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Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

Homemade Weed Killer RecipesHaving weeds in your garden and lawn really detracts from the look of your yard. Avoid using harmful chemicals by making you own weed killer. This is a guide about homemade weed killer recipes.
     

Solutions: Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

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Natural Weed Killer

To get rid of dandelions, spray straight vinegar into the center of each plant and in about two weeks they will all be dead and gone. Any that haven't disappeared will be dead and can be dug/pulled out. (There shouldn't be any). This really worked for me and they have never grown back in the area I treated. ONLY in the center of the plant, not on the grass.

Source: The Vinegar Book

By katesnanna from Brisbane, Australia

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Homemade Weed Killer

To kill dandelions, pour vodka into spray bottle and spray on dandelions on a sunny day. Add a little dish liquid for more stubborn weeds.

By duckie-do from Cortez, CO

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Hot and Spicy Weed Killer

I have used the same method for many years now. Who would know that a huge mistake could turn out to be something useful years later? Maybe many ideas come to use that way, this one for sure did.

We were boiling shrimp with some friends when I lived in Louisiana. Being young and trying not to show it actually taught me two things in the same weekend. One: do not put shrimp down the garbage disposal. Two: the hot mixture of spices kills your grass almost instantly! I do pretty much everything I can organic. If I still lived in the South where you boil shrimp or craw fish often, I would just use the left over water to pour on all my weeds. Since I have moved from there, now I make a special "brew" to kill all of those weeds, without hurting the environment. The ones that come up through cracks in driveway or close to the steps can't hide from this hot and spicy weed killer.

You take Cajun Pepper (red pepper will do) and hot sauce, vinegar can also be added if you have extra. Bring it to a boil and pour directly on any area you want everything to die. Be very careful not to get it on grass you want to stay alive. Anything this hot mixture is put on will die (ants don't like it either). If you make more then you use at any given time, put in bottle for next time. This works cool but I have found works faster when boiled,steaming hot. If you aren't wanting to see results immediately, know it works after mixture has cooled off.

I add a half jar of Cajun or red pepper and half a bottle of hot sauce to a large pot of water. You just know it is ready when your eyes are watering and the room fills with the smell of the mixture. I have added left over pickle juice, vinegar, even jalapeno juice to this, depending what is left over in my fridge or cabinets. This works and works well without hurting anything in the air, animals tend not to eat in that area but it doesn't hurt them.

If you do boil shrimp, crab or crawfish, please drain the water where any unwanted weeds are so you get double use out of something you would just throw away. At most markets that sell seafood, they have bags with seasoning already in it. I always ask this time of the year to let me know if any are past the selling date. A couple of times I got lucky and was able to get the boil in bag seasoning for a dollar. Any of these ingredients can be found at the Dollar Store. With no more worries about pulling weeds, maybe you will have more time to enjoy this beautiful time of the year.

By Luana M. from San Diego, CA

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Hot Water Weed Treatment

One can just pour hot water on plants to get rid of weeds. But, I wish people would really look at all the plants growing in their yards and ask why.

Plants like dandelions have deep tap roots. They break up the soil and bring minerals up to the top soil. Why not just mow them down after they've bloomed. They are pretty. Plants tell you a lot about the condition of your land.

We've been taught to prefer manicured, scrubbed yards. There are no fruit trees anymore which could have something to do with the bee problem. No berry bushes, and a few set apart plants. Why not go crazy and go for lush? Weeds would get crowded out.

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Homemade Weed Killer Recipe

Vinegar:

Put straight vinegar into a cheap garden sprayer ($12) and spray this onto your weeds. You can also pour the vinegar right on to the soil to kill the roots and stop everything from growing there in the future. If you heat Vinegar up, it works even better. You can also buy a special vinegar with a stronger acid content at most plant nurseries that works even better!

Boiling Water:

If you want a temporary week killer and don't want to stop everything from growing, just pour boiling water on to the area. It's easiest to use a propane camping stove and boil your water outside. Use a camping coffee pot with a handle and a pouring-spout if you have one. Be careful that the steam doesn't splash back and scald you!

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Weed Killer Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Vinegar
  • Liquid Soap
  • Orange Oil

Directions:

Use 10% vinegar per gallon of water. Add 2-4 oz orange oil (citrus Orange oil) and 1 Tablespoon liquid soap (not germacide type but real soap).

and if you have a really bad weed problem:

Use 2 cups dried molasses, 2 cups sugar with 1 Tbsp chili pepper and 2 Tbsp garlic powder - mix it and lay around base of weeds.

You can mix the dried mix with orange oil and 1 cup vinegar but be sure you are outside as it is bad to breathe. Be sure not to get it on you when spraying and not in your eyes at all.

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RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Use pickling vinegar instead of regular white or malt vinegar since it contains 7% acetic acid and not the usual 5%. The ratio of 1 teaspoon (5 millilitres) of liquid washing soap to 1 gallon (4 Litres) pickling vinegar is fine.
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Use Vinegar to Kill Weeds

We've used vinegar for killing weeds around the garden, for several years now. It's a great way to get rid of weeds in cracks in cement or in a paved driveway. You can pour it on directly from the jug or put it in a spray bottle (use full strength). Just a word of warning, if you don't want it to die, then don't go near it with the vinegar. If using in a flower garden, be careful around the plants you want to keep. The vinegar will leach to the other plants through the roots and kill them, so it may be better to pull these by hand.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

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Questions

Here are questions related to Homemade Weed Killer Recipes.
Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

What is the best homemade remedy to kill weeds permanently around the house.

By samsosa35

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Most Recent Answer

By chanderson194708/21/2011

This is a video showing how to make homemade RoundUp http://www.recipes-network.net/home ... mp;feature=youtube_gdata_player.html

Homemade Weed Killers

What is the best homemade weed killer?

By Diane from Center Point, IA

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Most Recent Answer

By Laniegirl05/13/2010

Vinegar works or boiling water but then you will kill the good things growing around it too. If you have individual weeds you want to kill, the best thing to do is take one of those sponge paint brushes (preferably a small one) and dip it in Roundup and "paint" the leaves of the weed. It takes it down to the root and does not affect the grass around it. It is time consuming but it works.

Homemade Weed Killer Recipe Containing Gin

What is the weed killer recipe that includes gin?

By Barb Jean

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Homemade Weed Killer Recipe

Is there a formula for homemade weed killer?

By Pat H.

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Most Recent Answer

By Hyena Cub03/31/2012

Here's a good one I came across the other day!

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001328.tip.html

Weed Killer for Florida Betony Weed

What is the best thing to use for Florida betany weed commonly known as rattlesnake weed grass? It is very invasive and spreads fast.

By Glenda

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Homemade Weed Killer With Pine Sol

I've misplaced a very effective recipe for an natural weed killer. It used Pine Sol as one of the ingredients. Would greatly appreciate if anyone is familiar with this recipe.

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Most Recent Answer

By Robyn Fed04/13/2009

I love Pine Sol for everything. I make a house cleaner out of it in a spray bottle using 4 parts water to one part pine sol. I am now going to use the recipe above in the yard. Thanks! Robyn

Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

I thought I saw a homemade recipe to kill vegetation and weeds using rubbing alcohol. Can you help me? Or is there any other recipe that would kill thistles, etc.?

By Norrene

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Most Recent Answer

By JazzyMe04/13/2012

Vinegar. I read something about vinegar with a mix of epsom salts. But now I can not re-find the link! Shucks. But try looking it up on gardening sites that have a dot.ORG ending. That may help. In the meantime I will look again.

Killing Weeds With Vinegar

If you spray vinegar ''at what rate?" will you be able to grow other plants in the same area? Does the vinegar sterilize the ground or how long will it keep weeds from reappearing?

By nellie

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Most Recent Answer

By cheri_bah_zing03/25/2013

Vinegar is a great weed killer, even better with dishsoap in it (the soap acts like a bonding agent) It will kill anything.
But unfortunately it changes the soil so that nothing will grow there after it has been used. Bleach is better 50/50- it doesnt hurt the soil and doesn't harm the environment. It dissipates after about 12 hours.

Organic Weed and Grass Killer

I am looking for a recipe for organic weed and grass killer.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

By Cynthia from TX

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Most Recent Answer

By PIKKA04/02/2010

I believe corn bran is now used to kill weeds, used like mulch. Covering grass with a mat, boards, or black plastic will kill it. How much grass influences the choice.

Archives

Here are archived discussions related to this page.

Homemade Weed Killers

Q: How can I make my own weed killer?

Salmonfly from Rochester

A: Salmonfly,

There are a number of recipes for homemade weed killers. All are variations of the following recipe:

  • 1 gallon of white vinegar
  • 1 cup of table salt
  • 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap

Mix thoroughly until the salt dissolves, pour into a hand-held spray bottle and spray the solution directly on the target weeds. For weeds growing out of cracks in driveways and sidewalks, some people pour salt directly on the weeds. Other people pour straight vinegar directly on weeds. Still others add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the recipe to help the solution stick to the weeds. The important thing to know about this homemade recipe is that is non-selective. Just like any weed killer, use it sparingly and with caution. Non-selective means it will kill or damage any plants or grass that come into contact with it. Also, try to avoid spraying it directly on the soil. Vinegar breaks down the soil structure and kills beneficial microorganisms. In areas where this is applied, the vinegar can render the soil sterile for several years. Other organic methods of weed control include hand-pulling, boiling water or torching.

Good luck!

Ellen

Homemade Weed Killers


Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Weed Killer Recipe

Question:

I am looking for a recipe for weed killer that is made with vinegar, Dawn dishwashing liquid and something else. If you have this recipe, or another recipe, please let me know.

Thanks,
Mary

Answer:

A: Mary,

Here are two homemade recipes to try. Both should be used only on plants that you want to get rid of, taking care not to spray any on surrounding plants. These are most effective when used on emerging weeds.

  • 1 tablespoon of gin
  • 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap
  • 1 quart of hot water

Alternate version:

  • 1 gallon of distilled vinegar
  • 1 cup of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap

Spray these directly on weeds in the garden or pour directly into cracks of walks and driveways.

By Ellen Brown
http://www.sustainable-media.com

Here are some other ideas from the ThriftyFun community.

Vinegar and Dish Soap

Here's a recipe for homemade weed killer that works for me.

Use a funnel to place the following ingredients in a medium spray bottle approximately the size of a quart, but it doesn't have to be exact:

  • 1 cup of vinegar
  • 1/2 cup of regular dish soap (not dishwasher detergent)
Fill the rest of the bottle up with water.

Shake well before each use. Spray mixture directly on the weed itself; if weed is out in the yard, be careful not to spray the grass! The vinegar is what kills the weeds, but the dish soap holds the vinegar in place so it stays on the plant instead of running off. This works great on grass or weeds in sidewalk or driveway cracks, too. Best time to spray is in the middle of the day when the sun is beating down on you.

Just a quick comment on the weed killers: Add dish soap to the vinegar and mix it with water to spot-weed the yard (usually 1 part dish soap, 2 parts vinegar, and 2 parts water). The dish soap makes the vinegar stick to the weed longer, and a couple of days baking in the sun should do the trick!

Jan

Three Techniques

Here's some solutions I've used:
  • Combine one ounce gin, one ounce dish soap, and one ounce vinegar. Put into a 32 oz. sprayer and fill with water. Spray just the weed.

  • You can also put baking soda on just the weed. They turn black and shrivel up.

  • To kill weeds in sidewalk cracks, pour boiling water on them.

By Susan

Vinegar Weed Killer

I have used plain old vinegar, it even kills dandelions.

By Patricia

Roundup

I recently read an article about Roundup. It has been linked to the death of amphibians. A few years ago, my neighbors sprayed some on my rockery which spread over into my garden. I'd had visits from little tiny frogs every year but there have been none since.

Susan from ThriftyFun


RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Be careful when using the mixture that contains salt around concrete - salt can and will damage concrete. I personally wouldn't recommend this one for driveway and sidewalk cracks, just use the vinegar. (06/09/2007)

By John

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

No, I have the best one, try 1/2 cup Flyphosate, 1/4 cup 2,4d Amine and 1 Tablespoon Ammonium Sulfate; Per Gallon of Water. It will kill everything, and be safe to grow new plants. (08/28/2007)

By Aaron

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

  • FACT#1: If you add salt to any of these recipes, you will have to wait a "minimum of two years" before planting anything in that garden!
  • FACT#2: As soon as it rains, the salt will leach into the root systems of adjacent valued plants, thus killing them also.
(10/01/2007)

By doeeyeddoriss

RE; BAKING SODA

I read that if I sprinkle baking soda on weeds they will wither and die, but will it kill my grass also?

Editor's Note: Yes, it will kill grass also. (10/15/2007)

By Amanda

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Where do you buy hort vinegar?

Editor's Note: It is available at a garden store. (02/13/2008)

By Williams

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

NEVER use salt in your garden, even in weed killer. It stays in the soil and will salinate your garden and things just won't grow. As a weed killer I use the vinegar and soap recipe and haven't found anything it won't kill. (06/07/2008)

By Lynn

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

My bio-dynamic farmer friend showed me how you can kill burdock and Thistle by cutting the flower stalks down just after they reach full flowering. They will not have time to regrow and as most varieties are biannual they will die. This takes a couple of years of consistent cutting and a good scythe for cutting. (06/17/2008)

By Mike

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

If you have plants coming up under the bird feeder, they're probably plants that produce seeds that birds like to eat. So, I would just leave them be as a free bird feeder. We get lots of sunflowers this way.

Also, plain old boiling water works well and won't damage the soil. Just be careful about nearby plants. (06/20/2008)

By Alyssa

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Use 10% vinegar - 1 gallon, add: 2-4 oz orange oil (citrus Orange oil) and 1 Tablespoon liquid soap (not germicide type but real soap).

and if really bad weed problem try this:

2 cups dried molasses, 2 cups sugar, with 1 Tbsp. chili pepper and 2 Tbsp. garlic powder - mix it and lay around base of weeds.

You can mix the dried mix with orange oil and 1 cup vinegar but be sure you are outside as it is bad to breathe. Be sure not to get it on you when spraying and not in your eyes at all. (08/31/2008)

By Rosalie

Triox

Triox, this will kill your weeds to bare ground and last for a year. (09/18/2008)

By Tim W

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Wal Mart has their own house-brand of "Round-Up"-- same active ingredient as Round-Up. 41% concentrate, but half the price of Round-Up! It will kill your weeds roots and all, and has NO soil activity! Be careful with salt, it can poison your soil. (10/13/2008)

By Pennysaver

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

One can just pour hot water on plants, too. But I wish people would really look at all the plants growing in their yards and ask why. Plants like dandelions have deep tap roots. They break up the soil and bring minerals up to the top soil. Why not just mow them down after they've bloomed. They are pretty.

Plants tell you a lot about the condition of your land. We've been taught to prefer manicured, scrubbed yards. There are no fruit trees anymore, which could have something to do with the bee problem. No berry bushes, and a few set apart plants. Why not go crazy and go for lush? Weeds would get crowded out. (04/15/2009)

By Pikka


Homemade Weed Killers

Are there any home recipes for weed and grass killer for vegetable gardens?

Anita from Prattville, AL


RE: Homemade Weed Killers

You can also pour boiling water straight on the plants. Just be careful not to get it on any good plants. (09/13/2008)

By Wendopolis

RE: Homemade Weed Killers

No, I disagree with the use of a cup of salt. That is permanently ruined soil. Salt is a chemical. (09/15/2008)

By kimhis

RE: Homemade Weed Killers

It kind of worked. (12/03/2008)

By stephanie

RE: Homemade Weed Killers

You should also use Lemon juice. It works very effectively. (01/14/2009)

By Paul A.

RE: Homemade Weed Killers

Mix 1 gallon of vinegar with 1 oz. of liquid dish detergent. The soap works to break down the waxy surface on the leaves, allowing the vinegar to work more efficiently. It also helps the solution to stick to the leaves, giving the vinegar time to kill the weed.

Fill a spray bottle with the solution and spray weeds thoroughly. The solution will kill any plant it comes in contact with. Use care to avoid over-spray to neighboring plants. Small weeds will shrivel and die within 24 hours. Repeat application if regrowth occurs from the roots.

Pour the solution directly on the roots of large weeds that have extensive root systems. Plants like burdock may take a day or two to die off. Once the root withers and becomes soft, pull the root from the soil. Be careful, good luck. (03/26/2009)

By kffrmw88


Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Will the vinegar and dish soap work for not just surface weeds, but roots as well? If this is not remedied soon, I will have weeds the size of trees like last year when we bought the house. That was last July, so we decided to wait. Please help, I'm desperate to sod and start a small vegetable garden. Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 10b

By ladyhawk171 from Windsor, ON Canada


RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

When it comes to homemade weed killers, if you kill the leaves of a weed too quickly, your vinegar or bleach or whatever will not be absorbed into the plant and kill the roots.

You can read all about homemade weed killers here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060719233201AAdLohZ (05/06/2009)

By Anonymous

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

It makes sense to me to simply mow them prior to putting the vinegar solution on them. That's what I did and it did kill them all the way to the roots. (05/08/2009)

By Cricketnc


Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Does anyone know how to make a natural vegetation killer?

By EM10 from Bancroft, Ontario, CA


RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

I have used vinegar sprayed on the plants. Spray them on a sunny day, it seems to work faster. (06/19/2009)

By mulberry204

RE: Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/05/7-deadly-homemade-weed-killers.html Here are several ideas. I used the bleach with a little soap detergent. (you will understand when you read it). Hope this helps. (06/20/2009)

By jesikarena


Homemade Weed Killers

I am looking for a homemade weedkiller that is safe to use in an area intended for planting flowers and vegetables.


Homemade Weed Killers

I am looking for a cheap way to kill weeds.


Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

What is a good homemade natural weed killer?


Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller

I need a homemade weedkiller that will get rid of burdock, stinging nettles and bull thistles.


Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller

I'd like to use some kind of natural weed killer that I can make myself to use in and around my flower and vegetable garden without killing off my vegetables and flowers. What do you recommend?


Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

I am looking for a homemade weed killer recipe.


Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller

How do I make weed killer?


Homemade Weed Killer

For weed killer, mix 2 cups table salt with 1 gallon white vinegar (5% acidity) and 8 drops dish soap. Label and store.

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