As Gardeners are always trying to keep their plants free from weeds, these Homemade Weed Killer Ideas will keep your yard as pretty as a picture.
Weed control is essential because it can hamper a plant’s growth in your garden. You can easily kill them using these easy Homemade Weed Killer Ideas! However, do bear in mind that these ideas are more on the organic side, and will be less effective than the chemicals ones.
Check out our article on Homemade liquid fertilizer recipes here
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Homemade Weed Killer Ideas
1. Borax
Many of you might not be knowing that this clothes cleaning agent is an effective weed killer as well! Just sprinkle the powder near or over the affected area and it will make sure the weeds are gone for good.
Note: Using a sprayer for a uniform application is highly recommended.
Here are some of the most amazing Borax uses in the garden
2. Landscape Fabric
If you have a big garden infested with weeds, using a landscape fabric is the best and easiest way to get rid of them. It will also ensure that they are not popping up again.
3. Cornmeal Gluten
Cornmeal Gluten is an easy way to get rid of weeds from the seeds. However, you have to bear the fact in mind that it is only effective on weed’s seeds and not on fully grown ones.
4. Boiling Water
This is the easiest method on this list! Just boil water in a kettle till it steams and pour it very carefully over the crown of plants. Tough weeds might require 2-3 applications, but the boiling water will do its trick.
5. Vinegar
Pour some vinegar into a sprayer bottle and spray on the affected areas around the plants and garden. Use it early morning, right before the sunrise, when there is little or no wind, as it will save it from getting onto other plants.
Note: Vinegar’s killing properties enhance significantly in the sun.
6. Mulching
Mulching is also an excellent way to stop weeds from spreading. Just cover the planting areas with mulch. As it will form a protective layer, preventing the sun rays from reaching the seeds, they won’t have a chance to sprout.
7. Newspapers
Yes, you read that, right! Old newspapers can be put to good use in your garden. Covering the soil with papers will prevent the sunlight from reaching the seeds of weeds. Do ensure that you are wetting the soil properly before covering.
8. Herbicidal Soap
You can easily make your own DIY Herbicidal Soap to kill weeds. Just mix equal parts of Dish Soap, Salt, & Vinegar, and you’ll be good to go. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the affected areas.
Note: As this mixture will kill the entire area of the plant where you will be spraying it, so be careful around your prized ones.
9. Clove Oil
Using a clove essential oil is one of the most effective ways to take care of weeds in your garden. Pour about 8-10 drops of clove oil in a spray bottle, fill it up with water, shake well and spray on the affected areas in the night, as sunlight hampers the efficiency of it.
10. Using Hands
Resort to the age-old technique when everything fails! Pulling the weeds out with hands using gardening gloves is the most potent way to take care of them! You can also take the help of gardening tools to loosen its roots before pulling out.
11. Rubbing Alcohol
A bottle of rubbing alcohol is all you need to get rid of those weeds in your garden. Just use two spoons of it in 400 ml of water and spray it on the affected area. Alcohol removes all the moisture the weeds need to survive and wipes them out!
12. Rock Salt
Sprinkle rock salt on the weed-infested area to get rid of them. You can also use common table salt too. It is especially effective in the area where your lawnmower can’t reach.
13. Cardboard
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get rid of weeds, cardboards suppress their growth and break down slowly, acting as a mulch in your garden too!
14. Torching them Out
A propane torch is also a great idea to torch unwanted weeds from the garden. Just make sure that you are not burning out other plants and using it very carefully.
15. Lemon Juice
Pouring fresh lemon juice directly over the weeds will prevent the new growth and also kills the old ones. Keep it away from good and useful plants as its acidity can damage them too.
16. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper can repel many weeds and pests! Take a clean spray bottle, add 2 spoons of dawn dish soap, one teaspoon of cayenne pepper and mix them in 500ml of water. Your natural weed-killer is ready.
Do make sure you are not spraying this solution accidentally on your garden plants.
17. Bleach
Bleach can clear out weeds from driveways and pathways but avoid using it in the garden as it can affect the pH levels of the soil. Add two spoons of bleach in a liter of water and spray on the weeds directly.
18. Fresh Lime Juice
Combine fresh lime juice with vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. This solution is effective for killing weeds naturally. Fill these two ingredients in a spray bottle and apply them to the affected area.
19. Vodka
Old plain vodka is another best ingredient that can be used to kill weeds naturally. Fill a spray bottle with old vodka and spray it on weeds on a sunny day.
Avoid spraying the solution on the entire lawn as it can damage the plants and grass.
20. Straw
Straws can suppress and stop the growth of unwanted vegetation in your garden. Establish a layer of straw in your lawn and keep the weeds away. Do not forget to give a bit of space in the straw layer nearby plants so water can reach the roots easily.
21. Lawn Edging
It’s a long-lasting solution that makes a physical barrier to repel weeds in a natural way. Building a continuous edge consisting of decking boards is a cheap and easy method to prevent the growth of weeds.
22. Dawn Dish Soap, Vinegar, and Epsom Salt
Simply mix 2 cups of Epsom salt with 1/4 cup dawn dish detergent and 1 gallon of white vinegar 5 percent diluted. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, fill in a spray bottle and use on the weeds in your garden on a hot sunny day.
