they are not supervised.
19. Borax
Some gardeners use borax solutions to control certain weeds, but this method must be used with extreme care.
Too much borax can build up in the soil and harm plants you want to keep.
20. Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabric can help reduce weeds in pathways and ornamental beds.
It works best when covered with mulch, though weed seeds can still land on top of the mulch and grow.
21. Organic Commercial Products
If you do not want to make your own weed killers, you can try a store-bought organic herbicide instead.
Avenger AG Optima
This organic herbicide uses d-limonene (from citrus) to dry out weeds and cause them to die.
AXXE Broad-Spectrum Herbicide
AXXE is another organic option that quickly kills weeds by dehydrating them.
However, it is best used in places where you do not want plants to grow.
Gluten-8 Corn Gluten
Corn gluten meal works as a natural weed preventer and is most effective when applied before weed seeds germinate.
It must be applied before weed seeds sprout. It will not kill weeds that are already growing.
Can You Use Bleach?
If you pour bleach on grass, it will kill the grass because bleach is very strong. It can also damage weeds, but it may harm soil organisms and nearby plants.
Do not use bleach in the garden. It can harm soil life, nearby plants, pets, and waterways.
FAQ
What kills weeds without harming grass?
Hand-pulling and careful spot treatments are the safest options.
Does mulch stop weeds completely?
No, but it greatly reduces weed growth by blocking sunlight.
Are natural weed killers better than chemicals?
Many natural weed killers have fewer harsh ingredients, but they can still harm plants, soil, and helpful insects if used incorrectly.
What kills weeds in one hour?
Boiling water can quickly wilt weeds. Vinegar may take longer. However, full death usually takes longer.
What kills weeds down to the root overnight?
Nothing reliably kills weeds down to the root overnight. Most natural methods take time and may require repeat applications.
What kills weeds permanently naturally?
There is no instant permanent natural weed killer. Long-term control comes from preventive methods such as mulching and hand-pulling roots.
Takeaway
Using home remedies to kill weeds is a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach to gardening and yard maintenance.
Some methods work best in specific areas, such as boiling water on driveways. Other techniques can help you control weeds without relying on harsh chemicals.
Try these remedies to find the ones that work best for you.
Andre Campbell
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