Do you have tough weeds in your garden or landscaping?
Are you looking for a way to eliminate them without toxic chemicals?
If so, we’ve got the solution for you: a homemade weed killer made from highly concentrated vinegar that actually works.
In this blog, we’ll share our simple recipe and the tips and tricks to use it safely.
Key Takeaways
- You can make a homemade weed killer with 45% vinegar, dish soap, and a pump-activated sprayer.
- While many people believe “organic” herbicides like this one are safer, it’s important to note that this solution can still be highly hazardous to hands, and caution is needed.
- Contact a pro in your area if you’re seeking more help removing tough weeds.
Safety Precautions
- Handle this vinegar extremely carefully—it’s highly acidic and will burn your skin, eyes, and mucus membranes.
- Avoid contact with skin and always wear safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing when handling this mixture.
- Read all label directions and follow them strictly.
- When you’re ready to spray your vinegar mixture, make sure the wind is blowing away from you.
- Store vinegar and mixed herbicides in a safe place, away from children and pets.
How Does Vinegar Work to Kill Weeds?
Vinegar is a popular natural herbicide thanks to the fact that it contains something called acetic acid.
When you spray vinegar on weeds, the acetic acid dries out the plant tissue, causing the weeds to wither, wilt, turn brown, and die.
While vinegar can be an effective weed killer (especially if you’re using super-concentrated vinegar, as we recommend in this post), it’s worth noting that it works best on young, annual weeds because their roots are less established than many perennials.
How to Make Homemade Weed Killer
If you want to burn your weeds down without using a harsh, toxic chemical, 45% vinegar is a great option.
What You Need
- 45% horticultural vinegar (like this option)
- Dish soap
- A spray bottle or lawn and garden sprayer (like this one)
Instructions
- Mix Your Ingredients: Combine 45% horticultural vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. The dish soap helps the vinegar stick to plant leaves, which are often covered in a waxy coating.
- Apply to Weeds: Once you’ve mixed the solution, spray it onto weeds until it begins to run off the plant. Concentrate the solution around the base of the plant and up to the top of the greenery.
- Wash Your Clothing: Once you’ve finished spraying the mixture, remove all the clothing you were wearing (being careful to avoid contact with your skin or eyes) and wash it immediately. This will help remove any traces of vinegar leftover on the fabric and prevent burns and irritation.
- Follow-Up: You’ll start to see results in just a few hours. Monitor your weeds after spraying and make additional applications as needed.
What to Expect
As you use this homemade weed killer, be aware that this mixture will destroy any green tissue it touches and that leaves will begin to wilt and brown in just a few hours.
That said, it may not completely kill the root system of the weeds.
If you reapply it frequently enough, the plants won’t have enough energy to regenerate.
Our Pro Tips
- Stay away from salt: While some sources recommend adding salt to this solution, we advise against it. Salt harms the soil and can make growing plants in the treated area challenging.
- Protect nearby plants: Use this solution to treat weeds directly. If you’re worried it’s going to drift onto nearby plants, consider using a tarp, some cardboard, or an old towel to protect them during application.
Need Help Tackling Tough Weeds on Your Property? We’re Here for You
You’ve worked hard on your landscaping! Don’t let unsightly weeds ruin your beautiful outdoor space.
While this homemade weed killer can be an effective solution to stubborn weeds, it may not be enough to kill deep-rooted plants.
If you’ve found that your DIY attempts aren’t working or you need more assistance, get in touch with our team!
We work with a nationwide network of skilled pest management and landscaping professionals.
Call (844) 532-0076, and we’ll connect you with a pro in your area.
Get a Free Quote
Give us a call today to receive your free, no-obligation pest control quote.
Gnat Control FAQs
Horticultural vinegar is acidic enough to affect soil microorganisms over time, especially if applied frequently. Because of this, it’s best to use it in a targeted fashion rather than broadcast spraying it in problem areas.
Once the leaves of your target weed have wilted and died, you can pull the plant up and get rid of it.
While this solution’s biggest job is to kill weeds, it may kill some pests that it comes into direct contact with. That said, it’s not designed as a pest control solution and may not be effective against all types of insects.
