There’s nothing more annoying than having weeds grow in the garden, but there are simple things you can do to prevent them and rid them. However, one simple trick can aid in not only deterring weeds, but can also keep cats away from the garden too, so it has many benefits when it comes to keeping outdoor areas in good shape.
According to gardening expert Ish, known as gardening.with.ish on TikTok, you only need one simple condiment to keep pests and weeds away from your lawn. In a candid video, he explained how people can make simple homemade solutions with the ingredient to keep them away.
The advice will come in handy this autumn, as it’s a simple task people can complete before spending less time in the garden during the cold weather. Recently, another hack was also shared which is said to keep weeds away for good.
Ish said: “Today in the garden, I’m going to show you how a simple 35p white vinegar can do a lot in your garden. First things’s first, white vinegar is really good at repelling unwanted pests like ants, mealybugs and even cats too.
“What you want to do is take a spray bottle, and fill [it with] 50/50 white vinegar and water, and spray around the edges of the borders. Not directly on the plant. The smell for ants and mealybugs destroys the pheromone trail, meaning they get a little bit confused and go elsewhere, and cats absolutely detest the smell, so it keeps them away from your borders.”
As he continued, Ish said you can also make your own weed spray with white vinegar too, and it’s pretty simple to do. He told people to rinse out an old spray bottle, and add a tablespoon or two of salt and a little washing up liquid.
If you top this up with white vinegar, he said it leads to making a handy weed spray. Ish said you need to spray it directly onto the foliage, and you should witness results “in a matter of hours.”
Not to mention, he said the ingredient can also be super handy for cleaning gardening tools too. If yours have gone a bit rusty, he explained soaking them in some white vinegar can help break the rust down and clean them up.
Ish said there are many uses for the cheap product in the garden, so it’s always handy to have some at home. Since he shared the video, it’s been viewed hundreds of times, and people were pretty impressed.
Fellow gardeners admitted they thought the tips were “great”, and they seem keen to try them out. One even said the weed mixture “works perfectly.”
What are the benefits of white vinegar?
Little you may know, white vinegar can lead to killing weeds by burning and breaking down their leaves, but it’s mostly a contact killer. This means it only impacts the parts it touches and is most effective on small, young or annual weeds, especially on a hot, sunny and non-windy day.
Meanwhile, stronger, perennial weeds with deep roots have the ability to survive and regrow, so you may need to repeat the process a few times to see results. To achieve success, it’s best to use a higher-strength vinegar (20% to 30% acetic acid) or add dish soap to a 5% solution, as this can help the vinegar stick to the leaves and burn the plant.
Not to mention, cats hate the smell of the stuff too. However, it may not keep them away for good, as the process requires regular reapplication.
You can make a deterrent spray by mixing white vinegar with water, and by including other scents that cats dislike, such as lemon juice or rosemary, as this can boost its effectiveness. You should apply the mixture to areas where cats are an issue, like gardens or furniture.
However, it’s important to test it on an inconspicuous spot first to ensure it doesn’t damage surfaces or plants. This should help you to keep cats away.
