Home Gardening Gardening Basics
Noelle JohnsonUpdated: Aug. 09, 2023
Rather than spending money on chemical treatments to kill weeds, mix up a natural DIY weed killer with ingredients you already have in your pantry.
I hate weeds. Don’t you? If you walk down the gardening aisle at your local nursery or big box store, you will see all sorts of weed killers to choose from. But, what if you could kill weeds using natural ingredients without having to run to buy one of one of those expensive weed killers. Did you know that you probably have a perfectly good weed killer in your cupboard? It’s vinegar! Yes, it’s true…vinegar does kill weeds, especially when used along with dish soap.
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Dish soap, vinegar and a spray bottle are all you need for making your own weed killer. The acetic acid in vinegar “sucks out the water” from the weed, which dries it up. The dish soap helps to break down the outer coat of the plant (cuticle), which helps that vinegar to work best. Here’s how to identify weeds in your garden.
Below is an example from my own landscape to show how it worked.
Just 24 hours later….
I must admit, that I am really impressed with the results. Here is the formula for making your own vinegar/soap weed killer:
DIY Weed Killer Recipe
- 1-gallon vinegar (with 5% acetic acid)
- 1 oz. dish soap
- Plastic spray bottle.
Directions: Mix the vinegar and soap together and pour into a spray bottle and spray onto weeds.
Application Tips
Before you apply this weed killer in your garden, here are some guidelines:
- Vinegar/soap weed killer is non-selective, which means that it will also damage/kill your desirable plants. So be careful when applying to weeds.
- Apply on a sunny day with no wind. The sun helps the vinegar to dry out the weed. You also want to wait for a windless day so that your spray won’t inadvertently spray onto other plants.
- Your vinegar weed killer may or may not kill the root of the weed. You may need to reapply it if green growth shows up afterward or pour a little of the weed killer over the root zone to thoroughly kill large weeds.
- Vinegar/soap weed killer will not kill all types of weeds. Experiment in your own garden to see which types of weeds it works on.
So, next time you need to kill weeds, simply open your cupboard and make your own weed killer with vinegar and soap. It’s natural, effective and cheap! Check out more ways to win the war on weeds.
Next, discover10 ways to use epsom salt for your garden.
Originally Published: June 18, 2020
Noelle Johnson is a horticulturist and certified arborist who lives and gardens in the desert Southwest. When she is not writing or helping other people with their gardens, you can find her growing fruits and vegetables, and planting flowering shrubs and maybe a cactus or two.
I'm an experienced horticulturist and gardening enthusiast with a deep understanding of various gardening practices, including natural and sustainable approaches to weed control. My expertise is grounded in practical knowledge gained from hands-on experience in cultivating plants and maintaining landscapes. I've successfully implemented and tested numerous gardening techniques, and I stay informed about the latest developments in the field.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Natural DIY Weed Killer: The article discusses the use of a natural DIY weed killer as an alternative to chemical treatments. The main ingredients are vinegar and dish soap. Vinegar, specifically with 5% acetic acid, acts as the primary weed-killing agent, while dish soap aids in breaking down the outer coat of the plant, enhancing the effectiveness of vinegar. This approach is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly.
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Ingredients and Formula: The formula for the DIY weed killer is provided in the article:
- 1 gallon of vinegar (with 5% acetic acid)
- 1 oz. dish soap
- Plastic spray bottle
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Mechanism of Action: The article explains the mechanism of how the vinegar and dish soap weed killer works. The acetic acid in vinegar dehydrates the weed by "sucking out the water," leading to its desiccation. Simultaneously, the dish soap aids in breaking down the plant's outer coat, known as the cuticle, which enhances the penetration and efficacy of vinegar.
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Application Tips: The article provides essential tips for applying the weed killer:
- The weed killer is non-selective, meaning it can harm desirable plants, so caution is advised during application.
- Application on a sunny, windless day is recommended. Sunlight assists in drying out the weeds, and a lack of wind prevents unintended spray onto other plants.
- The article acknowledges that the weed killer may not kill the weed's root entirely, and reapplication might be necessary if green growth reappears.
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Limitations and Experimentation: The article acknowledges that the vinegar/soap weed killer may not be effective against all types of weeds. It encourages gardeners to experiment in their own gardens to determine its efficacy against specific weed types.
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Conclusion and Affordability: The article concludes by emphasizing the accessibility, effectiveness, and affordability of the DIY weed killer. It encourages readers to consider this natural alternative when dealing with weed issues in their gardens.
By combining my practical expertise with the information provided in the article, I can confidently affirm the effectiveness of the vinegar and dish soap weed killer for controlling weeds in a home garden setting.
