Buzz
Vinegar contains acetic acid, a natural and highly effective weed killer. Many gardeners favor vinegar as it is less harmful than chemical herbicides. You can use a spray bottle to apply vinegar directly onto the weeds, being careful to avoid plants you wish to keep. For tougher weeds, consider purchasing stronger horticultural vinegar, and you can mix in a bit of dish soap or salt before spraying it on the weeds.
Steps
Using Vinegar as a Herbicide
Purchase white vinegar. Visit a grocery store to buy a bottle of white vinegar, typically containing 5% acetic acid. Buying a 4-liter container is often the most economical choice, unless you only have a small number of weeds to treat. For larger areas, you might need more than 4 liters, but this amount is sufficient for extensive coverage.
- The acid in vinegar is what kills the weeds. White vinegar is most commonly recommended and is usually the cheapest, but apple cider vinegar can also be used.
Mix vinegar with 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of dish soap. A small amount of dish soap helps the vinegar stick to the weeds. Use 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of dish soap for every 4 liters of vinegar. Stir the mixture thoroughly in a bowl or bucket.
Pour the mixture into a garden sprayer. Choose a pump sprayer with a nozzle and long spray wand for easier application over large areas. Fill the sprayer with the vinegar and dish soap mixture, or pour only the amount you need.
- Another option is to pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can purchase a spray bottle or reuse an empty glass cleaner or mild household cleaner bottle. Make sure to rinse the bottle thoroughly if it previously held other liquids.
- If you only need to target a few weeds or a small area, poke 4-5 holes in the cap of the vinegar bottle and use it to pour the mixture onto the weeds.
- If using horticultural vinegar with 30% acetic acid, dilute it with water. Regular white vinegar does not need to be diluted.
Choose a sunny day to spray the weeds. The acetic acid in vinegar dries out the weeds, so it’s best to spray on a sunny day when the weeds have been exposed to sunlight for at least a few hours to enhance the drying effect. Spray in the morning so the weeds can get maximum sun exposure.
- If it rains shortly after spraying, you may need to reapply the mixture.
- Sunlight also means higher temperatures, ideally above 21°C (70°F).
Spray directly onto the weeds. Use a pump sprayer, spray bottle, or the perforated vinegar bottle to thoroughly soak the weeds you want to eliminate. Spray the vinegar on the leaves and around the roots of the weeds.
- You don’t need to drench the weeds to the point of runoff, but ensure an even coating.
- Wait about 24 hours and check the results. If unsatisfied, you can reapply the mixture.
Avoid spraying vinegar on desired plants. Vinegar can kill weeds as well as plants and flowers, so be cautious when spraying near valuable plants. Vinegar may not always be the best choice for weed control in gardens, flower beds, or lawns.
- Vinegar won’t seep into the soil and harm other plants unless it comes into direct contact with them.
Clean the sprayer thoroughly after use. Vinegar can corrode the sprayer if left for too long. Make sure to rinse the sprayer carefully after each use. Dispose of any leftover vinegar and fill the sprayer with water. Pump and spray water to clean the nozzle and spray wand.
Eliminating Stubborn Weeds
Purchase 20% horticultural vinegar. Visit a garden supply or home improvement store and ask for concentrated vinegar specifically designed for gardening. When using stronger vinegar, take protective measures such as wearing gloves and safety goggles.
- Regular vinegar can kill most weeds, so try it first and only use horticultural vinegar if regular vinegar doesn’t work.
- Avoid skin contact, as the high acetic acid concentration can cause burns.
Add dish soap to the vinegar. Mix a small amount of dish soap into the sprayer or spray bottle. A suitable ratio is about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of dish soap per liter of vinegar. The dish soap helps the vinegar adhere to the weeds and prevents it from running off.
- Gently stir the soap into the vinegar, but avoid shaking vigorously, as this can create foam instead of mixing properly.
- You don’t need to measure the dish soap precisely; just use roughly 1 teaspoon per liter of vinegar.
Add 2 cups (480 ml) of table salt to 4 liters of vinegar. While not effective for all weeds, salt can help dry out weeds faster than vinegar alone. You can add salt to the mixture already containing dish soap. Use inexpensive table salt instead of rock salt, Epsom salt, or sea salt.
- Salt remains in the soil for a long time and can have lasting effects on plants. Avoid using salt if you plan to grow plants in the treated area.
- On the other hand, salt is useful if you want to prevent any vegetation from growing in a specific area.
- Thoroughly clean the sprayer after using salt, as it can clog the sprayer parts and even cause corrosion.
What You'll Need
- Undiluted white vinegar
- Pump sprayer or spray bottle
- Dish soap (optional)
- Table salt (optional)
