If you have a green thumb and a garden or a beautiful vegetable patch at home, you’ll certainly know that weeds are a real nightmare. The dreaded weeds cause you trouble on paths, between the paving stones of your patio, or in your garden. And despite manual weed control, these weeds grow at a rapid pace. Good news! You can control weeds with natural ingredients you probably already have at home, like baking soda and white vinegar, and transform your green space into a Garden of Eden…
Why use organic weeding methods?
Weeds are unwanted plants that grow near plants, flowers, and vegetables in the garden. Although seemingly harmless, weeds damage the health and vitality of your plants by taking space and nutrients from the soil! They’re also unsightly and detract from your garden’s beauty!
To eliminate weeds and protect your garden from infestation, you no longer have to resort to harsh chemical herbicides, which are not only toxic to you and the environment, but also harmful to your plants themselves, as they can burn them and cause them to lose their vitality. Furthermore, when it comes to products designed to kill pests, diseases, or weeds, it’s better to rely on natural methods of prevention and control. Baking soda and vinegar are among these; they pose no health risks and contribute to maintaining a healthy environment.
How to make a natural weed killer with baking soda?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an effective natural weed killer. It is a phytotoxic product that damages plant growth. It dehydrates unwanted plants by absorbing water from their cells and destroying them.
How do you do it?
- Water the weeds to moisten them so that the baking soda sticks to the leaves and soil.
- Sprinkle about a teaspoon of baking soda over each desired herb and cover it with the product.
- If you don’t see results (wilting or browning of the leaves) after waiting a few days, repeat the process.
- If you have weeds on your garden paths, sprinkle baking soda between the tiles. It will kill weeds and prevent their growth.
It’s best to use this method away from lawns and plantings. Furthermore, it’s not advisable to plant anything in the treated area until rain has washed away the bicarbonate.
How to make homemade weed killer with white vinegar?
White vinegar contains acetic acid, which can burn weed leaves; the leaves weaken and eventually die. Note that vinegar is most effective on young, broad-leaved weeds. Large or deep-rooted plants may require multiple applications for full effect. This is more labor-intensive than the baking soda method, but it’s a good weed control solution if you don’t want to make the soil inhospitable to plants.
How do you do it?
- Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into a spray bottle;
- Add 2 tablespoons of dish soap to help the spray stick to the leaves and dissolve their protective coating.
- Spray the solution on the weeds and avoid spraying your valuable plants.
- Vinegar decomposes quickly in the soil, but we recommend waiting a week before planting anything in areas sprayed with vinegar.
