Sasha CampbellYou can remove weeds with simple home remedies if weeds crowd your garden or lawn.
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 and Lawn
Here are some of the best natural remedies gardeners use to control weeds.
1. Spray Vinegar
White vinegar is highly effective as a contact herbicide. 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.
To use, mix 1 gallon of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a garden sprayer or a large pump sprayer. Then, spray the mixture on the weeds.
Keep in mind that household vinegar at a 5% concentration may only kill young weeds.
Stronger horticultural vinegars (20% acetic acid or higher) are often more effective on mature weeds. However, handle carefully, as they can cause skin and eye irritation.
This remedy is also great for removing weeds from a large area, as you can pour the solution into a large pump sprayer for a broadcast application.
Note: Vinegar can damage any plant it comes into contact with, so be cautious when applying it.
2. Sprinkle Baking Soda
You can also sprinkle baking soda on weeds growing in crevices, like between bricks or rocks. It can damage weed foliage and may help suppress small weeds growing in cracks and crevices.
For garden use, apply baking soda carefully to avoid affecting surrounding plants.
This home remedy is most effective on younger weeds but can also help control small, mature ones.
3. Pour Boiling Water
Pour boiling water directly onto small weeds to shock and kill them.
This method quickly and effectively kills small weeds. It’s 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.
While hand-pulling weeds may seem like the oldest method, it is highly effective and one of the best ways to kill weeds organically in a small area.
However, 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 our best-known way to get rid of weeds naturally without killing grass. Just pluck the weeds out of your lawn by hand!
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 or alfalfa helps prevent weed seedlings from thriving.
These “living mulches” create a dense ground cover that reduces weed seedling growth [2].
7. Spray Lemon Juice
Due to its citric acid, lemon juice can be used as a natural herbicide for weeds. It works similarly to vinegar in drying out weeds.
Therefore, you can use it 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’ foliage on a sunny day.
This natural weed killer will not work overnight, but you can expect to see results within a day or two.
8. Solarize the Soil
Covering a weed-infested area with clear plastic raises soil temperatures to a level that kills weeds and their seeds.
Leave the clear plastic in place for 4 to 8 weeks during the hottest part of the year. The heat can kill many weeds, weed seeds, and some soil pests.
9. Use a Propane Torch
A propane weed torch heats and dries out the 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 extensive root systems.
Use caution and avoid areas with dry or flammable materials.
10. Plant Ground Covers
Low-growing plants, such as creeping thyme or creeping phlox, can choke out weeds.
These plants can prevent weeds by creating a dense cover that blocks sunlight and space.
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. Some farmers have reported seeing fewer weeds in their gardens while using drip irrigation [3].
12. Salt
Salt also dehydrates weeds. However, avoid using salt in garden beds. It can harm the soil and prevent future plants from thriving.
Use salt-based weed killers in areas where you won’t grow anything else. It’s excellent for gravel paths, driveways, pavers, and between patio bricks.
Mix 1 cup of table salt with 1 gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to the weeds.
13. Essential Oils
Some essential oils, particularly clove oil, may help burn back young weeds when sprayed directly on foliage [4].
Mix 30 drops of clove oil into 2 cups of water, then spray it directly onto young weeds. Spray it directly on the 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 to the solution and apply it directly to the weeds.
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!
18. Use Goats
Goats are natural weeders and can be helpful on large properties.
Goats readily eat many weeds and brush plants. However, they may also damage desirable ornamentals, vegetables, and young trees.
19. Borax
Borax is also a weed killer.
To use, mix 5 ounces of borax with a gallon of water. Shake it up well, then apply the solution to weeds early in the day.
However, avoid overusing borax, as excess boron can remain in the soil and harm desirable plants.
20. Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabric can help suppress weeds in pathways and ornamental beds. It works best when covered with mulch, though weeds may still grow in the mulch layer if the area is not maintained.
21. Organic Commercial Products
If you can’t be bothered with these DIY remedies, try a store-bought organic herbicide instead.
Avenger AG Optima
This organic herbicide uses d-limonene (from citrus) to dehydrate the weeds, causing them to dry up and die.
AXXE Broad-Spectrum Herbicide
AXXE is another organic option that quickly kills weeds by dehydrating them. It works within hours.
However, it is best to use it in places where you do not wish for plants to grow.
Gluten-8 Corn Gluten
Corn gluten meal works as a natural pre-emergent herbicide and is most effective when applied before weed seeds germinate.
Can You Use Bleach?
If you pour bleach on grass, it will kill it because it’s very potent. It can damage or kill weeds, but it may also harm soil organisms and nearby plants.
Do not use bleach in the garden. It is toxic.
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?
They are safer for the environment, but may require more frequent use.
What kills weeds in one hour?
Some contact treatments, such as vinegar or boiling water, can cause weeds to wilt quickly. 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. However, other techniques can help you achieve a weed-free garden without relying on harsh chemicals.
Try out these remedies to find the ones that work best for you.
Andre Campbell
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